Rearing/bolting when being dismounted...

[filly78]

My husband and I have a 14 yr old TB gelding that has recently developed a dangerous habit - he rears and bolts when being dismounted. It all started around the same time he was extremely nervous under saddle, so we had the vet out and found out he has Lyme disease. We assumed the rearing/bolting was due to back pain as his back was extremely sore from the Lyme disease. Our vet told us he would be ok to ride 2 weeks into treatment. We're at 2.5 weeks and my husband hoped on today and did mostly walk, a little trot and he was still a little nervous and pulled the rear/bolt when he tried to get off. I had the lunge attached and was able to hang on long enough for my husband to get off....although my hands are not feeling too good right now thanks to the line being ripped through my hands.

I'm at a loss for what to do. We cannot continue to ride a horse that is this dangerous :no:

[Woodland]

I think you should hire a trainer qualified to deal with this very dangerous habit. And do it TODAY!

[Bluey]

I have only seen a few horses with that problem to the point of being dangerous and it was generally a pain issue.

One, the western saddle, that the housing are attached to the tree with a long wood screw, the screw on the front, right over the shoulder, was too long and a little bit poked into the sheepskin underneath, where you could not see it, but the horse felt it when you leaned over to get off.

He also started to limp on that front leg and we finally found the screw, cut the end off and the horse was fine after that.

I would maybe wait to ride your horse until he is feeling better, as he seems to be very sensitive.
Have you asked a good trainer to look at him and evaluate how much of his problems you seem to have are due to training, not just Lime disease?

Edited to add that Woodland was thinking along the same lines.:yes:

[Nezzy]

How are you dismounting? Is this an English or Western saddle? I know some western riders hold the horn while dismounting and this pulls the saddle, which might cause pain.

Even if your horse is not Feeling pain now that he has been treated, he might have been feeling pain before, and he is probably expecting it and trying to avoid it. You'll need to go back to basics and work slowly. Good Luck.

[Thomas_1]

Sounds like the horse is in pain. Either back or mouth?

[Woodland]

Sounds like the horse is in pain. Either back or mouth?

I agree Thomas. i am surprised the vet has them riding him in the condition he is in. I would have him vetted at a hospital not the barn vet and then have a trainer sort it out this could potentially be disastrous for horse/rider & handler!

The horse is telling the OP he is not right with everything he has got!

[Ty2003]

Lyme can make them kooky and painful...two weeks may not be long enough for him to be feeling better (especially if he's had the infection for awhile). I know my guy took almost a month last year before he was moving normally after being treated.