PalOfThePonies
Member
Apologies in advance for the long post, I’m looking for some advice or suggestions. I’ve tried to provide as much information as possible to give the full picture!
So, firstly, a bit of back story. I bought an unbacked 4yr old last September, with the plan to back myself or if too much to send to a friend to back. Prior to viewing, saw videos of him being free schooled and also lunged with side reins and a saddle on (going lovely, very chilled). On viewing, watched him lunge (without tack), he was very laid back and a lovely chilled chap. Had a 2 stage vetting which he passed with flying colours and the vet said he was incredibly well mannered for a 4yr old. He came home a week later. I should also mention that he’s a big lad at 16.1-2, warmblood X.
For the first few weeks he was a bit excitable but nothing unmanageable. Towards the beginning of December he became difficult to handle bringing in from the field, barging forward and rearing. Initially it was manageable but after an incident in which he managed to injure me, I started leading in a chifney which gave me a little more control. I opened more of his field and he became much nicer to lead so I’m presuming he was hungry (although always provided hay).
Initially, on trying to lunge with a roller I noticed a very dramatic reaction, including bronking and kicking out. I initially put it down to the fact that he possibly hadn’t worn a roller before. However I quickly learnt that there was a similar reaction to the saddle too, in the school the response was bucking and rodeoing at the end of the lunge line, a complete explosion from the moment it was on his back (with or without girth). In the stable it was less dramatic but still involved bolting forward and bucking, in what seemed like a blind panic. He did settle a little after some time with the saddle on but was still tense/nervous.
I decided that I wasn’t equipped to back him or provide the consistency that he needed, so sent him to a friend who has experience backing, particularly racehorses. They tried a racing saddle on him and he was much less reactive from the get go, so the plan was to back him in a racing saddle and then transition to a normal saddle. He was incredible the first two weeks, took everything in his stride, no reaction to being leant over or a rider sitting up. He was walking and trotting with a rider on the yard, being lead. His only reaction was to the rider wrapping his legs around her side but relaxed considerably by the second day. At the end of week 2 they attempted a rider in the school after him lunging perfectly. However he completely exploded as soon as he took one step and deposited the rider; by the sounds of things it was quite a ‘spectacular’ demonstration of acrobatics.
They’ve since got a dummy (only used the last couple of days) which he is reacting to like he first reacted to the saddle, however settles once lunged. They’re going to continue with that for the week to see if he improves.
I’ve also messaged his previous owner who says (supposedly) he’s never reacted this way before, however it seems like an established behaviour. He’s got quite a dipped back but I put it down to him being young, high withered, bum high and lacking top line. He’s comfortable on manipulation of his back/entire body, very flexible through his spine/neck, completely sound and doesn’t demonstrate any other pain indicators. He’s also not stressy, in good condition and has a great appetite. I should also mention that he can be opinionated, and his reactions tend to be big.
He’s such a lovely boy and so snuggly, he’s completely stolen my heart, so it’s hard to see him scared/in pain. He’s an angel in the stable, and very bold. Getting the vet out is the next step, but if he’s in pain surely you would have expected him to show a reaction trotting with a rider on in the yard? I am really confused to whether this could be a behavioural problem or is pain. My thoughts were potentially kissing spine, SI issues or ulcers but as I said previously he hasn’t shown any other signs of these things. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t be those things, which is why I will get the vet out but just wondered what others thought? He’s only been there 2 1/2 weeks and is a sassy lad, so does he just need to be worked through this?
Thank you if you managed to read the whole thing! I’m struggling to sort all the possibilities in my brain without going to the worst case scenario!
So, firstly, a bit of back story. I bought an unbacked 4yr old last September, with the plan to back myself or if too much to send to a friend to back. Prior to viewing, saw videos of him being free schooled and also lunged with side reins and a saddle on (going lovely, very chilled). On viewing, watched him lunge (without tack), he was very laid back and a lovely chilled chap. Had a 2 stage vetting which he passed with flying colours and the vet said he was incredibly well mannered for a 4yr old. He came home a week later. I should also mention that he’s a big lad at 16.1-2, warmblood X.
For the first few weeks he was a bit excitable but nothing unmanageable. Towards the beginning of December he became difficult to handle bringing in from the field, barging forward and rearing. Initially it was manageable but after an incident in which he managed to injure me, I started leading in a chifney which gave me a little more control. I opened more of his field and he became much nicer to lead so I’m presuming he was hungry (although always provided hay).
Initially, on trying to lunge with a roller I noticed a very dramatic reaction, including bronking and kicking out. I initially put it down to the fact that he possibly hadn’t worn a roller before. However I quickly learnt that there was a similar reaction to the saddle too, in the school the response was bucking and rodeoing at the end of the lunge line, a complete explosion from the moment it was on his back (with or without girth). In the stable it was less dramatic but still involved bolting forward and bucking, in what seemed like a blind panic. He did settle a little after some time with the saddle on but was still tense/nervous.
I decided that I wasn’t equipped to back him or provide the consistency that he needed, so sent him to a friend who has experience backing, particularly racehorses. They tried a racing saddle on him and he was much less reactive from the get go, so the plan was to back him in a racing saddle and then transition to a normal saddle. He was incredible the first two weeks, took everything in his stride, no reaction to being leant over or a rider sitting up. He was walking and trotting with a rider on the yard, being lead. His only reaction was to the rider wrapping his legs around her side but relaxed considerably by the second day. At the end of week 2 they attempted a rider in the school after him lunging perfectly. However he completely exploded as soon as he took one step and deposited the rider; by the sounds of things it was quite a ‘spectacular’ demonstration of acrobatics.
They’ve since got a dummy (only used the last couple of days) which he is reacting to like he first reacted to the saddle, however settles once lunged. They’re going to continue with that for the week to see if he improves.
I’ve also messaged his previous owner who says (supposedly) he’s never reacted this way before, however it seems like an established behaviour. He’s got quite a dipped back but I put it down to him being young, high withered, bum high and lacking top line. He’s comfortable on manipulation of his back/entire body, very flexible through his spine/neck, completely sound and doesn’t demonstrate any other pain indicators. He’s also not stressy, in good condition and has a great appetite. I should also mention that he can be opinionated, and his reactions tend to be big.
He’s such a lovely boy and so snuggly, he’s completely stolen my heart, so it’s hard to see him scared/in pain. He’s an angel in the stable, and very bold. Getting the vet out is the next step, but if he’s in pain surely you would have expected him to show a reaction trotting with a rider on in the yard? I am really confused to whether this could be a behavioural problem or is pain. My thoughts were potentially kissing spine, SI issues or ulcers but as I said previously he hasn’t shown any other signs of these things. Doesn’t mean it couldn’t be those things, which is why I will get the vet out but just wondered what others thought? He’s only been there 2 1/2 weeks and is a sassy lad, so does he just need to be worked through this?
Thank you if you managed to read the whole thing! I’m struggling to sort all the possibilities in my brain without going to the worst case scenario!
