Can you live with an explosive horse?

Wagtail

Wagtail

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Just wondering if anyone else has an unpredictable 'exploding' horse? Can you live with it? I love him so much but every now and then just after the girth is tightened (often not even to a ridable degree) he completely freaks. I know it is genuine pain and not mental as he is a very 'genuine' horse. He's been operated on for severe kissing spine, and came back well from that, but a month in from starting ridden work again, he 'exploded' whilst tacking him up - again, after I had tightened the girth. I had given up on him for a year, before treating him for gastric ulcers. (He hadn't been scoped). Again he came back into work well and I was back riding him with no issues at all. He was fab. He has been off the ulcer treatment a couple of weeks now, and I hadn't ridden him during that time as I had been feeling very under the weather. Then today, I tacked him up in the stable. He was a little tense, but still licking my pockets for treats etc, so not bad. Got him into the arena and did his girth up one notch, and Bam!!! off he went, spinning, rearing, leaping and shaking. Needless to say, I didn't bother riding him! :o I have put him back on the abprazole and will try him again in a few days.

But really, my question is, does anyone else have this kind of horse, that they love and don't want to part with, so they manage and still ride? I had him on the list to go to the bloodbank, as I wanted him to do something useful and I know that life would suit him. He loves vets and needles don't bother him in the slightest, but at the end of the day, I love him and want to keep him. When he is being ridden without issues, he obviously is as happy as Larry. Relaxed and ears flopping. Never shies away from the saddle, always keen to be caught. He's only 11 and the nicest horse to ride I could wish for when he doesn't have this issue. So light and responsive. Never rears or bucks or naps. He has only 'exploded' once under saddle, and that was immediately after I had tightened the girth, so I never do that now from the saddle. I just wish I could find the cause. If only they could talk...

I would love to hear of other's stories, good or bad. Thanks.
 
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No actual experience from me, but in my very modest opinion, no. I couldn't live with the unpredictability of it all. It's that kind of behaviour that one day results in a head injury IMO.

I hope you find someone who gives you the answers you want though.
 
BoolavogueDC said:
No actual experience from me, but in my very modest opinion, no. I couldn't live with the unpredictability of it all. It's that kind of behaviour that one day results in a head injury IMO.

I hope you find someone who gives you the answers you want though.
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Thank you. I have to say, I agree regarding the unpredictability of it. Once he did it with me in the stable and it wasn't fun at all! But when he does it in an open space he always jumps away from you rather than over you. It is just so gutting every time it happens after I think the problem has gone away. :(
 
I can imagine how heartbreaking it is, to feel you've moved on, only to find you haven't. I just think horses are so terrifying, that if you find one that could hurt you any more than your average, you have to have a real think about your safety.
I know you say he jumps away, but what about if he slips and falls, breaks your leg or his? I get the impression this is your livelyhood, is it worth it to keep this horse in work?
 
BoolavogueDC said:
I can imagine how heartbreaking it is, to feel you've moved on, only to find you haven't. I just think horses are so terrifying, that if you find one that could hurt you any more than your average, you have to have a real think about your safety.
I know you say he jumps away, but what about if he slips and falls, breaks your leg or his? I get the impression this is your livelyhood, is it worth it to keep this horse in work?
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My problem is this, I have two horses. My other horse is 19 and suffers soundness issues due to Cushings and laminitis. At present she is fine, but my boy was bought as her replacement when she broke her shoulder. Then I had all the above problems with him too. I know my girl will have to retire again in a few years, if not earlier, I will keep her for life, ridden or not. If I keep my boy and don't ride him, I will no longer have my own ridden horse as I will keep him for life too (unless I send him to the blood bank). But yes, horses are my livelihood. I still have other horses to ride, but it just isn't the same as riding your own, no matter how nice they are to ride.
 
I agree with BDC. I was offered a horse exactly like this some years ago. I had ridden him as a youngster and would have loved to have him BUT something had happened to him, wasp/bee sting, at exactly the girthing up stage and he reacted very badly to it. Sad thing was, he was ok 99% of the time, but, when he went for for it, it was truly explosive.
 
In honesty, not to that degree.

I have a little mare, as lovely as they come, but sometimes a switch flicks in her brain and she'll stand on her back legs all day long if she wants to.

She's 99.9% fine out hacking, its only really schooling/jumping thats the issue, and I've had her 7 years so feel too responsible to sell her. Plus I don't do selling lol!

