Bucking

[H-C]

Joined12 December 2019Messages2
I recently got my horse clipped Just a trace clip as it was his first time being clipped and he was quite nervous. Ever since that day he’s been acting up himself throwing some bucks in his transitions into canter and sometimes even in Trot. This is very strange as he was always very well mannered and quite in the arena. I had the vet out about a week ago to check his back and legs and she couldn’t see any sign of pain and her verdict was that he was just being ‘bold’ in response to his clip. I have been jump training him for a while now and wish to start competing but it is very frustrating for me as he has only started this habit of throwing bucks. Would anyone have any tips or advice as how to stop him from bucking in his transitions? I had a saddle fitted to him as well and it has recently been checked and came out with no problems whatsoever so this is all very confusing for me. Would appreciate any help!

Read more at https://forums.horseandhound.co.uk/...ly-after-clipping.459522/#02uuhhIEte0kmdCe.99

 

[AmyMay]

Horses can often feel ‘fresh’ after a clip. You could try a quarter sheet on him to see if that helps?

 

[PurBee]

If he’s never been clipped before he’s going to feel very sensitive with being touched against clipped skin. Considering they can feel a fly land on their winter fur, just imagine how sensitive and naked he feels now where he’s been clipped. You say he’s bucking during transition between paces, after the moment where you would normally touch leg signals on his now bare sensitive body area. He’s not used to the new skin sensitive feeling. The stubble that he now has also will feel very different to being brushed against as opposed to full fur.

You could de-sensitive him on the ground..first with your bare hands stroking then rubbing on his bare areas...fussing him, give him a treat even, then halter him and have your normal riding boot in your hand and just gently start with touching his unclipped fur with your boot, even at his front chest, gently moving the boot in small circles massage round to his belly area with fur and then to clipped girth area....so he gets used to the feel of your boots against this ‘new skin’ he feels he has. Do both sides like this. Don’t stop when he reacts initially, only stop when he stops reacting. Repeat this until he’s bored of you doing this and doesn’t even blink. It might take 1 session of 10 mins or several sessions spanned over days.

He should stop reacting pretty soon when he rewires his brain to accept the new sensation.
If you can mount him after ground work desensitizing, start with gently rubbing your legs side to side....reach down with your hands stroke girth area like before and low neck, he will come to understand it’s the same feeling as the groundwork and nothing to be stressed about.