Bucking because of Bit or Feed?

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britisheventer

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hi, I have a very sticky problem that's been caused with my 6 year old KWPN boy in the past few weeks. We have only just bought him about a month ago and he us developed to go on full rodeo mode in canter in an open space, let me mention he is almost 18hh and I am 5"8, but his bucks are very powerful! We have included quite high energy feeds to bulk him up as he was in poor condition, but because he is so big and requires a lot of food, it doesn't seem to spark him up to a point he bombs off everywhere. So, we changed his bit, which was a bad idea, he went from a full cheek comfort snaffle (very soft, pressure on the tounge) to a loose ring. It ended up him going vertical and bucking even more, very wrong bit to use on him I know. I just need some good advice on what to do, as I've become a bit scared of riding him, I know a lot of people will know a lot more and put me to shame for knowing little about bits etc, I just want to be able to take him out on a hack with out me limping back with bruises, but I don't want to inflict any pain with a harsh bit, thanks
 
Well obviously I'm assuming his saddle fits. Have you also had his teeth checked? Was he vetted?

That's quite some reaction to a loose ring.

Have you considered dropping the grub right down and just ensuring good quality ad lib hay?

Could he also have beem kept 'poor' for a reason?
 
You have just bought a big young horse stuck it on loads of heating feed and wonder why it is behaving badly, go back to basics, stop the high energy feed, get to know him and take your time when making changes to his diet, it sounds as if the bit restricted him when he tried to play up so he threw his toys out of the pram.
He will put the weight on once the grass comes through, feed plenty of hay, turn him out as much as you can and avoid cantering until you have more control, he needs to build up condition steadily, keeping his work to walk and trot for a while will help you develop a feel for him and should enable him to keep some weight going on without it being burnt off with too much exercise.
 
i'd knock the high energy feed off, maybe add oils or copra coolstance if you want to put weight on, plus ad lib forage. then put him back in his old bit. i'd also loose school him first before i rode and then keep things simple by staying in the arena till you get your confidence up. If he's not getting enough work i'd pay for an expert or trainer to come and ride him for a few weeks till you get a handle on him.
 
Don't feed it !!

Poor or not. If you want to feed it give it some chaff & fibre beet :)

Nothing should have that kind of reaction to a loose ring snaffle !!

Get his back & saddle checked & get his teeth checked. could possibly be wolf teeth with that kind of reaction !!

If nothing comes back from those, get a full lameness work up
 
He had a five stage so I he's completely sound, he was a mans horse, the daughter sold him to us a year later after her father died, so he was out of work for 8 months, but rode a dream when we tried him and the fist couple of weeks, i think he reacted strongly because of the nutcracker action and it being a completely different shape, but it was quite a drama to a soft snaffle, I could reduce him down to just hay. Could you suggest any low sugar feeds that do bulk him up? He is on the soft and soak range at the moment with chaff and cool nuts but the mash does have cereals and oats, don't know whether to revert to getting a full cheek snaffle happy mouth or leave the bit he has?
 
He was on high energy feeds before hand, I was recommended by the vet to bulk him up. He has 24/7 turnout all day, everyday, he's hardly ever stuck in a stable! Thanks for the advice
 
I would take him off all feed except ad-lib hay (not haylage) and turn him away for a couple of weeks. Then gradually give him well-soaked grassnuts with grass chaff in small amounts to start with. He is unlikely to find this heating but do monitor carefully. If you feel that he needs something else add linseed oil/micronized linseed.

When you start riding him, go back to the bit you know he feels comfortable with. Then build his fitness up gradually. He has been off work for 8 months, so he needs to be brought on gradually. His muscles will get sore if he does too much too soon. He will need to have his back and saddle checked as he changes shape as he gets fitter.

I am always wary about 'manufactured' feeds, having had a mare who had been fed up very quickly by her previous owner who had acquired her in a very poor state, who then developed intolerances to refined sugar and cereals, which caused endless problems.
 
What was his job when he was a 'mans'' horse?

If he is out 24/7 on good grazing (and you're feeding hay?), then I'd knock the grub on the head.

Also, if he's heen out of work for 8 months then the most you should be doing is walking....

And yes, I'd pop him back in his original bit.
 
He was used for Showjumping, we haven't got much good grass and he does have about 2 good big haynets a day, going to walk and trot him and getting him used to me and get me used to him a bit more, and his old bit, thanks for the help
 
If he's finishing the hay (not a scrap left), then increase it until you see left overs.

Do get his teeth checked as well.
 
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