Horse started bucking

[GrassChop]

Just wanting to write my thoughts down and see what everyone else might think of this please.

My mare hasn't been in very much work so far this year for various reasons including the weather so I've only hacked either once a week or every couple of weeks.

However, since the start of the year, a couple of times around the end of January, she has thrown in a small buck but only when heading home and usually when I'm not allowing her to go faster. On those occasions, I put it down to excitement due to now being on haylage which she would have been on for around 4 weeks by that point and not being in much work. There had been no bucking on the couple of hacks before then.

The bucking then became more regular over the last approximately 3 rides since then, still only ever heading home when I wasn't allowing her to rush. These aren't big bucks, only little ones but there are a few.

This is unlike her so she's had the last 3 weeks off again as I thought it might be the saddle so I stopped until I could get a fitter out. It had dropped by about 0.5cm at the front so not a huge amount but it's since been sorted. Rode in it for the first time since today and once again, she bucked heading home, only one time.

I considered the only thing that has changed is that she's been on haylage only rather than hay for the first time since I've had her (several years) due to the asthma so perhaps it's that but I know that she is not a bucker and I don't want to just rule it out as that.

She's had physio recently which was fine and teeth were done last month. Is it really possible for haylage to have this effect?

 

[Wizpop]

I honestly dont know if the haylage could be causing this- but possibly with the grass starting to grow too??

 

[Flowerofthefen]

I doubt haylage would cause it. My guess would be lack of exercise. You may find once in regular work she stops.

 

[sbloom]

When was she last seen by a bodyworker?

 

[ycbm]

Yes haylage can do it. Some horses' guts don't take kindly to the increased acidity, or something else, in haylage. If that's the only change I'd put her back on hay and see whether the bucking stops.

I've had more than one horse react badly to haylage that came out a bit acid smelling, and know of others that get the squits if fed haylage.
.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

Mine can get silly on haylage especially with spring grass added to the mix, mine have had a lot of time off because of weather and my back, but starting up again this week so I expect the silly behaviour on the way back from hacking for at least a few weeks.

 

[estela]

Worth getting her checked but mine does it when I am behind another horse in canter and he wants to go faster. He doesn't do it at all when in front though or at any other times (fingers crossed). Hope you can find the cause.

 

[mini-eventer]

Mine can be cheeky coming towards home, especially if he has not had much work and too much food. Haylege can (not always though) be a bit like rocket fuel. How much turn out has she been getting?

Maybe up the work, and reduce feed a little. It does sound like an excitement lack of work issue, but I would be very mindful that there is always a chance it could be something more.

 

[Katieg123]

Spring grass? Mine feel like they're bouncing on a trampoline at the moment

 

[Green Bean]

Would agree with spring grass, my horse has become very much on her toes at the moment, otherwise you will need to bring your vet in assess if there are any underlying back issues

 

[GrassChop]

Mine can be cheeky coming towards home, especially if he has not had much work and too much food. Haylege can (not always though) be a bit like rocket fuel. How much turn out has she been getting?

Maybe up the work, and reduce feed a little. It does sound like an excitement lack of work issue, but I would be very mindful that there is always a chance it could be something more.

She's out 24/7 and I've just reduced her feed in the last couple of days so I will keep an eye on that. I know that if I did a roadwork only hack, she wouldn't do it but I hate to rule something out as behaviour, maybe it really is though.

 

[GrassChop]

Spring grass? Mine feel like they're bouncing on a trampoline at the moment

Potentially! She's never bucked from spring grass before but maybe the fact she's on haylage as well this time has just blown her brains. She does only do it when I slow her down heading home because we can't weave around trees or down muddy hills at 90mph!

 

[GrassChop]

I took her out today, first time we have done two days on the trot this year and she was foot perfect and super relaxed!

 

[Bobthecob15]

Also worth checking the saddle x

 

[GrassChop]

Also worth checking the saddle x

This is unlike her so she's had the last 3 weeks off again as I thought it might be the saddle so I stopped until I could get a fitter out. It had dropped by about 0.5cm at the front so not a huge amount but it's since been sorted. Rode in it for the first time since today and once again, she bucked heading home, only one time.

This has been done x

 

[Bobthecob15]

This has been done x

Ah sorry missed that!