So I've found a lovely, very experienced sharer who only wants to hack her. After 7 years I just had enough tbh, and with my lovely boy alongside, her faults became only too clear...
 
I have different problem but same type of loving kind horse,it makes things so difficult to make right decision for both of you. Mine is rising 6 and has issues being ridden ,he had injury although ligament is healed hes never been safe to ride. He is absolutely 100 % to handle but so nervous I cant ride him away .Hes been backed professionally twice and never been right.I can get on and off him all day and hes ok but once going forward hes so tense and you feel he wants to bolt.Ive had his back xrayed and hes fine with saddle and vets says hes sound.
I have sympathetic trainer who wants problem horse to work with but selling him would break my heart although I feel hes never going to be right for me if he cant get over his issues.Equally I realise I can t risk my safety or health.Mines away at moment being backed with highly skilled trainer I know after this I will have to make some kind of decision and quite honestly it makes me feel sick.
We both have different type of explosive I feel your pain:o
 
hayinamanger said:
I agree with BDC. I was offered a horse exactly like this some years ago. I had ridden him as a youngster and would have loved to have him BUT something had happened to him, wasp/bee sting, at exactly the girthing up stage and he reacted very badly to it. Sad thing was, he was ok 99% of the time, but, when he went for for it, it was truly explosive.
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This is the bit I don't understand. Why they are fine most of the time. If you do everything the same every time and mostly they are fine, and then bam! Nothing has changed but something triggers it. This is why I think it is genuine pain, like a trapped nerve or something. The only thing different today was that it was a morning and a car was coming past the arena at exactly the same moment I was girthing up. Maybe I should keep a diary?
 
I feel awful for you, considering he was bought to replace her, it must up the stakes on wanting him to come good. I just wouldn't want to read a post where he does you a mischief seriously, horse riding is a dangerous sport, only you can decide what level of danger is acceptable to you.
 
Personally I do not enjoy unpredictable horses any more. I've spent the vast majority of my life with horses like this and it never bothered me when I was younger but it does now. I don't mind nutters who are always nutters, I don't mind quirky horses whose quirks I know about, but I can't stand having a horse who is okay one day and a crazy fool the next. Give me predictability any day! Of whatever sort. If the horse was mine and I wasn't able to get to the bottom of it then I'd retire it as pasture ornament.
 
Ahrena said:
In honesty, not to that degree.

I have a little mare, as lovely as they come, but sometimes a switch flicks in her brain and she'll stand on her back legs all day long if she wants to.

She's 99.9% fine out hacking, its only really schooling/jumping thats the issue, and I've had her 7 years so feel too responsible to sell her. Plus I don't do selling lol!

So I've found a lovely, very experienced sharer who only wants to hack her. After 7 years I just had enough tbh, and with my lovely boy alongside, her faults became only too clear...
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Your last point really strikes a chord with me. When I got back on my little mare after she had been retired 3 years, it was like putting on a comfy pair of slippers. She is so uncomplicated and easy. It makes you realise how lucky you are when you have a horse like this. She has her moments, but I know exactly what her triggers are, and that feels so much safer.

cellie said:
I have different problem but same type of loving kind horse,it makes things so difficult to make right decision for both of you. Mine is rising 6 and has issues being ridden ,he had injury although ligament is healed hes never been safe to ride. He is absolutely 100 % to handle but so nervous I cant ride him away .Hes been backed professionally twice and never been right.I can get on and off him all day and hes ok but once going forward hes so tense and you feel he wants to bolt.Ive had his back xrayed and hes fine with saddle and vets says hes sound.
I have sympathetic trainer who wants problem horse to work with but selling him would break my heart although I feel hes never going to be right for me if he cant get over his issues.Equally I realise I can t risk my safety or health.Mines away at moment being backed with highly skilled trainer I know after this I will have to make some kind of decision and quite honestly it makes me feel sick.
We both have different type of explosive I feel your pain:o
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You poor thing. Such a young horse too. I really hope he comes right for you this time.
 
With a horse as unpredictable and explosive as that, if I couldn't find a reason for it after investigations /attempts at bringing back to work I'd retire to pasture I'm afraid. :(

I know you want to have a rideable horse, but if he isn't then there's not much else that you can do without risking your neck and his every time he explodes. When I was younger I may have persevered, but now that I have a husband and children, even though they are grown up, I have to consider their needs too, and couldn't risk serious injury to myself.

