Horse bucking into canter

[elliehayes92]

So my horse bucked into a good 75% of the canter transitions today. He hasn’t been ridden in a week and a half and has been clipped so I am not sure if it’s just freshness or if theres something wrong?

His saddle was checked just over a month ago and he is due his teeth in January.

He’s also started riding very downhill and heavy in my hand. We’ve had a few grind to a halt stops at jumps (he had a tendency of running out a few months ago bur we fixed that).

He doesn’t buck into canter on the lunge or on hacks.

 

[Regandal]

When he does buck, what kind of surface are you on? Is it deep?

 

[elliehayes92]

Fairly deep yes

 

[HeyMich]

My daughter's pony started bucking into canter in the Autumn (riding in a grass field so not due to a deep surface) and lo and behold, within a week an abscess had burst through. Another 2 weeks and another abscess (he was then tested for Cushings and has now started treatment). He was trying to tell us that he was sore. It might not be the case with yours, but it's worth listening to any change in behaviour of you ask me.

 

[ycbm]

He’s also started riding very downhill and heavy in my hand.

Big alarm bells ringing. With the escalation to bucking, I think your horse needs to see a vet.

 

[elliehayes92]

Big alarm bells ringing. With the escalation to bucking, I think your horse needs to see a vet.

What do you think it could be? Hocks?

 

[LEC]

There is a clear difference between pain related and fresh/feeling well bucks. The feeling well type tend to stop once a bit of work has gone in and they are blowing. The pain related don’t. Also I find pain related don’t tend to come out feeling sharp/spooky/fresh.

 

[elliehayes92]

Rode him for 10 minutes today to get more of an understanding to answer any questions on here. He was fine except if I asked him for canter in the corners that are quite deep. If I asked him off the track slightly or at x on a circle our canter transition was fine.

Also I swapped his bit and he didnt lean on it like before so I’m thinking that could be why he was doing that?

 

[ycbm]

What do you think it could be? Hocks?

Definitely the first place to look. Also scan suspensories and continue to sacroiliac if nothing found.

Sorry, these horses are sent to try us
.

 

[elliehayes92]

Definitely the first place to look. Also scan suspensories and continue to sacroiliac if nothing found.

Sorry, these horses are sent to try us
.

Is this likely to be exacerbated by deep surfaces? Like I said, fine canter trans off the track where it’s not deep, it’s when I ask on the track it seems

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Rode him for 10 minutes today to get more of an understanding to answer any questions on here. He was fine except if I asked him for canter in the corners that are quite deep. If I asked him off the track slightly or at x on a circle our canter transition was fine.

Also I swapped his bit and he didnt lean on it like before so I’m thinking that could be why he was doing that?

Do you always ask for canter transitions in the same way, whether in a corner or over x?

 

[elliehayes92]

Yeah I think so. I probably have more bend and outside leg over x as we are not being guided by the fence (same with if we come in off the track)

 

[ycbm]

Is this likely to be exacerbated by deep surfaces? Like I said, fine canter trans off the track where it’s not deep, it’s when I ask on the track it seems

Yes, I would expect it to make sore hocks worse and if they are just at the beginning of soreness the addition of the deep corner could push it over the edge. But it can also be sign of weakness that needs strengthening up, and you'll need to make a judgement whether that applies in his case.

How old is he?

 

[elliehayes92]

Yes, I would expect it to make sore hocks worse and if they are just at the beginning of soreness the addition of the deep corner could push it over the edge. But it can also be sign of weakness that needs strengthening up, and you'll need to make a judgement whether that applies in his case.

How old is he?

I will ring the vet tomorrow morning. I’m guessing the first port of call will be a bute trial as he isn’t lame? Or at least not lame enough that I can tell.

He’s 8

 

[ycbm]

I will ring the vet tomorrow morning. I’m guessing the first port of call will be a bute trial as he isn’t lame? Or at least not lame enough that I can tell.

He’s 8

I'd expect him to do flexion tests and possible nerve blocks. The bilateral nature of hind end issues often means you can't see it until one leg is nerve blocked.

I hope this is nothing but a strength issue but well done for getting it investigated.
.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Yeah I think so. I probably have more bend and outside leg over x as we are not being guided by the fence (same with if we come in off the track)

You might be unbalancing him in some way. Have you lunged him in canter and asked for canter in different areas?

 

[elliehayes92]

I'd expect him to do flexion tests and possible nerve blocks. The bilateral nature of hind end issues often means you can't see it until one leg is nerve blocked.

I hope this is nothing but a strength issue but well done for getting it investigated.
.

Okay cool thank you. My friend said hers had a bute trial first. I know the timing of these things is never good but we have a really exciting lesson in January that we have been waiting for for ages so I’m hoping we can still do it

 

[elliehayes92]

You might be unbalancing him in some way. Have you lunged him in canter and asked for canter in different areas?

Possibly. Yes I’ve lunged him in canter all up the school and he’s fine. I’ve also free schooled him and he’s fine in canter