any further advice - rearing!!

B

BB2008

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Right now I am laid up on the sofa after a trip to A&E with a really bad back drugged up to the eye balls on pain killers. story of getting here - took my new horse (had her 6 weeks) out this morning and as soon as I got on she put in a couple of bucks, no prob I thought, she is just fresh, about 15m up the grass track away from the yard she put in two massive bucks and then reared straight up and over coming down on top of me. she wanted me off and she really meant it!! she got up and just stood there shaking and then began nuzzling me. I am an experienced rider and she has really shaken me up! I have recently had her back and teeth checked, and my first move will be too get a second opinion on these areas. She has never shown any vices before and normally borders on being a school mistress, though is very stiff in the school and takes ages to settle. She is a 7yr ISH, I don't know much about her history other than she came over from Ireland 18mths ago. It was very foggy this morning and I wonder if this upset her? When she was turned out she bolted round and round her field for about ten minutes! She is sound and shows no sign of pain in any other aspect. Help please!! I have her on 6mth loan to look to buy at the end. Any advice???
 
Be interested to see you answer to the above questions. But Id say get her back checked again, there may not have been a problem when you had it done (even if just a few days ago).

It could have been the fog. I remember years ago, I turned up at an event which was extremely foggy, I got on and walked into the show ground - horse nearly had a heart attack as he could hear hooves all round him and people but couldnt see them! He was absolutely petrified! Your horse *could* have seen something which spooked the hell out of him. But Id definately go down the back and saddle checked route ASAP.
 
She is fed cooling mix and chaff once a day, 3 slices of hay and loads of grass. she is turned out from 8am until about 4pm daily - we're lucky as have loads of turnout. Back was checked with saddle fitting as I was finding her very stiff on one rein in the school (left rein). she is worked 4-5 times week normally schooled three times and hacked twice.
she has been loosening up i the school and I recently posted how pleased I was with her progress!
 
If it was my horse I would change the feed, my hunter gets similar and he is in HARD work. I would go for something low starch, low sugar, high fiber to keep the weight on and provide slow release enedrgy so as to avoid power surges! Cool mixes might be cool compared to some feeds but they still contain cerials and sugar
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That way you can feed the same thing every day and still get on the same horse if you miss exercise for a day or so.

As the horse is new to you and in a new place she probably thinks it is correct to question and over react, just to be sure that all is safe and there isn't lions in the mist. She is unsure if you are aware of the dangers she thinks are there. All this will calm down when she has worked out that that everything is ok and trusts you implicitly. It can take months for a horse to settle.

I too would get her back checked... by a different therapist this time. It sounds like there is a niggle in your mind with the stiffness and you are quite right to go with your gut feeling.

I would work this horse on the long lines or in hand. This would have 2 benifits. Firstly you will be able to see the cause of the stiffness, and it will build your relationship with her. Working on the ground is magic as far as this goes. A solid groundwork relationship will translate to your ridden work. If your confidence has been rattled it can realy help with this too. If you have the horses trust on the ground, and you have full control, this will boost your confidence in the saddle.
 
Thank you I really appreciate that! I think groundwork will definately be the way to go, think back to painful to ride for a while anyway! your advice re the feed as well is really appreciated. thank you!
 
Turnout before you ride, rather than after...so she lets off steam in the field.
Lunge her for a bit.
Get her saddle checked by a different saddle fitter
Get her checked out for kissing spines or other back problems.
Don't buy her at the end of the loan period and give her back as soon as you can.
I'm cynical and would suspect that this horse is on loan to you in the hopes you will buy it as its behaviour is known to be unreliable....if I liked a horse, I'd loan it but with no selling option. If I wanted to sell a horse and it was decent...I'd just put in on the market...wouldn't lend it out first.
S
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Sorry to hear you had a fall
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, my beast has been on Happy Hoof with apple carott sugar beet super flex and a splash of veg cooking oil for the last 3.5 years, apart from as much hay as he can eat when being groomed or travelling thats all he gets, oh and any grass if any from 24/7 turnout, this seems to keep him pretty similar temperament most of the time and weight stable for a ginger pony, however maybe the weather isn't helping, his lordship was feisty today from the start and rearing and pawing the ground outside his stable from impatience
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we had one or two bigger spooks than normal as well
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, we were out with new company but I dont think that was the main reason, hope you feel better soon.
 
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