I'm sorry not to sound more positive, and understand how difficult it can be when riding is important to you; it sometimes means we have to sacrifice our own wants in order to keep the horse, or we make difficult decisions to enable us to keep a horse that we can ride.

I don't envy your position, having been there myself; luckily my horse was rideable again after a couple of years, but I know how hard it can be. I can only wish you all the best with him, and hope that you do manage to solve his problems.
 
Spring Feather said:
Personally I do not enjoy unpredictable horses any more. I've spent the vast majority of my life with horses like this and it never bothered me when I was younger but it does now. I don't mind nutters who are always nutters, I don't mind quirky horses whose quirks I know about, but I can't stand having a horse who is okay one day and a crazy fool the next. Give me predictability any day! Of whatever sort. If the horse was mine and I wasn't able to get to the bottom of it then I'd retire it as pasture ornament.
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Yes, sadly I think that will be what I have to do. I am going to give it one more shot first though.
 
touchstone said:
With a horse as unpredictable and explosive as that, if I couldn't find a reason for it after investigations /attempts at bringing back to work I'd retire to pasture I'm afraid. :(

I know you want to have a rideable horse, but if he isn't then there's not much else that you can do without risking your neck and his every time he explodes. When I was younger I may have persevered, but now that I have a husband and children, even though they are grown up, I have to consider their needs too, and couldn't risk serious injury to myself.

I'm sorry not to sound more positive, and understand how difficult it can be when riding is important to you; it sometimes means we have to sacrifice our own wants in order to keep the horse, or we make difficult decisions to enable us to keep a horse that we can ride.

I don't envy your position, having been there myself; luckily my horse was rideable again after a couple of years, but I know how hard it can be. I can only wish you all the best with him, and hope that you do manage to solve his problems.
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Thanks, Touchtone. I think I may have to face the fact that I either part with him and send him to the blood bank or keep him as a pasture ornament and give up on my riding ambitions. :(
 
Were you aware there is pressure point where the girth runs? If touched in the right way, it will make your horse raise his back. Some horses are particularly sensitive in this area - I have two of them. They will react violently to girthing up, so I do it very slowly and try to not tighten once onboard.

Make sure you use a sheepskin or pure wool girth sleeve and if at all possible a broader type girth. It may help enough to make it more bearable for both of you.
 
My last TB could not be girthed up at all until I was on board - I got the athleticism of a gymnast at getting on with a loose girth. Also I could only ever do the girth up while he was moving. If I did it while he was still he would also have a dizzy fit - although not to the extent that your horse is doing. Mine had been issues from racing - when I first got him, if I did the girth up in the stable, he would rear vertical, but it improved over time. Have you tried keeping him walking while doing up the girth, before you get on? Don't let him stop walking until you have got the girth to where you want it to be. I'm sure you've already maybe tried it, but just thought it might be worth suggesting. Hope you can sort it. :)
 
Britestar said:
Were you aware there is pressure point where the girth runs? If touched in the right way, it will make your horse raise his back. Some horses are particularly sensitive in this area - I have two of them. They will react violently to girthing up, so I do it very slowly and try to not tighten once onboard.

Make sure you use a sheepskin or pure wool girth sleeve and if at all possible a broader type girth. It may help enough to make it more bearable for both of you.
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That is interesting. He doesn't like being groomed or clipped there either. I did try a sheepskin girth when he was at his worst and he was equally as bad with it so I reverted back to his leather 'humane' girth. I was thinking of trying a wintec cair girth. Thing is, today, when he reacted, the girth was far looser than it had been the last ten times he had the saddle on. :confused:

Holly Hocks said:
My last TB could not be girthed up at all until I was on board - I got the athleticism of a gymnast at getting on with a loose girth. Also I could only ever do the girth up while he was moving. If I did it while he was still he would also have a dizzy fit - although not to the extent that your horse is doing. Mine had been issues from racing - when I first got him, if I did the girth up in the stable, he would rear vertical, but it improved over time. Have you tried keeping him walking while doing up the girth, before you get on? Don't let him stop walking until you have got the girth to where you want it to be. I'm sure you've already maybe tried it, but just thought it might be worth suggesting. Hope you can sort it. :)
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Thank you. No, I haven't tried that. I had been doing the girth up bit by bit and walking him inbetween, which was working a treat until today. But I will try keeping him moving.
 
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Britestar said:
Were you aware there is pressure point where the girth runs? If touched in the right way, it will make your horse raise his back. Some horses are particularly sensitive in this area - I have two of them. They will react violently to girthing up, so I do it very slowly and try to not tighten once onboard.

