Horse is pleading the 5th, should I be concerned?

[JoZ]

I have my 4yo gelding with a trainer to get started with a rider. He has had oodles of groundwork including longeing and long-lining under saddle.

He has only been with the trainer for a week, but the two reports I have received made it seem like my dang horse is pretending he is unhandled off the range, LOL. I exaggerate (I hope!) -- I don't THINK he is bucking or rearing or bolting -- just saying "I have no recollection of these events".

Is this common? I have full trust in the trainer (less so right now in my training and groundwork skills!) and each of these issues has been resolved. In other words, she was successful after the initial resistance in getting the little rotter to longe, long-line, accept a saddle without fear it would eat him, etc. I would feel worse of course if he were getting away with things or if he was getting the trainer's number.

I hope he will give up this pretense so he can learn some things he DOESN'T already know. Makes me wonder why I bothered prepping him! Horses! :no:

[EqTrainer]

It is VERY common. Training, in young horses, is at least somewhat situational. Meaning they "get it" where they live, but not necessarily that it's always that way no matter where they are or who is handling them.

It does pay off a little further down the road but the first few weeks can sometimes be just like that..... like a wild horse has replaced your nice youngster!

[*Teddy*]

he is testing the boundries of what he can get away with since trainer is new to him.

[myhorsefaith]

i dont know if it is normal, but my mare pulled the same bs when i sent her to training....twice. :lol:

i backed her, w/t/c trail rides, the whole deal. the trainer i sent her to, she bucked with HER saddle being put on, didnt longe, acted spooky at everything. Trainer had to start from scratch, but was on her and riding her where i left her within 4 days.

[Fitte]

I believe that the old time-y trainers would call this phenomenon "comin untrained." i.e. "That paint sure looks like he's (be)come untrained." It is common.