Horse playing up - any ideas?

[NicoleS_007]

Ok so basically my mare has started playing up the past little while, she hasnt done much since about Nov just hacking and the odd schooling session. It started with her basically refusing to go forwards in canter, as in if i asked for forwards movement in canter she would bounce upwards not forwards and stick her ears back and then if i persisted she would do a mini buck (worse on the left rein). We changed saddles and she went better but today i took her into the school (1st time in over a week) and she done mini bucks each time i asked her to canter then again wouldnt go forwards in canter, but she was lots better by the end (as in not doing mini bucks and was going forwards when i asked) the worse rein is now the right rein!!! I hacked her yesterday and jumped up a little grass verge (she jumped it fine last week), once on the verge she spun, hunched her back threatened to buck then reared right up (i can confirm i did not sock her in the teeth as i had no reins)!! She stayed on her feet by the skin of her teeth!! Her walk/trot is normal but her way of going in canter has changed from an uphill or above the vertical carriage to head low, over bent around knee level, stretching down to the floor. I checked her back and it seems fine, shes sound and nothing else out of the norm. Im giving the physio a buzz tomorrow so hopefully she will look at her this week, saddle was checked not long ago and all was fine but il get it done again just to eliminate it. Shes had her teeth done 5 months ago but is getting them done in a few weeks as shes only turning 5. But apart from that im miffed and losing hope of ever competing her Arghhh anyone any ideas, im hoping the is a reason behind the behavior otherwise shes turning into a little madam!!

 

[LouS]

Vet/physio/chiro/saddler etc, she's trying to tell you something.

 

[sandi_84]

If all health checks come back normal maybe she's coming into season? There have been a few posts recently about mares who are in season just now and are being especially mare-ish, hope everything is ok tho!

 

[BBP]

Hopefully I won't get jumped on for saying this (I always want to say it in every post about horses playing up, once everyone has done the chiro/teeth/saddle thing, so not just your post!) but is it something you are doing as a rider? My horse sometimes gets funny in canter, pins his ears back, throws his head around, backs off or rushes forwards, and I can usually guarantee its because of me. I'm tipping forwards or blocking with my hands or sitting crooked when my back is bad, or gripping with my leg, or moving my leg too much. He is so sensitive to it all that he reacts to everything that isn't spot on...and I am rarely spot on.

Obviously I don't know you at all...you are probably a far better rider than me! But if you have exhausted all other avenues then maybe start to dissect each bit of your riding and change things one at a time and see what helps. That's what I'm trying to do.

 

[NicoleS_007]

If all health checks come back normal maybe she's coming into season? There have been a few posts recently about mares who are in season just now and are being especially mare-ish, hope everything is ok tho!

I was thinking that to tbh as she can be a bit bucky with her first season but apart from that shes showing no other signs of being in season and she was acting the exact same last week.

KatPT - I dont think iv changed my riding style, iv had her for a year and shes never acted up like this. She's bucked a few times but they were due to spooks not me asking her to move on. And the only other time shes reared was in the summer when she spooked at a filler (was completely my fault though).

 

[SophieLouBee]

Hmm, after exhausting the other avenues. I'd have chiro out, check for pain, perhaps have a few sessions and see if there is any improvement, if not I'd be getting x-rays done for KS. I've re-habbed a couple, displaying similar behaviour.

I'm doing a TB who's just coming back into work after the op, he's going lovely and his movement is dramatically improved!

 

[NicoleS_007]

Hmm, after exhausting the other avenues. I'd have chiro out, check for pain, perhaps have a few sessions and see if there is any improvement, if not I'd be getting x-rays done for KS. I've re-habbed a couple, displaying similar behaviour.

I'm doing a TB who's just coming back into work after the op, he's going lovely and his movement is dramatically improved!

Is there any other signs of KS? If i was to put pressure on her spine with my hand would it make her flinch if she has it? In all other aspects shes normal, she'll quite happily canter round the school alone with no bucking etc but then again theres no one on her back

 

[Bikerchickone]

I'd suggest an osteopath, bucking in canter is suggestive of a lower back problem, and I agree with the others who said she's trying to tell you something. i also would say that although you've checked her back unless you're a qualified practitioner it's entirely possible you've missed a problem area. My cob had problems, neither vet nor physio could find anything wrong, despite behaviour similar to your mare's, they insisted he was just "being a bugger" I had mor faith in him so called a qualified equine osteopath in and she found lots of issues that she's now treated and he's fine again.

Good luck getting her sorted.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

I'd get her back checked, as it does sound like a pain response, especially if she is fine cantering in the school without a rider. If that is ok, then get the saddle checked again, 5 yr olds can change shape quite frequently.
If all well so far then it does sound like rider error, so perhaps an instructor would be the way forward.

 

[LiveryList]

My mare was exactly like this and in my mind it was for no apparent reason. Had the chiro out and i remembered she had had a (what seemed minor at the time) stumble over a fence at quob a few weeks before. Turned out she had really pulled her sacro-iliac muscle. I had to have 2 different chiros out before she was properly diagnosed as the first one only concentrated on her bones and didnt even pick it up and told me she was fine to keep riding she was just being naughty which is when it got worse and i got a 2nd opinion. But symptoms were the same, fine in walk and trot but as soon as i hit canter she just didn't go forward, just went upwards or with her head between her legs. Jumping was a no no as she'd either threaten to rear and spin before the jump or after it and just be really awkward and tense. cantering on a hack she was fine with tho which ha salways remained a bit of a mystery to me lol. Apparently all this was because of the injury she could not fully lengthen her back, she was always tensing it which is why it was causing that movement. Also like your mare mine was fine towards the end of a session when her back had warmed up and therefore loosened the muscles off to some extent. Hopefully your mare will not have the same reason but it almost mirrors my mares symptoms so wouldl definately get her back checked