Make sure you use a sheepskin or pure wool girth sleeve and if at all possible a broader type girth. It may help enough to make it more bearable for both of you.
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This - might be worth trying a very broad girth or a shaped one with a really fluffy sheepskin sleeve to make it really soft and comfortable for him, especially if you think it's a pain response.
Also might be worth a gel pad under the girth - you can get girths with an inbuilt gel area placed under the sternum
 
I think humane girths are probably the worst for this as they can be tightened. Maybe try a stud girth or something equally broad.

My new broken youngster will bronc in stable with the humane girth.
 
I see it slightly different. I wouldn't say unpredictble as it's only when doing up the girth this seems to happen. Explosive most definitely. Yes semantics to a degree but he doesn't do this at any other time correct? As far as these ulcer meds they're great but I see them as turning off those acid pumps. Once off them some horses can go back rather quickly to being unhappy and in pain. So I usually follow up with a buffer type powder that keeps the acid down some. I keep most of them on that long term. No I'm not a vet or scientist. But this has been my own experimentation.

Having said all that. Is this going to be a horse, no matter how much you love him, that you want to ride knowing that at some point an explosion can get you hurt. Like SF I no longer feel like dealing with anything that can be explosive. I want to have fun when I ride. Or go to ride. You have been amazing in seeking and doing whatever you can to make sure he's happy and healthy. So not an easy choice.

Terri
 
I think Bee was probably the most difficult we'd put up with, and the only reason for that was because she had so much to offer. She was quite volatile, but in the end until her final month she was never outright dangerous. She's throw tantrums but they were just tantrums and generally with tactful riding you'd could persuade her out of it.

Now, I think we'd rather have nice, easy horses to look after. It makes other faults so much easier to swallow!
 
Also you could try girthing up at the walk. You'd need a person to walk though while you do up slowly a hole at a time. I would then walk in hand for about 10mins. Even if you get him comfy again. And if he explodes maybe give him a lunge quickly before putting him away. I hesitate to say that as people will think I'm ignoring pain. It's a fine line sometimes when horses have been through pain. You get them better and sometimes they might not be in pain but expect they will. So if things are right he may need to realise a reaction won't get him out of work. Again that's situation dependant for people who know what's going on.

Also the stud girth idea is a good one from poster above.

Terri
 
No, no way. Its only a horse and I, and you, only get one neck. Its not worth it.

Get a safe, enjoyable one, then you'll look back and think "wtf was I doing persevering and risking my safety for so long?"
 
i know how you feel...not exactly the same situation but very nervy mare who is also the most loving person i've ever known. She doesn't cope when left alone or out hunting. I'd love to keep her but parents have put their foot down:(
 
Wagtail said:
Just wondering if anyone else has an unpredictable 'exploding' horse? Can you live with it? I love him so much but every now and then just after the girth is tightened (often not even to a ridable degree) he completely freaks. I know it is genuine pain and not mental as he is a very 'genuine' horse. He's been operated on for severe kissing spine, and came back well from that, but a month in from starting ridden work again, he 'exploded' whilst tacking him up - again, after I had tightened the girth. I had given up on him for a year, before treating him for gastric ulcers. (He hadn't been scoped). Again he came back into work well and I was back riding him with no issues at all. He was fab. He has been off the ulcer treatment a couple of weeks now, and I hadn't ridden him during that time as I had been feeling very under the weather. Then today, I tacked him up in the stable. He was a little tense, but still licking my pockets for treats etc, so not bad. Got him into the arena and did his girth up one notch, and Bam!!! off he went, spinning, rearing, leaping and shaking. Needless to say, I didn't bother riding him! :o I have put him back on the abprazole and will try him again in a few days.

But really, my question is, does anyone else have this kind of horse, that they love and don't want to part with, so they manage and still ride? I had him on the list to go to the bloodbank, as I wanted him to do something useful and I know that life would suit him. He loves vets and needles don't bother him in the slightest, but at the end of the day, I love him and want to keep him. When he is being ridden without issues, he obviously is as happy as Larry. Relaxed and ears flopping. Never shies away from the saddle, always keen to be caught. He's only 11 and the nicest horse to ride I could wish for when he doesn't have this issue. So light and responsive. Never rears or bucks or naps. He has only 'exploded' once under saddle, and that was immediately after I had tightened the girth, so I never do that now from the saddle. I just wish I could find the cause. If only they could talk...

