Bucking Pony

[Carlosmum]

I wasn't sure about posting this, but I would welcome thoughts ideas or experiences that may help me going forward, I'm afraid it might be a long one!
Pony is 7YO NF gelding.
Bought 18 mnths ago as a 'been backed' but not ridden as no time (Sept 22)
Soon discovered he had been sold to her for £1 and she was trying to make a quick buck.
Did ground work and re-backed and then found the buck
Contacted the previous (but 1) owner to find she had moved him on as was promised next person would investigate. Also found he had had issues with ulcers.
FF to Jan 2023 I slipped and broke my hip so no riding for me. Pony sent to my families yard so OH didn't have to worry.
He came home again in January and I started to process all over again, including sending him to a trainer for a month.
Since the beginning of April, I have been doing ground work, long lining and desensitising. Mostly I have been able to mount and after a few humpy moments move him forward into work. However last week, I am told he exploded the moment I asked him to walk forwards and I ended up in A and E with concussion. I can't afford too many falls like this I am now 60.

So my plan going forward is:

Farrier coming Tuesday ( as normal)
Chiro coming Wednesday (planned before the drama) depending on what she says or finds I will then speak to the vet. and call the saddler.
What I have noticed...
It is the process of mounting that causes the most issue. Once on board and moving forward he seems to be ok and relaxed
He seems to always step forward with his left fore first is this significant? Physio said there might be an issue with his left hip.

I am desperate to get him sorted, he is a lovely chap and could have a great future, BUT if we cant get to the bottom of the bucking I will retire or PTS I will not pass him on to someone else its not fair on said person or the pony. Pretty sure the moral of the story is not to buy on the rebound! But I'd only ever had home bred before

Is there anything else I can do? I gave him a calming cookie before lunging him this afternoon and he was a dope on a rope. Can I do this before riding? If the vet cant find anything what do I do next. I cant afford to throw £000s at him he's not worth that much and is not insured ( another story!)

Thank you if you've made it this far, I welcome wise advice, I am getting closer to that brick wall.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Has he had a vet work up or a saddle check at all?

 

[nutjob]

I'd just cut to the chase and get a senior vet to do a work up. I doubt that kind of explosive reaction doesn't have a veterinary issue behind it. It sounds exactly like the reaction from my wobbler. Getting the neck and back xray'd is not that expensive (especially compared with getting a brain injury!)

 

[ycbm]

Save yourself the chiro fee, just call the vet.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would just get him to the vet for a workup.

 

[Zoeypxo]

How was he at the trainers yard?
Agree a vet work up sounds like the next step

 

[McGrools]

I wouldnt worry about the saddle, you know he has a history of this behaviour. It will run deeper than the saddle fit. X

 

[Carlosmum]

Off to the Vet today, to see whether we can find any issues that are causing the bucking. I'm not sure whether I want the to find something or whether I want it to be a behaviour thing. I kind hope there is something wrong and we can come to a decision as to what is the next step, Wish us luck! Will post back later with the results!

 

[Bellaboo18]

Off to the Vet today, to see whether we can find any issues that are causing the bucking. I'm not sure whether I want the to find something or whether I want it to be a behaviour thing. I kind hope there is something wrong and we can come to a decision as to what is the next step, Wish us luck! Will post back later with the results!

Good luck. Let us know how you get on. They'll find something.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Off to the Vet today, to see whether we can find any issues that are causing the bucking. I'm not sure whether I want the to find something or whether I want it to be a behaviour thing. I kind hope there is something wrong and we can come to a decision as to what is the next step, Wish us luck! Will post back later with the results!

I doubt it is purely 'a behaviour thing'. Even if he isn't in pain now, I guess he is remembering previous pain.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would imagine they will find something I hope it's something easily fixed

 

[SEL]

OP given he's a new forest I'd test for PSSM. If you read this at the vets then ask them to pull bloods for CK levels after they've done the work up - it'll see if there is any muscle damage.

My PSSM mare is now retired but I used to get on with caution from a high mounting block (she's 15.2) because some days the minute my bum hit the saddle she'd plunge forward and buck. Over the past few years I've qualified in equine massage therapy and I now appreciate quite how tight her muscles get and fully appreciate her reaction! Unfortunately hock arthritis and a hind suspensory issue are also in the mix neither helping her back and I value my neck so paddock pet she is.

I hope the vet finds something - I know too well that frustration of knowing your horse isn't right but not being able to pinpoint exactly what's up.

