Broncing/bucking when first on

[sjdress]

Friend has brought young horse, got on today after a week of groundwork/lunging. Fine when mounted and stood then when asked to move forward horse exploded, bronced and bucked until rider was off.
Is this a young horse thing?
Likely back issue/ulcers to investigate? Horse on trial so investigate or send back?
Any help greatfully received.

 

[MissTyc]

It CAN be a young horse thing. Was horse ridden previously? How young is young? In/out/etc?

Saddle fit always worth a double check, and GIRTH fit it always worth a double check too. Many horses will tolerate any old girth but some, esp inexperienced horses, can be very sensitive to how the girth fits.

I've always prided myself on preparing horses for backing so they're ready, etc etc etc perfect tack blah blah, and have helped others. So, I always thought this sort of behaviour was either pain, tack, or poor preparation ... and yet and yet I've recently worked with a very well prepared young sports horse who was just super explosive in response to any leg at all - no problem to sit and ride away, but kaboom to the leg. Sent him to a professional reputable backing rider and they thought nothing of it. Didn't bother with school, took him outside and rode him uphill and then around the fields until he understood to carry himself forwards when he felt the leg, then sent him home after 2 weeks happy as larry and no more problems. So, sometimes, they can just be confused. Add in a new environment and it's quite possible it was a once off ... or a sensitivity ... but do double check the saddle and girth as any pressure from those can of course create negative associations.

 

[Red-1]

Has the horse ever been sat on before? Have you seen it with your own eyes? Did it look as if it was educated enough to know what to do when sat upon and asked to move forwards? If so, it is unlikely to be fear/confusion per se if the steps were followed as you described.

If it has all the above, and was prepped prior to getting on, I would go for pain, or at least discomfort (as some horses have a low level of discomfort they are prepared to accept). The trick is in identifying the cause.

 

[Cherryblossom]

My youngster did that and it was pain related. If it’s on trial, I would send it back.

 

[ycbm]

In my experience, of backing personally about 20 and personally seeing close up at least the same number done by friends, it's not normal. I had one and we found he was blind and panicking. A friend had one and he had stifle OCD. Both were PTS. Another friend had one bred from known explosive lines, got it backed but it smashed a Pro's leg to pieces and then was sold where it broke someone else's arm before it was PTS.

If the trial comes to an end soon then I would send the horse back. If she really likes it then I would try and find a cause and possibly send it to the right Pro, but only if they will extend the trial until the horse stops bucking.

 

[sjdress]

The horse was tried when viewed and showed no signs of this. She’s quite nervous since being here but has settled a little bit.she is currently living out and is only fed hay as additional to grass. No hard feed.
She has been here for 10 days and has been lunged in tack over the week before with no signs of discomfort or bucking.

 

[Gloi]

If it's on trial I'd certainly send it back. It sounds like a half broken horse. Does she know the people it came from enough to know if it has done this before?


The only time I'd think of keeping it is if the friend is very experienced starting horses and is also prepared to do some investigation into any pain issues and take it back to square one.

 

[ycbm]

The horse was tried when viewed and showed no signs of this. She’s quite nervous since being here but has settled a little bit.she is currently living out and is only fed hay as additional to grass. No hard feed.
She has been here for 10 days and has been lunged in tack over the week before with no signs of discomfort or bucking.

Well if she's on trial then you can hopefully assume that this will be news to the seller. I would be looking hard at the tack and maybe checked over by a vet or a physio.

I have seen 2 newly backed horse behave this way when a friend went to view them being sold by another friend. Both explosive. There has to have been something wrong with the numnah, but nothing could be seen or felt. Once it was changed, the seller said there was no problem ever again.
.

 

[Gloi]

I've seen things develop badly with a youngster where it has scuttered or had a bit of a flap and the rider has instinctively reacted by getting a tighter hold of the reins or gripping with the legs and it has escalated until the rider was off.

 

[TheMule]

Send it back, asap!

 

[sjdress]

I've seen things develop badly with a youngster where it has scuttered or had a bit of a flap and the rider has instinctively reacted by getting a tighter hold of the reins or gripping with the legs and it has escalated until the rider was off.

Rider had barely moved 2 strides she did it, so was sat very quietly

 

[Gloi]

Rider had barely moved 2 strides she did it, so was sat very quietly

It does need to go back

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would be inclined to send her back broncing is a strong reaction especially as the rider literally did nothing, I wouldn't want to get back on after that.

