Broncos! High spirits or pain?

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JHutter

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I bought my 8 yr old TB a year ago. When I purchased him he was hacked out once a week and lived out, he was so laid back,dull and rode on the forehand (neck like a giraffe). Over the past year I have built up his work. He is now ridden 5 times a week. We have attended fun rides, had regular lessons and he’s now off the forehand most of the time and is slowly developing a top line. I’m hoping to start low level dressage next year. My problem is he has started broncoing when I canter. after a few strides he gets very excitable and starts to bronco. This happens on both reins. I push him through it but it just continues, so return him back to trot and he’s fine. He also does this on the lunge. I’ve changed his feed, had his teeth done. I’m going to get his back and saddle checked. Any other suggestions would be gratefully received as he’s such a lovely boy otherwise.
 
I agree. Make sure he's physically healthy first, then see about addressing the behaviour. It may be hi-jinks, or he may be finding it hard because he's still a bit weak. Assuming you've got the all clear from the vet, I'd be concentrating on the up / down transitions rather than long periods of canter.
 
I too would do a vets work up, but TBH Charlie Horse got into a habit of this when a less experienced rider rode him almost exclusively. He would sometimes pop a fresh kick out in when cantered, but it did not take him long to realise that when he did this the less experienced rider returned to trot.

Each time the rider tried a bit harder and did a bit longer he would buck a bit more, and again return to trot. We were not riding him much at all at the time, and as I knew the other rider was mainly schooling I and my husband would hack him out. When he said there was a problem (after a fair few sessions) I was astonished, and took Charlie Horse to the school forthwith.

When I went into canter he had his play, I rode on, he tried a bit harder, got a firm kick and did not do it any more. After a school session he did not do it any more with the more novice rider either.

Funnily enough the other rider went on to have an issue turning him out, as he would rear at him (CHARLIE????? REAR????). Charles was the nicest horse! Again, it was just high spirits that had got out of hand and only took one session to put right.

BUT - I knew this horse like the back of my hand. He was just playing. If I had a horse where I was not sure, or if the high jinks was not put right immediately than I would have gone for a full work up/saddle fit etc.

Interestingly another friend went out on him only for him to stall at an apple tree and he would not move until he was allowed an apple. I could see that one going wrong too - so apples were banned! His trouble was that when he started with an unwanted behaviour it would start as something endearing, like a squeak into canter, or stopping for an apple, and if not controlled it would become something less endearing.
 
Unless you only ride him very occasionally I don't see how it can consistently be high spirits. If he does it on the lunge too then it's probably not tack (assuming he's not wearing any!) so I would be looking at pain now.
 
pain... one of mine did the same and it was sacrolilliac and kissing spine. With another it was hock issues. When you start working them correctly and they start having to use their hind end to bear more weight, then they can react if there is pain there, and its usually shown in canter.
 
Agree with the above about having him checked out for a pain issue.

The only thing I would add is that sometimes bucking going into canter gets into a bit of a habit and if the rider sits there the horse might not realise that he is doing the wrong thing. Do you tell him off for bucking so he knows it is the wrong thing to do? Obviously I don't mean being harsh, but just to let him know that you don't want this behaviour.

But if it is something that has developed recently then that merits being further investigated.
 
JHutter said:
I bought my 8 yr old TB a year ago. When I purchased him he was hacked out once a week and lived out, he was so laid back,dull and rode on the forehand (neck like a giraffe). Over the past year I have built up his work. He is now ridden 5 times a week. We have attended fun rides, had regular lessons and he’s now off the forehand most of the time and is slowly developing a top line. I’m hoping to start low level dressage next year. My problem is he has started broncoing when I canter. after a few strides he gets very excitable and starts to bronco. This happens on both reins. I push him through it but it just continues, so return him back to trot and he’s fine. He also does this on the lunge. I’ve changed his feed, had his teeth done. I’m going to get his back and saddle checked. Any other suggestions would be gratefully received as he’s such a lovely boy otherwise.
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We had broncing issues in canter & turned out to be grade 3 ulcers, its a fairly common reaction in canter with ulcers & probably one of the easiest issues to detect or rule out by gastroscope - good luck - after treating ours has scoped clear & broncing stopped although occasionally throws in odd buck which is high jinx & very different to a bronc which was literally picking himself up off the floor as high as possible, looking back he was obviously trying to lift himself up & away from the stomach acid splashing on his ulcers as we hadn't been feeding him before riding which we always always do now.
 
I'm not the most experienced horsey person but every time I've had a horse bucking in canter its been pain related:

Horse 1 - shivers
Horse 2 - bog spavin in hocks
Horse 3 - saddler(s), physio, chiro and instructor reckoned horse fine but horse's bum high conformation meant his hips were quite tight - recommended a good warm up and establishing a nice forward trot to loosen up hips = no bucks into canter (worked a treat)
Horse 4 - splint on left fore

On riding school ponies / horses normally they bucked in canter if rider hauling them in the mouth whilst kicking!
 
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