Advice appreciated - a bit long I'm afraid!

E

EllieK

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 February 2008
Messages
103
Location
Norfolk
Visit site
Firstly hi!
I have loitered on here for a while and finally got my arse into gear and joined.

I'd really appreciate general advice or opinions, I've gotten myself into a bit of a pickle.

I took a horse on full loan in october, shortly after having my own horse PTS. The loan horse came to me rather skinny and from the field. I know his owner had pretty much left him to his own devices for a little while with the odd lunge and hack as she had lost her nerve with horses in general. Now hes a big chap (17.3hh) so I can understand why as he is a little intimidating at times. He had a fair few issues with attachment and it took me a few weeks to get him leading properly without spooking and running off. It also took me a while to get him settled in his stable as he is very nervous. Now we've delt with those issues he is super to handle on the ground and can safely be handled by novices etc.
For the first few months he was super under saddle, really tried hard to do what was being asked of him. For the last few months however he has been awful - I have had two bad falls from him, in the last I broke a rib and compressed a disc in my back. He has taken to occassionally having bucking fits and moments of complete panic. If you can distract him before he explodes you tend to be ok, but if you don't get hold of him quickly then he'll keep going until you are off. I must hasten to add that 9 times out of 10 he is super, its just the odd time that he isn't! Theres not obvious trigger and he gives very little warning.
I've had all the usual checks done and pending the physio next week there aren't any physical problems.

I did foolishly buy him two months ago after the first fall as he has the potential to be a lovely horse. My question really is; keep going and hope he'll stop or sell him to someone more prepared to deal with this behaviour?

I am a fairly experienced rider and I'm not at all nervous around him but I am starting to think that I'm not doing him any favours as I can't seem to sort this behaviour under saddle out, and it is dangerous.

Sorry this is so long, and thank you in advance!

Ellie
 
Hiya and welcome!

when you say have had usual checks done - does that include;

Back (ok probably your physio)
Tack - saddle, bridle, bit, anything else irritating him e.g. boots?
Teeth?
Feet?
Vet?

Do you have lessons with an instructor?

Without knowing the cause its a little difficult. Could it be because something is stressing him out, or because he is bored?
 
Thanks for your reply, I've had teeth checked, vets given him the all clear, farrier can't find any cause for concern, tack all checked and fitting fine. The physio was suggested by my vet as he couldn't find anything substantial.

I have lessons with him but as of yet he hasn't exploded in a lesson so my instructor hasn't seen him at his worst.

The fact that we can't seem to find a cause is the problem
smile.gif
if there was something that was triggering it then we can deal with the cause but there really isn't anything that we can think of! I do think its a learnt behaviour pattern, but the unpredictability is what is worrying me - does that make any sense?!
 
Does he tend to do it when hacking or when schooling? Is there any potential that he had a trapped nerve or something that is only affected when he is collected/on the forehand/neck flexed/neck straight....

alternatively are you suddenly asking a lot more of him and his brain is overloading?

sorry, asking more questions rather than offering solutions! not terribly helpful, I know!
 
I had a mare very much like this who after a year ofg me trying went to a home where she is now worked for two hours a day, every day and is loving it... I don't know his workload but perhaps you need to keep him busier? vary his work too to keep his mind on what you are doing... also look at feed... low energy is best...
 
I have a horse like this, who will be lovely one minute and then without warning just be an idiot and my trainer says he will never change its just something in his head. I take the view that because everything else about him is lovely I put up with it but like you there are no triggers or warnings and all the obvious checks have been done. My horse will never be passed on because I couldn't guarantee what would happen to him if he got into the wrong hands and he doesn't deserve that.
 
is it out hacking he has his scary moments? i had a horse last year who sounds a bit like yours as in if you caught him quick enough the situation could be handled and if not you were on the floor! we took him out being led off another horse and this seemed to calm him down then after that moved onto riding with a quite horse to babysit, he settled eventually and is now sold on and his new owners have never had any problems with him!
 
Phew, its a long way down from a 17.3, no wonder you did some damage. My horse has this 'switch' in her head where she panics but she doesn't exactly buck she more bolts and plunges and is impossible to steer. I still wouldn't be surprised if one day someone finds an underlying physical problem but if every horse with behavioural problems were investigated from head to toe, along with all the inexplicably lame ones the world would be over-run with equine hospitals. Plus the tests would cost more than the value of most horses and wouldn't often be covered on the insurance.

I gave my horse twelve months from buying her to see how she progressed and to try different methods of improving the dangerous behaviour. That time's almost up and while she's not and probably never will be cured, she's much better so she'll probably be staying. If I were you I'd do the same. Set yourself a time limit to try different trainers methods and ideas and perhaps some more physical tests (I had my horse's back x-rayed for peace of mind) and when the time's up see where you stand then. If you still think you're at a high risk of danger thats when I'd call it a day.
smile.gif
 
The reason I have my horse is because he would for absolutely no reason let rip (the incidence would increase though if he wasnt riden everyday.). it was as if he'd left the planet. if i could get through to him quick enough i'd be ok - if not i was off. for this reason he could not be sold and so i took him on. as he would rodeo until i was off i had to learn what he felt like just before and stop it before it started. this has been my saviour - and so far (touching a lot of wood) I haven't had an incidence for a year.
 
thank you for your replies
smile.gif

The bucking/ messing around is only in the menage. The strange thing is that out hacking he is a real star - sometimes on his toes but never out of control. We've actually been used as a lead for nervous horses out hacking as he really is so good.
Reading your replies has been really helpful, I bought him as I worried about the damage he could do to his old owner so he will stay with me now until we've sorted the problems or found a way of managing it safely. Its reassuring to hear that other people have more difficult horses, its quite easy to get caught up in thinking no one else is having any problems!

Thanks again
 
If you suspect a physical problem that could be costly to diagnose put him on painkillers for three weeks. If he stops the behaviour then something may be wrong and it's worth investigating further with your vet. If he doesn't then it's all in his head and it depends on whether you are willing to work it through with him (which is sounds like you are willing to do).
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top