Broncing Horse

[Pink Gorilla]

My 6yr old horse is totally fine in the arena at home and also at my trainer’s yard. But if I ask for canter on hacks, or at a new venue (if I try out a new lesson clinic for example), he broncs. He does it quite violently until her gets me off. He’s usually so sweet and I think his mind just gets blown. But how can I deal with this if I can’t stay on him? He’s had all the usual checks and I don’t think it’s anything sinister since he can go for months without doing it, provided we only canter at home or at my trainer’s yard. I can’t afford to send him off to a nags man either.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Some horses bronc when they get overexcited, or overwhelmed or they lose their balance. And I think they they carry on broncing because an unbalanced rider then adds to the anxiety, overwhelm or lack of balance. It does not need to be sinister. But in terms of what to do, your best bet is getting somone with a sticky bum to hack him out a few times till he learns to keep his balance better and that cantering in open space is no big deal. You can build up slowly to help him cope but in the end he has to canter and he has to wobble a bit while he is learning how. If you can't stay on him during those wobbles then you are better off finding someone who can. Falling off young horses either scares them or teaches them the rider is optional. Neither lesson is good for the horse's traning, really.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Just to add, a good friend had this issue wth a horse she backed. Easy as pie to back initially but she was struggling with cantering in open spaces. She paid a pro and it only took a few hacks for him to stop pogoing along the field and actually move forward properly. So it is not necessarily a big expense. Good luck with it.

 

[Caol Ila]

Or it could be trigger stacking.The horse could have some niggling issue, or a piece of tack isn't quite right, or something like that, and if he's at home or in his familiar arena, relaxed and happy, he can cope. But if he's at a new place, or wound up by being out in a field, then whatever that thing is might just push him over the edge.

 

[Ample Prosecco]

Yes and a relaxed pro will help with that too, as it will help the horse relax about being out and about. Adrenaline is higher in higher gaits which sets some horses off, especially if other stressors are around. So it's always good to be aware of comfort - physical and emotional - and do what you can to help the horse feel confident and relaxed about what he is doing.

 

[Pink Gorilla]

After reading your replies last night and riding this morning I think trigger stacking is definitely a possibility. I warmed him up in walk, trot and canter in my arena and he worked fantastic! Really soft and supple. Then I went to work him in one of our big fields so I could work on more lengthened strides since my arena is only short. Well I could barely manage trot. He was so tense and was petrified of the geese in there, the same flock that he was grazing happily with in the adjacent field the other day. I hoped off at one point to walk up to them with him and the second I hoped off he was Mr Chill. Once I got back on again, he was back to being tense and spooky. Tried figures of 8 and leg yielding etc to keep him busy but all I can say is, thank god for my neck strap!! No broncing luckily, but spooking, spinning and leaping about. Think the spring grass could be to blame maybe?

 

[Pink Gorilla]

Oh and I’ve booked a different saddle fitter to double check his saddle next week.

 

[Orangehorse]

And does he know that this is wrong behaviour, whatever the cause? If you can feel them getting ready to buck, do you growl at him and tell him "no."