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Lissie2

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So, part loaning green horse. Been few months. Twice horse has bronked - not bucking, not rearing, but bronking. Both caused by fear. Green I can handle; sharp, nervous etc etc and is not first green horse Ive brought on. BUT I don't like this bronking. Once I could chalk up to new riding partnership, twice is different. Do I persevere or cut my losses? He's a beautiful boy with bags of potential but I quite frankly dont want to break anything. I've got very young children and a physical job. What would you do? X
 
I would probably try and work out why he is broncing. Could it pain related? If everything's been checked and he's pain free I would probably walk away as not worth the injury especially when the horse isn't even yours.
 
Have you mentioned it to the owner? My friend had a horse that would suddenly do absolutely huge bucks. We worked out he did it when she put her leg on too far back. She had to adjust her riding and he stopped doing it.
 
First was when he thought was getting left behind, second when saddle slipped. Getting saddle fitter out as think fit not quite right. Even so still think bronking an extreme response. X
 
Yes owner knows. No information offered though. She only rode him in walk and trot and not very offen. I don't think she would tell me if he had done the same with her as would put someone off?
 
Has the horse ever done this with the owner? If not then does owner have a regular instructor you could have a lesson with? Sometimes with a green horse if they used to being ridden in one particular way then they can get awfully confused and act up simply because they lack confidence and they feel there's some confusion in what's being asked of them

ETA just seen above responces, I would just walk away tbh, it's a part loan, there's tonnes of people with straight forward horses out there
 
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If the horse is uncomfortable when riding bronking is quite understandable. The horse might be in quite a bit of pain, not saying this is the reason why but it is understandable. What do you do whilst he is bronknig? Does he just stop on his own? If it's a badly fitting saddle might be worth getting someone out to look at his back. X
 
Someone's coming to check in couple weeks. Bronking very spontaneous so I just sit deep and try to keep my seat but he has had me off both times then stopped but been very sharp/ spooky afterwards; it's not like he returns to donkey mode x
 
Hm that is quite strange, Is it as soon as you get on him this happens? Maybe if your riding 10/15 minutes the saddle slips back and hits an unpleasant spot on his back? Just an example. How old is the horse? X
 
Lissie2 said:
First was when he thought was getting left behind, second when saddle slipped. Getting saddle fitter out as think fit not quite right. Even so still think bronking an extreme response. X
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It's not really an extreme response for a green horse if something is uncomfortable or possibly hurting him, so it will be interesting to see what the saddle fitter thinks when you get them out.
 
Hmmm...so undecided. Bronking is definitely a spooking response to external factors compounded by saddle fit I think. He's very girthy too. Doesn't help that I'm still getting to know him. Not like a horse I've known for years and can say it's probably x y or z with much more certainty x
 
Hmm OP what you're describing is just typical green, youngster behaviour. The second time doesn't even count really as he had a valid reason. It sounds like he would probably benefit from someone a bit more experienced. There's nothing wrong with passing him on to someone more suitable - like you say you have children who are more important, and riding is supposed to be something you enjoy!
 
I don't think bronking is typical young horse behaviour, how many days a week do you ride? is he ridden on the days you don't? is he turned out everyday and how long? what is he fed? and if you suspect it's saddle fit don't ride until a proper saddle fitter has looked at it and tell the owner this is what you want to happen if nothing is done say you no longer want to carry on, as it stands the horse sounds unpredictable and possibly in pain.
 
Doesn't sound like an unusual response for a green horse - their brains haven't been trained to think before reacting, so they just react instinctively to things that are unusual/exciting/alarming, and sometimes they can get a bit carried away in the reaction. From what you've described it doesn't sound like malice, or learned behaviour, or even pain really (though there could be a niggle), just a young horse who reacted to a situation, enjoys the sensation of bucking and got a bit carried away in the moment. He doesn't know that he's not supposed to behave that way with a rider on top.

So in answer to your original question - yes, I would cut your losses and look for something else. If he's tipping you off every time then it's probably not the type of green horse that you can do the best for or enjoy as you should. Another green horse may be fine and you don't owe this one anything.
 
