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Discussion on Why has my horse started rearing? how do I stop him? | |
Author | Message |
Member: tbhack |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 2010 - 8:03 am: I have a 9yo TB gelding which I've owned for one year - pleasure hack and basic dressage we ride just 1-2 times a week. He was fine for the last year, last few weeks started rearing and bucking (high rear, small bucks). Is he being naughty or is he injured? How can I tell whether to 'correct' this with training or if he's in pain? Riding, he will go nicely for 10mins working in walk and trot and then he will either rear (high) or buck a little. Seems more sensitive to leg than usual. I have checked him over a couple of times and can't find sensitivity or injury anywhere... Chrio checked his back and adjusted but is fine too. Saddle and bridle has not changed recently and fitted fine last time the fitter checked. His paddock has changed 3 weeks ago too and there is fresh grass growth. Any ideas about what general checks I should do? How do I know if he's just being naughty or if he really is in pain with rearing and bucking? How do I stop him? Thanks |
Member: ajudson1 |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 2010 - 9:10 am: I am no expert but what I would do is put him to work on a lunge line before riding. First without tack, than with tack. I would watch for anything out of sync...gait, excess mouthiness, the rearing and bucking you describe. If he don't know basic word commands, waaaalk, TROT! and WHOA, I would get those down pat from the ground.Make sure you have some kind of calming cue. I like to really exaggerate letting my breath out. My best gelding, Cody, can be trotting along, and I can say "easy" while adding the breath "sssheee" at the end and if I am not careful he will come to such a quick stop I have to make sure I stay on! I teach that leading and then on the lunge first. It's hard to say if he's just feeling good, bored with work, frustratead by your cues, or hurting. So I think by going back to basics, working on staying calm, it will be a different focus for both of you and then you can move on and go back to what you are doing. Others with more experience will most likely have advice for preventing the rearing itself. Stay safe! |
Moderator: DrO |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 2010 - 9:38 am: Hello Kate,Until we know why we cannot answer your question on how to fix this. If more ground training and a good prework airing out does not help as Angie describes above, I would have the horse carefully examined by your veterinarian and a good trainer you trust. Best is to have them working together and if you consider it safe enough have them watch you tack up and ride this horse. Once they have a best idea of the cause you can consider what your options are to fix it. DrO |
Member: canter |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 2010 - 11:04 am: Kate, you don't say how long ago the fitter checked your saddle. Horses bodies can change shape, depending on age and type of work they are doing. If it's been a while since you had your saddle checked, I would consider doing it again. |
Member: gramsey1 |
Posted on Sunday, Jun 27, 2010 - 3:55 pm: Take Fran and Dr. O's advice. Have your trainer, vet and saddle fitter (if you have one) work together on the problem. Our 8 year old OTTB.Started doing similar things. Turned out our tack routine put the saddle too far forward. Also turned out he had changed, grown wider in the shoulder. He is being a good boy again. |
Member: tbhack |
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 6:02 am: Thanks you guys really good tips there that I will follow up. Called my trainer who is going to see him on Saturday. I have started feeding some magnesium and a toxin binder and will see if that does anything... can't hurt right? The reason I did this is some other symptoms that coincided with his rearing and bucking change that I had noticed but didn't think to mention above are below:* dragging his hind toes in the paddock and moving slowly * walking slowly up to me for a feed like he wants to move faster but doesn't want to (usually he trots or canters up)still gobbles his feed as usual too * hind legs shorter steps than usual in paddock * generally more tense and spooky * standing with his back legs out on a few occasions before or after the ride(like he wants to wee but doesn't) * just forward of his flank and almost under his belly he's very tender and seems hard but only on his left side(he bites me if I touch there and usually is fine with having that spot touched and brushed, etc) * it's been a lot colder here lately (rain and wind, middle of winter) Kate |
Member: tbhack |
Posted on Wednesday, Jun 30, 2010 - 6:22 am: Hi Angie, thanks for above So I did happen to put him on the lunge line the day before I posted (as I didn't want to ride after coming off!) and he was dreadful... much more rearing and bucking on the lunge line than my ride... but this was before your post so I had the saddle on to start with and kept it on. He doesn't usually lunge beautifully anyway (we don't do a lot of this - about 10 times only in the last year) but this time was by far the worst he had been on the lunge... over 30mins there were about 20 x head down rodeo type bucks and 3 high rears and several quick irritated 'snap' type kicks straight out behind with single foot, he was just hating it all and really p'd off is the feeling I got. After a rear or buck I would calm him, come to his side, start again... etc. He is OK in a walk and halt-walk but as the pace picks up he can't handle it (btw usually he goes calmly in walk and trot and is a bit excitable in canter and may throw one or two bucks or at worst small rear, sometimes nothing and always settles and works well after 15mins or so when he sees I won't give up!). But this time he was just one really pissed off uncomfortable horse was my gut feel. So I worked with him for 30mins or so, and got a few circles of nice trot and walk between antics, but I just felt he looked uncomfortable and annoyed rather than 'hyped' or 'fresh' if that makes sense? So then I thought "no wonder you threw me off the other day" if he felt like that... and wondered if he had a sore belly. If really hope he's not just having me on! The symptoms I posted above (second post) are what is making me wonder too. Seeing my riding instructor in a few days so will be good to get her viewpoint. Kate |