Buckaroo

[Hanstag]

I share a 8 year old ISH mare who only recently has begun popping a buck in when going forwards to canter.

I've taken to lunging her before getting on and she will buck for the first time canter is asked but then will settle down and work really nicely.

What I'm wondering is if it was due to pain in her back would she not buck every time I ask for canter? Im at a loss as to why she has begun doing it initially . As a not so experienced horse owner, any advice would be much appreciated!

 

[becca1305]

It could be that she is stiff so when you first ask for canter she will buck into it and then as she works she will soften. Have you tried lunging her for longer in walk/trot before asking for canter to see if this makes a difference? the only thing is if this is the cause she may now be doing it as a habit and so do it first time whatever.

Alternatively you say shes a share horse? Perhaps it is the way her other sharer asks for canter? If she finds it uncomfortable due to the other riders aids/ill balance then she may expect this every time she breaks into canter and as soon as realising its not going to be uncomfortable with you/on lunge, she stops it.

Personally I would probably watch the other sharer ride her and look at getting a mctimoney chiropractor out to take a look (I have one for my girl and she is fab they look for any misalignments and put them straight in a gentle manner so she should be able to identify if there is any uneveness. I also have a mctimoney practitioner for myself and have felt the difference since having him )

Good luck with getting it sorted

 

[Kat]

Get her back checked to start with, and her saddle as discomfort or stiffness would be a common cause.

It isn't necessarily pain or stiffness though it could be lack of balance, high spirits, confusion of the aids, lack of rider balance etc it is quite common so once you are sure it isn't pain related then I would arrange a lesson so you can get an experienced person to look at it from the ground.