 

[Carlosmum]

We found something.... whether it is the something we are looking for we are not sure. Vet x-rayed his spin and though he doesn't have kissing spins as such, on the back side pf one of his vertebrae (spinal processes) there are some 'changes' . This appears to be a roughened area which should apparently be smooth, and may be causing inflammation in the ligament against which it sits... Hence pain when the rider sits upright in the saddle. So he has had a steroid injection into the ligament and now we wait for healing. He has 1-2 weeks walking, 2-3 weeks working then we can start thinking about getting on board again. She did comment that they could operate to 'smooth out' the rough areas but that is in the future at the moment. Fingers crossed we have found our answer.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

We found something.... whether it is the something we are looking for we are not sure. Vet x-rayed his spin and though he doesn't have kissing spins as such, on the back side pf one of his vertebrae (spinal processes) there are some 'changes' . This appears to be a roughened area which should apparently be smooth, and may be causing inflammation in the ligament against which it sits... Hence pain when the rider sits upright in the saddle. So he has had a steroid injection into the ligament and now we wait for healing. He has 1-2 weeks walking, 2-3 weeks working then we can start thinking about getting on board again. She did comment that they could operate to 'smooth out' the rough areas but that is in the future at the moment. Fingers crossed we have found our answer.

That could definitely have caused the bucking fingers crossed his better to ride now after treatment.

 

[SEL]

It sounds hopeful that the vet has found the issue. Fingers crossed the treatment works.

 

[Carlosmum]

Thought I would update rather than repost. I am back in hospital again, Pony chucked me off again last weekend in almost exactly the same way. Even tough my trainer had already mounted/dismounted a number of times before my attempt. As a result I have a broken/crushed vertebra fortunately no damage to my spinal chord, Pony's future is now uncertain, I have a few options, retire him at home, see him everyday and play with him inhand, send him to my Mum's place to retire there, or attempt to move him on with a full disclosure about his history, the last thing I want is for him to be moved on every few months and injure anyone else. A younger/fitter more agile rider may be able to ride him through his trauma memories but sadly I cannot be that person.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thought I would update rather than repost. I am back in hospital again, Pony chucked me off again last weekend in almost exactly the same way. Even tough my trainer had already mounted/dismounted a number of times before my attempt. As a result I have a broken/crushed vertebra fortunately no damage to my spinal chord, Pony's future is now uncertain, I have a few options, retire him at home, see him everyday and play with him inhand, send him to my Mum's place to retire there, or attempt to move him on with a full disclosure about his history, the last thing I want is for him to be moved on every few months and injure anyone else. A younger/fitter more agile rider may be able to ride him through his trauma memories but sadly I cannot be that person.

So sorry your injured again! Hope you get better soon.

 

[Tiddlypom]

Oh my goodness, I’m so sorry that you are back in hospital. I hope that you are able to be discharged soon and will make a full recovery soon. You had tried so hard with him.

Please, whatever you do, don’t sell him on even with a full declaration. He’s hurting somewhere. Someone down the line would try to ride him again.

I could be looking for a genuinely non ridden companion in the next few months, but even for that I’d want to be sure that whatever I take on is happy and comfortable with being a pasture ornament.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I'm so sorry that you are in hospital again. Fingers crossed that you make a swift recovery.
Please make sure that you retain control of this pony even if you decide to loan him as a companion.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I'm so sorry you've been hurt and hope you get discharged soon.

As others have said don't sell even with full disclosure, it's not a case of riding him through anything, he's in pain. I hope the person that paid £1 for him knows the selfish thing she did.

 

[Gloi]

I do hope you recover quickly.
It shows the importance of listening to
what an animal is telling you and you need to make sure nobody tries to ride him again so don't pass him on under any circumstances as there will always be someone looking for quick money. Either keep him yourself or have him put down so he doesn't end up killing someone.

 

[tda]

I do hope you recover quickly.
It shows the importance of listening to
what an animal is telling you and you need to make sure nobody tries to ride him again so don't pass him on under any circumstances as there will always be someone looking for quick money. Either keep him yourself or have him put down so he doesn't end up killing someone.

This

 

[Equi]

I’m sorry you have been hurt but if he is sold you won’t be the last. I’m afraid this is one of those situations where he must be retired and whenever you can no longer keep him he should be pts. I went through similar heartache and dilemma with a friend who moved the horse on and he then put someone in a wheelchair and was promptly pts. No horse or pony should ever be put through the trauma of being ridden through pain.

 

[SEL]

I'm so sorry you've been injured again.

I think his ridden life is over - it just wouldn't be safe for someone to try and get on him.

I hope you recover quickly.

 

[Carlosmum]

Thanks guys I know you are right, as for the woman I got him from, I will make sure she knows, I appreciate buyer beware stc but I actually feel for the person who sold him to her who has been letdown. I haven't told her yet that I too can't sort him out.

 

[Equi]

Some just are not meant to be ridden and that’s okay. As long as he has a safe home and is happy being retired it’s not a disappointment to anyone.