I would love to hear of other's stories, good or bad. Thanks.
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Sorry this will be a long post!but a good story. yes i have the horse you have just described, and have had for almost 2 years, but not yet given up on (nor ever will)...

he has one of the worst cases of ks the vets have ever seen – but we didn’t operate, were advised not to.
he has had gastric ulcers – lack of forage/turnout due to yard restrictions
he has severe muscle spasms through his back and around his stomach.
he most likely has nerve damage.

I have been bucked off in canter, run away with, even thrown on the floor before my bums in the saddle!!!

You could call him unpredictable and exploding (I generally call him other, unwriteable, things), but he goes further than your horse does. I’ve had him rearing, bucking, kicking, bolting when doing up the girth. But he will also blindly run around his stable, charge at the door, and finally can drop down at your feet like hes had a heart attack. Simply by doing the girth up one hole. – he doesn’t do this every day, in fact VERY infrequently now, but ive learnt to read the signs of when it will happen and pressure him no further.

However I still compete him BD with over 65%, ride him every other day currently, hack out, school (but don’t jump). Hes happy and works amazingly, doesn’t act as if in pain and certainly doesn’t look it.

Ks often creates ‘refered pain’, my boy had it, and yours could possibly have to (just even from ulcers). ‘mine’ was around the stomach and girth area, very deep in the muscles and caused the above to happen. The pain was caused by him holding/bracing himself due the ks...so muscles became tight and painful...in the end we couldnt even touch him anywhere around the stomach area. It took 3 physio sessions to sort him out, and lots of relaxed time in the field.

I also have a routine before getting on – takes a bit longer to tack up...but it works.
He is thoroughly groomed – every where really firmly, he also gets ‘itched’ over neck/saddle/loins area, to make him really relaxed and happy. Girth area is concentrated on with the brush, as is stomach. Warms him up and gets blood flowing.
Put saddle on with girth ‘one and one’ – so pretty loose....itch neck again, do up one hole one side....go do something else (boots/hat etc), put up another hole.

I do this so it is never loose, but not really tight. Here i bring him out of the box and walk and walk......finally getting the saddle up one more hole on each side during the long walk.

After this i can *normally* get on.

He will only take a gp girth, and it has to have a squidgy, but not fluffy, sleave!

I also NEVER ride if I feel that he is tense or ‘not right’ when being girthed up....just put away and allowed to relax...we can ride another day!

So yes ive learnt to manage it, and it has become routine to do these things now, but ive had to learn what he requires me to do to make him comfortable, which is only fair when i ask alot of him, considering what hes been through.
 
I have just experienced the very same thing with my youngster but he is at the very strart of his career so I am looking in to the reasons for it. I first sat on him last Oct/Nov so he was still 3. I the took him out 'hacking' being lead/walked with and progressed to going out with a another horse. He had no issues hacing a saddle put on or girth etc.

However, this year (he's 4 now), he'd been hacked out a couple of times. I needed a new saddle for him as was using my horse's but if they are to go out together he needed his own! All seemed fine ish with this - been fiddling with the fit a bit. Got him a Wintec girth - those synthetic wide/shaped ones as had been advised to get wide as would be more comfy (never had issues with the previous girth though). Anyway, he's worn it a few times but has been getting preogressively more 'girthy' over the last few weeks. He also chucked me off at two little shows I took him too - he spun and bronced.

Took him back to basics a bit and had help from a trainer. Felt making some progress and then after chatting with saddler I thought i'd try his saddel on him with no padding etc. Just did it in the field with a headcollar on him (had no reason to think I shouldn't) ad he was ok, did the girth up (he kicked out a bit). I then asked him to move and BAM!! He just went mad. He threw himself away from me, I kept hold just thinking he was being a prat. He continued to bromc and I ended up stood in front of him. He then reared (he's never done that before) can came down on top of me. I let go at this point and he continued bucking in terror! I was very very lucky as I had no hat on and, although he hit my head it wasn't with a shod hoof!

he was clearly very upset about it and I truly believe I caused some pain and I am looking at the girth as the cause.

have you changed to just a normal, cotton type girth? Others on here have said string girths are good, or leather. It may be worthwhile trying this. Mine is sensitive having his chest and tummy brushed so maybe he is more sensitive than I gave him credit for.

To be honest, if I don't get to the bottom of it (and I know it sounds mad) I would consider getting an animal communicator in as a last resort!!
 
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