Coming back into work, bucking bronco

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MissJessica

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My horse has been under Veterinary supervision due to a lameness in Aug. Prior to the lameness he was fit and in work.
The lameness is now resolved & the vet wants me to get on with things as I've probably been too precious & gone too slowly.

We've slowly built our work back up and at first he was very lazy, so I popped a pair of spurs on and this successfully woke him up & he had a little cow kick at my leg. Something he has never done before & I rode in spurs often.

Gradually we introduced trot work & he became giddy, having little bucks often in the same place of the ménage. I spoke to my vet & we discussed it at an appointment recently who checked him over with a verdict of excitement.

I have been trotting for longer periods & found the bucking to be more frequent in trot. And I've been coping well putting a brave face on.
Haven't yet wanted to canter in the ménage for fear of loosing control but have cantered on a hack without bucking.

Today, we were riding with another livery, he squealed & bucked que complete broncing session throwing me off. I got back on, aware of the situation and when we trotted he kept shaking his head excitedly, back up, feeling 18hh, ears back & to stop the buck I lifted my hands, encouraged him on & turned a tighter circle if needed. I hacked him out afterwards & he was bouncing along, feeling jolly.

I don't want bucking/broncing to become a habit as I often ride alone.
Any tips and do you agree excitement.

Also his saddle last checked June (he has both dressage and GP and behaving the same in both). Teeth done Feb & always done annually. Back last checked in Aug. Vet last seen early Nov & he is very happy.

Why are things never easy....
 
Hmm time off and saddle only checked before the time off, I would get it checked again...

I have one who likes being airborne, sending forward and circles do help, but I'd want to be certain that it was just excitement first.
 
AlexHyde said:
Hmm time off and saddle only checked before the time off, I would get it checked again...

I have one who likes being airborne, sending forward and circles do help, but I'd want to be certain that it was just excitement first.
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Agree with Alex. The first thing I'd be checking was saddle fit given he's had time off as I would expect muscle/weight will have changed during his time off.
 
Tricky - it could definitely be saddle fit or something physical, but then I think we've all known horses who would turn into fire-breathing dragons when coming back into work. I would get saddle/physical problem checked and if all clear, potentially find a brave rider to get him doing some canter work for you.
 
How long have you had the horse? Did you get him fit and ridden?

He could be finally truly sound and we'll within himself with no niggles and is loving life. He could have been behaving before because there was an underlying problem.
 
EKW said:
How long have you had the horse? Did you get him fit and ridden?

He could be finally truly sound and we'll within himself with no niggles and is loving life. He could have been behaving before because there was an underlying problem.
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As depressing as that ^ may be it could well be true sorry :o.

Our airborne one was a dream when we tried her, lovely at home, turned into a psycho at shows and was positively demonic a couple of months in when winter turnout restrictions hit :eek:. Steep learning curve but we stuck with her and love her to bits now even if her rodeo skills do re-surface every now and again :o.
 
Fortunately not, I've owned him years and caught his lameness very early & it was not hopping.

I feel I know him very well. I've contacted physio & saddler so hopefully get these things checked before the end of the month.

I just wondered whether anyone had experience of this when coming back into work. He is a quick learner & tried to boss me around in the past learning if he does something & it gets the desired result he doesn't forget so feel I need to nip it in the bud quickly.
 
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I can count on the fingers of one hand the horses I've dealt with that haven't had a yippee when coming back into work after time out. Whilst I agree with the importance of making sure a horse is comfortable in humself and his kit, I think that a lot of people forget that horses like to let off steam a bit, and most enjoy bucking. They do enough of it in the field for it not to concern me when they do it under saddle!
 
Ah ok that's good to know, for mine it will depend on her mood whether she is sharply told to get on or pulled up.

For my baby horse who it isn't a habit yet, I've found the same method works kicked on and put on a circle, or pulled up until she's calmer and then we go again, which is currently doing the trick. For me bucking I send them on, any rodeo'ing gets pulled up quick sharp (one rein stop tends to stop them).

For hi-jinks I think letting them go forwards (safely) generally settles them down :).
 
Sounds like he is feeling well! Assuming it fits with your vet's advice, have you thought about doing some in hand work? I try and do a weekly session with my Connie and he loves it - we use poles and make puzzles for him, get him leg yielding, backing up, turn on forehand etc. It get's his busy little mind working, improves his manners no end and lets off any steam - last week he enjoyed the line of trotting poles I had set up so much we had a little Lippizaner show of enthusiasm on the end of the lunge line (having already attempted to jump them all in one go!), but that is far more amusing when you are on the ground safely out of the way (and wearing a hat!)
 
My 18 year old dope on a rope is always psycho after a holiday.

When he had 5 'months off due to a colaterial ligament tear he was bucking loads out hacking and in the school. He would use the slightest excuse to spin round and hoon off with his head between his knees.

He used to have a month off at the end of the season when i evented him and he always used to buck in the school but not out hacking on return.

/however/ he did it with ears pricked and a wild glint in his eye. It was obvious he was feeling well, but your fellow kicking out at your leg and having his ears back makes me wonder if there's more going on.
 
MissJessica said:
My horse has been under Veterinary supervision due to a lameness in Aug. Prior to the lameness he was fit and in work.
The lameness is now resolved & the vet wants me to get on with things as I've probably been too precious & gone too slowly.

We've slowly built our work back up and at first he was very lazy, so I popped a pair of spurs on and this successfully woke him up & he had a little cow kick at my leg. Something he has never done before & I rode in spurs often.

Gradually we introduced trot work & he became giddy, having little bucks often in the same place of the ménage. I spoke to my vet & we discussed it at an appointment recently who checked him over with a verdict of excitement.

I have been trotting for longer periods & found the bucking to be more frequent in trot. And I've been coping well putting a brave face on.
Haven't yet wanted to canter in the ménage for fear of loosing control but have cantered on a hack without bucking.

Today, we were riding with another livery, he squealed & bucked que complete broncing session throwing me off. I got back on, aware of the situation and when we trotted he kept shaking his head excitedly, back up, feeling 18hh, ears back & to stop the buck I lifted my hands, encouraged him on & turned a tighter circle if needed. I hacked him out afterwards & he was bouncing along, feeling jolly.

I don't want bucking/broncing to become a habit as I often ride alone.
Any tips and do you agree excitement.

Also his saddle last checked June (he has both dressage and GP and behaving the same in both). Teeth done Feb & always done annually. Back last checked in Aug. Vet last seen early Nov & he is very happy.

Why are things never easy....
Click to expand...

yes saddle checked last June when it work but she has been off worked for a few months and muscle tone gone and fat in its place, so saddle wont fit perfect now. Get the bloods done to rule out any blood desorders, as my mare got Myopathy due to too much corn and not enough exercise and bucked more and more till diagnosed and treated.

get a vet examination to fine the cause
 
Do you have another horse if he were mine I would be leading him from another horse for an hour then riding him .
I would be working twice daily feeding only meadow hay and turning as much as possible .
 
^^^ Was just going to say what's he fed as I'd have him only on some meadow hay until he's got his ants out of his pants. I'd also be working him harder (or rather longer) so that when he comes back he's calm and tired. Get to the bottom of him then you can build him up to where you want him.
 
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