bucking in transition trot to canter

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KG73

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Hello, I have a cob x clydesdale who puts something less then a buck more like a hop forwards in transition trot to canter, he doesnt do it all the time but the bigger the trot the bigger the hop. We think he does this more on the left rein than the right. He's 5 turning 6 in June. I've had the saddler out, and the physio and everything was fine. Various teachers think its a schooling issue in that his breeding type doesnt really make stretching out that easy, and also he is young and needs to get more muscle in his rear quarters... Im obviously concerned he's uncomfortable and wonder if this is one for the vet? My first horse (my theres a lot to worry about!). Otherwise hes in fine fettle. Any thoughts most gratefully recieved!
 
As you have had the saddle etc checked, I would recommend having the vet out to look at something like kissing spine etc. I have ridden a horse that did very similar to yours and sadly the owner wouldnt listen to me when I said I think they need they vet to check for KS but Im pretty confident that is that horses problem. It wont hurt to have everything checked! It might just be unbalanced-ness. It might be something else and if you can catch that something else earlier on, it is in yours and your horses best interest.
 
If saddler and physio are happy I think I'd get him out of the school and out hacking in an area where you can do lots of transitions in straight lines. 5 is still relatively young for that type of horse (develop slowly) so he might just be finding it all a bit difficult, especially on a circle.

Although my welsh C stallion never grew out of the hopping/skipping into canter - but his was more excitement than anything else.
 
My friend has a Shire cross Clydesdale and he did the whole weird hop thingy into canter until he was about 8 years old in the school.

In the meantime she did tons of hacking and cantered lots on hacks with no problem but being a large breed and a young horse - the balance and muscle needed to be there before working in a school.

If you're concerned it's something more than simple age playing a part, there's never any harm in calling the vets and seeing if they'd come out - I've done this over the past 10 years or so with my retired lad and I apologised at one appointment and said "You must think me a timewaster", to which my lovely vet replied "Not at all - we'd rather you call us if you were concerned" and I've remembered that ever since xx
 
My old mare used to do this. Turned out to be kissing spine.
Could also absolutely just be a big unbalanced baby, or excitement. But if there’s no improvement might be worth getting a vet out.
 
SEL said:
My cob will still do this sometimes in the school, usually now when he's tired. It's a balance issue with the younger horses as they try and sort their legs out.

I spent most of last year cantering out on hacks or big fields. We've only just got balanced enough to canter a 20m circle.
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Thats interesting, I schooled him today after Saturday off and a quiet hack yesterday and he was hoof perfect. I'm inclined to think youre right, balance and fitness... both his and my own (I think I still lean too much on the inside rein)
;)
 
sarcasm_queen said:
My old mare used to do this. Turned out to be kissing spine.
Could also absolutely just be a big unbalanced baby, or excitement. But if there’s no improvement might be worth getting a vet out.
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Yes that would be a sensible course of action... thank you. Am obviously hoping hes unbalanced, he doesnt always do it, in fact long perioods when he doesnt so Im inclined to think its a balance issue.
 
AppyLover1996 said:
My friend has a Shire cross Clydesdale and he did the whole weird hop thingy into canter until he was about 8 years old in the school.

In the meantime she did tons of hacking and cantered lots on hacks with no problem but being a large breed and a young horse - the balance and muscle needed to be there before working in a school.

If you're concerned it's something more than simple age playing a part, there's never any harm in calling the vets and seeing if they'd come out - I've done this over the past 10 years or so with my retired lad and I apologised at one appointment and said "You must think me a timewaster", to which my lovely vet replied "Not at all - we'd rather you call us if you were concerned" and I've remembered that ever since xx
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Wow... a shire clydesdale x! He must have been a big lad! Yes, all my instructors think its youth - excitment, lack of muscle and balance. I rode him today after a quiet hack yesterday and Saturday off and he was hoof perfect. He's six in June so still very young. I am trying not to lean on the insde rein (my bad), I think thats causing him to get a bit bunched up in the transition. Thanks for your reply and I agree re the vet, I really like our vet and its always good to hear what they have to say.
 
dorsetladette said:
If saddler and physio are happy I think I'd get him out of the school and out hacking in an area where you can do lots of transitions in straight lines. 5 is still relatively young for that type of horse (develop slowly) so he might just be finding it all a bit difficult, especially on a circle.

Although my welsh C stallion never grew out of the hopping/skipping into canter - but his was more excitement than anything else.
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Yes, you're quite right. Im going to do that. The 'worst' hes been (if you know what I mean, he's actually really great and gives it all a go) was in a poles clinic... I think the angles and transitions were just too much for him. He doesnt seem to find it easy to legnthen his stride or turn tightly (his breed type I guess) and I think in the transitions he sometimes gets a bit bunched up, hed rather leap into it than push from behind. Thanks for your reply!
 
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