Fear of saddle pad

[Orn1218]

I bought a 10 year old gelding a couple of months ago. I use him for trails and so far he has proved to be wonderful in every way. Practically no spook, and if he does, it's very slight, no scary stuff, more like "huh, what was that", not much lookiness, nor snorting.

He has great ground manners, except one strange habit. He hates having a saddle pad placed on his back. Gets all looky at the pad, and dancy. This has been from the very first day. He side steps until he is against the fence. Once the pad is on, all is fine again. He does not bat an eye at the saddle being placed his back, and practically falls asleep through the rest of tacking up, not girthy.

What is the best way to get him past this habit? Nothing else gets him upset, stuff can fall on him, under him, and around him, but bring out the saddle pad and he has a little freak out.

[CosMonster]

I would try rubbing him with it. Start with where he's comfortable (or where he's most comfortable) and gradually get him used to it. Feeding treats and lots of praise are usually helpful. I like to do things like that in a quiet area where they have plenty of room to move around, and hold them instead of tying, so they don't feel so trapped. I don't try to make them stand still but rather move slowly and try to do it gradually enough that they don't move, or don't move much. You basically keep on going until you are able to just toss it on his back. In other words, treat him like a baby who has never seen a piece of tack in his life. ;)

Is he like this with other types of pads, or just this particular one? Did you see him saddled before you bought him, and did he do it then? That's kind of a strange little quirk, I have to say.

[Orn1218]

Yes, he did do it when I first saw him, but he was so good with everything else, I figured I would just deal with it. He does it with every pad, too. I tested him by putting the saddle on without the pad and he didn't flinch. Definitely a weird quirk.

I have been taking it slow with him, so I guess I just have to be more patient. :)

[Chardavej]

If you can't get him broke of the habit I'd leave it. I have determind all horses have some "issue", some worse than others, some have many, I just decide if it's a battle worth fighting since everthing is so good. Needless to say some of my horses have weird quirks.


I would try letting him sniff and smell the pad until he shows no more interest, then move it on towards his back, if his interest is perked into it again then pull it back and let him smell and look at it again. Keep it up to when you go to his back and he has no interest and you can put it on him. Might take a while so try it when you have time.

[ExJumper]

Does he do it with blankets, too?

[Cinnabon2004]

My mare was the same way when I first started with her. Except she refused to have one put on period. So I started hanging them up by her feed bucket so if she wanted her grain she had to be a big girl and eat by the saddle pads. Once she was used to having them around her I would lunge her in the round pen with them hanging up and in the center. Then rubbed them on her, the front at first, and I worked my way backwards slowly. (with treats when she stood still). Once she was alright with that I dropped them on the ground in front of her, threw them on her back, and praised her when she stood still. It took about a month (but granted she was way pickier with them than your horse it sounds like) and now she is perfectly fine with them. She could care less. I don't know if this helps but it's food for thought :)