He is out 24/7. Gets ridden by me 3 times a week - hacking, with a little bit of schooling en route. Grazing is poor so he gets a hard feed twice a day - non heating fibre only, and hay ad lib. I am the only one who rides him x
 
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Twice over how long? Sorry if you've said this. If you don't feel confident on him any more if you were my loaner I would rather you told me and gave up the ride tbh.
 
It's not your horse , don't get broken walk away .
My younger ID bronced when we got him .
He did it from fear when some one on the ground touched a jump stand or a pole it was an extreme reaction .
It took three years to get his confidnce and I would never fully trust him when people are moving jumps I will always stand .
 
Rowreach said:
It's not really an extreme response for a green horse if something is uncomfortable or possibly hurting him, so it will be interesting to see what the saddle fitter thinks when you get them out.
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Agreed

SpringArising said:
Hmm OP what you're describing is just typical green, youngster behaviour. The second time doesn't even count really as he had a valid reason. It sounds like he would probably benefit from someone a bit more experienced. There's nothing wrong with passing him on to someone more suitable - like you say you have children who are more important, and riding is supposed to be something you enjoy!
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Agreed


... as for the belief that the owner probably would not admit if it had happened to her... yes, some owners would behave that way but many would warn their loaner - this assumption is a bit presumptuous

Lissie2 said:
But fact remains I DONT want to get hurt x
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then terminate the loan- I don't get the problem
 
So not fear in either case. Discomfort of being left and discomfort of the saddle slipping. The coping mechanism of this horse when faced with discomfort is to bronc. Sounds like he's too much for you and needs someone who can work on this issue.
 
I too would find it quite normal for a young horse to bronc when left behind, especially by a group of horses. I would not find it acceptable, and would be regularly training in a group to have the horse independent.

Bucking if the saddle slips is inconvenient, but again, I would expect that of a young horse.

Any time a horse has a bronc then I would do all the checks, as I do think a pinching or hurting 'something' can bring sharp behaviour. Ditto with feeding and only riding 3 times a week.

In answer to your query, it sounds like you and the horse are not the best match. I always was told that once is a one off, twice is a coincidence but three times is training. So, you have come off him whilst bucking twice, if I were the owner I would not like it to happen for a third time just for the horse's sake.

As to you, I think you have already made up your mind. You have replied that you do not want to get hurt. The facts say the horse bucks when stressed, and you cannot sit on the bucks. If you fall you may get hurt, so if not getting hurt is your aim, then don't get on the horse!
 
Lissie2 said:
He is out 24/7. Gets ridden by me 3 times a week - hacking, with a little bit of schooling en route. Grazing is poor so he gets a hard feed twice a day - non heating fibre only, and hay ad lib. I am the only one who rides him x
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if his getting hard feed and only ridden 3 times a week I would stop feeding it just up his hay ration doing that much work does not really warrant hard feed, your waiting for the saddle fitter so maybe don't ride until they have looked at the saddle, then see how it goes afterwards it does sound like the horse has done very little before you started riding him, if it were me and he continued with the bronking I would walk away and go and find yourself a safer more suitable loan horse.
 
Call me cynical - and I appreciate I don't know the full back story - but why does the owner have a young, green horse and they don't ride it at all? Does (s)he ride other horses, just not this one? Are you prepping the horse to be sold or is she going to ride it when it's older?
If you have any concerns about getting hurt and you cannot "afford" to get hurt then I would have packed my bags and gone by now.
 
Sounds like the owner wants a professional's job being done for free OP. So I wouldn't feel bad about ending the contract - what's there to lose?

You have no tie to the horse. Do what's best for you and your family. It makes me annoyed when I see people too scared to get on their own horses (making an assumption) getting someone else to bring them on for free. I wonder how many conveniently want them back to sell on once they're deemed safe!
 
I think mine might do that if saddle slipped. But for it to happen twice for quite different reasons is a concern.

I wouldn't get on again without having its back x rayed.

I bet owner knows...
 
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