 

[ycbm]

I think the problem now is that riding away a young horse depends more on confidence than any other riding skill. If your friends confidence is irretrievably gone, the horse needs to go back. If a pro can get it going and that takes her confidence back up, then things could be fine.

Personally, I would be taking it back today.
.

 

[scats]

Send it back. Life’s too short.

 

[Red-1]

I would send it back, especially if it is on trial. He 'failed' the trial, as in was not to specifications when in the new yard. I would have no guilt about sending back.

IMO, once you have had the issue, if you continue to 'try' with the horse before then sending back, you have done both horse and owner a disservice.

 

[Barton Bounty]

The horse was tried when viewed and showed no signs of this. She’s quite nervous since being here but has settled a little bit.she is currently living out and is only fed hay as additional to grass. No hard feed.
She has been here for 10 days and has been lunged in tack over the week before with no signs of discomfort or bucking.

I wouldn’t necessarily send back immediately. My boy doesn’t like a wrinkled up numnah, so unless it’s perfectly flat he will bronc when you first get on, hasnt done it for years but we can be out a hack and he suddenly bucks or broncs and I can look down and his numnah is wrinkled at the girth so until its sorted he isnt happy.

Try getting on and off and on and off, building it up

 

[splashgirl45]

Was she vetted and bloods taken, 10 days would be time enough for bute to wear off I think so I would take her back before being left with a problem.. was it a dealer with a good reputation ?

 

[Flowerofthefen]

It could be a multitude of things. If on trial I would either get the owner out to ride a few times or send the horse back.

 

[maya2008]

How recently was the horse backed? I have had this with a lightly backed pony - on arrival in new home. The owners declared the issues they’d had backing her in the first place though so it wasn’t entirely unexpected. She turned into the most wonderful pony ever - just took a few weeks at the start.

 

[sjdress]

So I went over to help today. Lunged mare and then spent 15 mins just leant over and walking. Once on board mare fine stood still, once asked to move back end came up again. Friend got off and went back to leaning over.
horse was 5 stage vetted with bloods. Did not take x rays.

 

[Barton Bounty]

So I went over to help today. Lunged mare and then spent 15 mins just leant over and walking. Once on board mare fine stood still, once asked to move back end came up again. Friend got off and went back to leaning over.
horse was 5 stage vetted with bloods. Did not take x rays.

Is it the same tack?

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

My Arabi is fussy with saddle cloths when he was younger he would swish his tail and not go forward if it was the wrong one, he would never bronc his too polite for that
.
I would definitely check the tack is all OK maybe message seller and say the issue your having send a video of it and see what they say.

 

[splashgirl45]

I would get bloods checked and also contact previous owner and get them to sit on her

 

[AmyMay]

It’s worth getting the seller out with the tack the horse was ridden in as a first step. If the reaction is the same, send her back. If she’s fine then it’s a quick resolution.

 

[Red-1]

So this has now happened twice.

......

IMO, once you have had the issue, if you continue to 'try' with the horse before then sending back, you have done both horse and owner a disservice.

This is what I said a way back.

If I'd had the kindness to allow a trial period, so the horse were still mine, then there was an issue that I was not made aware of, then they had another go and the issue was compounded, then I would actually be quite cross.

This horse does not yet belong to your friend. It belongs to the owner. I would tell them the problems promptly.

Firstly, the response may let you know if this has, actually, been an issue before.
Secondly, and more importantly to the horse/owner, it will allow the owner to take prompt action to potentially remedy the situation.

I was always taught that once can be a one off, twice is a co-incidence, but the third time is training. So, if it happens a 3rd time, it has become a habit for this horse.

Not many people allow a trial nowadays. I would respect the fact that they still own the horse and get them involved.

 

[Errin Paddywack]

Not many people allow a trial nowadays. I would respect the fact that they still own the horse and get them involved.

I would agree. A friend of mine let a horse she had bred and had ridden extensively for several years go on trial. That mare was used to going anywhere and everywhere, as near bombproof as you can get but something happened during the trial, think they met a combine and whatever happened terrified her to the extent she was never safe with big traffic ever again. She was finally sold to a big, very good local RS where she did a lot of road work and they had her for years but she never got over it. Fortunately she was very popular so stayed for life.

 

[AmyMay]

Not many people allow a trial nowadays. I would respect the fact that they still own the horse and get them involved.

Possibly a dealer?

 

[sjdress]

Possibly a dealer?

Yes a dealer.
They have said not done it before but if unhappy just send back.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Yes a dealer.
They have said not done it before but if unhappy just send back.

Thats a decent dealer