Excited or in pain?

[SimplySurprising]

My horse has started bucking after jumps (only recently within the last few months), during winter I put it down to him being excited to be out as we don't have winter turn out. During that time he also had an allergic reaction to something and was bald in places, this included under the saddle so again, I thought maybe could be to do with the itching and the saddle was irritating it.
Anyway, fast forward to now and the last two times I've jumped him in our jumping field he's bucked intermittently after he lands. As he's going over and for the first stride or two after he lands he seems happy enough, ears forward and eager.
Again, don't know if its excitement as this was only his second time jumping in a good few months.

He is totally fine out hacks and doing flatwork.

His teeth were done 1 month ago, and had an equine sports massage woman out who told me he's quite weak in his pelvis, but that's not a new thing.

Saddle fitter due out at beginning of June. So anyone else have any other suggestions in the meantime?

He is also totally fine in himself, still a bit itchy (not to the point of rubbing patches away like in winter, which we never got to the bottom of but it disappeared when he went out in the field) that could be down to the flies though.

 

[Hormonal Filly]

Hi SimplySuprising!
I had something similar, my mare started doing this. My vet said when jumping, on landing so much pressure goes onto the horses joints, specially the hocks. She started bucking after jumps and then bronking, it turned out she had arthritis in her hocks, it showed as on a flexion test she was 2/10 lame but xrays were just to confirm. She was only 8, it may not be the case, but it would be worth getting a vet out for some flexion tests and x-rays just to see in my opinion. Best of luck!

 

[SimplySurprising]

Hi SimplySuprising!
I had something similar, my mare started doing this. My vet said when jumping, on landing so much pressure goes onto the horses joints, specially the hocks. She started bucking after jumps and then bronking, it turned out she had arthritis in her hocks, it showed as on a flexion test she was 2/10 lame but xrays were just to conform. She was only 8, it may not be the case, but it would be worth getting a vet out for some flexion tests and x-rays just to see in my opinion. Best of luck!

Hes only 8 aswell! Thanks, think vet will more than likely be my next port of call, even if its just to ease my mind!

 

[benz]

I agree with poster above, in my experience hocks would be my first thought

 

[Birker2020]

I agree with poster above, in my experience hocks would be my first thought

Me too. Maybe a lameness workup to see where the problem lies although possibly wait until saddle been checked as well.

 

[SimplySurprising]

Really hope its not the hocks! After saddle been checked I will definitely get vet out. Thank you all for your advice x

 

[ihatework]

If you are worried then a vet check is definitely sensible.
But some horses do have a buck and a play when they are having fun.
I had one who I worried about if he wasn't having a squeak and a hump, I think you need to take into account their general personality and overall demeanour when evaluating if what you are seeing is pain or excitement

 

[SimplySurprising]

If you are worried then a vet check is definitely sensible.
But some horses do have a buck and a play when they are having fun.
I had one who I worried about if he wasn't having a squeak and a hump, I think you need to take into account their general personality and overall demeanour when evaluating if what you are seeing is pain or excitement

He does love jumping and can get excited and does throw tantrums sometimes which include bucking, I don't know if im just being mega paranoid but better safe than sorry I suppose!

 

[Wagtail]

I had one that would buck after a jump but only after she hadn't done it for a while. She loved jumping and so I always put it down to excitement. It would literally only be the first couple of jumps and then she wouldn't do it again unless she'd had a few weeks break. If your horse is doing it routinely, then I would suspect pain.

 

[SimplySurprising]

Just a little update for anyone that is interested!

Had the saddle fitter out and he had in a medium wide gullet (which turns out was quite big) so now he's got a medium in and that seems to have solved the problem (so far!!)