Horse went up and over with me today

U need to just get on something. If u want to wait till u've had him checked can u borrow something to ride? Had this with 1 ages ago. Was a bit hurt but not badly so was able to get on 1 of my own after to fix my confidence. Remember it's out of character and try to trust him. Good luck.
 
Hi guys, thanks for all the replies.

Feeling terribly sore today, I can now feel where I hit the ground, all down my left side. My shoulder and top of my left arm, my ribs and stomach and myy hips and thigh... again it has struck me how lucky I am to have come out unscathed.

I really can't see me riding him again after that polava.
 
Have been thinking about this post all day, because I remember when a similar thing happened to me.

I had a v good natured cob and was out hunting. Was standing chatting to a friend and horse must have got sight of something in the corner of his eye and did bounce rear. This horse had a habit of getting its tounge over the bit and on some rather dodgy advice, I had put a high port quite strong bit in his mouth.

I believe that I must have jabbed him in the mouth in the shock of the rear (possibly with his tounge over the bit) and caused him some pain and he went up and over - not much fun.

After that, I rode him in a happy mouth straight bar, and never had another problem.

Just thought I would post this, in case it helps you unravel what happened.

Hope that your bruises soon heal.
 
Kitsune said:
I really can't see me riding him again after that polava.
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Don't say that Kitsune. :( You and Ed sound like a great team, I bet the bit's the route of the problem. Change it back to something mild and take things steady for a bit while you both get your confidence back. Have you got anyone to give you a hand when you're both up to working again?
 
Hey guys.

I couldn't catch Ed the day we had the incident, so let one of the yard staff get him in for me later and check him - so I didn't see him that day.

Yesterday I went up to see him and inspected him. He has some rather brutal looking cracks on his lips - I now feel more than ever, that it WAS the bit that upset him. How long should I leave it before putting another bit in his mouth? He obviously although strong - has a soft mouth and lips, are their any suggestions?

I am really open to any kind of schooling I could do to help with his strength.

I feel bloody awful now, thinking I hurt him. I don't seem to be doing much right at the mo - I'm throwing a lot of money at comfort bridles and gold salox bits and it doesn't seem to be helping us at all :(
 
((non-stalker-y internet stranger hugs for you Kitsune)) I am sure you will get to the root of the issue and work through it.
 
When he gets strong, what does he do? Put his head down and tank off, or up and snatch the reins out of your hands? Does he cross his jaw and set his neck against you?
 
He either comes right back, chin against his neck - so I have no rein and throws his weight behind him OR low and heavy. He's incredibly strong, there are some pics of him in PG, but he's a 16.2 ID type and very tanky.
It had got to the point I wouldn't do certain things with him, because I wasn't sure I could stop him :(
 
That sounds really tricky, and its not a nice feeling being out of complete control.


Have you tried different nosebands etc? Or something like a waterford, not really that strong but sometimes can be very effective - horses either love them or hate them.

Or perhaps a hackamore?

It would be interesting to know what kinds of pressure he responds well to, or hates - whether its poll pressure he has an issue with, or just the general strength of the bit.

Have you tried hacking out in draw reins and a soft snaffle bit? Might give you that bit of extra control without needing to resort to a stronger bit?
 
Sounds like a combination of things to me.

1) Spring is in the air! My horse has gone a bit loopy already.

2) Scary Jogger.. they eat horses you know ;)

3) You usually gallop at that part of the hack

4) New bit. (Would add with the NS Universal, if your horse isn't used to poll pressure or doesn't like poll pressure they will go up. I tried my current mare in a pelham, with a light contact and she threatned to go up, this horse doesn't even know how to buck with a rider on let alone rear!! My last little mare would definately have gone up in anything with any remote sign of poll pressure.)

I think its going to be one of those things that he will probibily never do again and you will probibily never know the real reason behind it. I suspect it was a combination of alot of things. :)
Aaaah if only horses could talk eh! :D
 
Just read your more recent posts.
How about getting in contact with a bit bank? I know how you feel with the bit situation. Loads of money spent to no avail. Buffy is so fussy in her mouth, you either can't touch the reins, i.e the pelham I tried her in for breaks out hacking, or she hauls on you like a tank.
The best bit I have had her in so far is NS Tranz Angled Lozenge Beval. I just take the reins off the poll pressure bit for schooling and flatwork I slot the reins in the holes and it gives a small amount of poll pressure.
 
I've only just seen this - sorry!

I'm really surprised he did it and I really hope you're feeling less sore today Kits :(
He was odd on Sunday, it's the first time I've ever really felt him properly play up. He has been a bit rude before - he can get strong and hop about a bit as you know - but it's easy enough to sit to. He was great, his normal self, on the way down to the beach, had a funny rear when we got down to the shore and I gave him his head to have a blast... I just put his behaviour back from the beach down to exuberance though (helpful pair of teenagers galloped past us which really helped matters :rolleyes:) although he didn't properly settle the whole way home. He did nearly have me at one point near the river crossing, and it was grim determination that made me stay put... I think you become quite good at that when you ride other peoples horses - I do not fancy ringing an owner telling them their pride and joy is running loose somewhere across South Wales ;)! Honestly, if I thought it was anything he would repeat I'd have warned you further :( You're also a far better rider than you give yourself credit for.

I'm about on Saturday - if you're free too and if his back etc is all sorted we could hire the school and you could get back on in there? Put him back in the snaffle? Or take him round the block? Just let me know what you want me to do. I do agree it's completely out of character though, and I'm sort of hoping it is teeth or something that can be sorted relatively easily...

PS - BaggyBreeches, thanks for the compliment although maybe brave/stupid is more apt :o! I promise I will push him hard and make him think though, he's not getting away with doing that to his mummy...
 
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PPS - butter wouldn't melt ;)

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Im 9-5 Saturday Ducky, but would like that in any case at some point.

His mouth is still a bit broken, so want that to heal up before I put something back in his mouth, I might ask LPP for a lunge lesson on him in the mean time anyway - because I'm sick like that :p

Thanks guys for all your help and input, my back still hurts a little, but we'll be ok and will post about our progress soon :)
 
Can you be 100% positive that he isnt being strong because he is in pain due to the bit?

This may seem completely bonkers, but maybe try a bitless?

in a CONTROLLED environment first of course!
 
Sorry to read this Kitsune (been offline for a few days) I hope it was a one-off and the Ed scared himself enough to not attempt it again. Glad you're OK
 
OMG K, I am so glad you are OK!

I had a horse... infact 4 horses do that with me!! 2 were babies and going through the backing process, one was a highly strung mare who was a b*tch and the other was a VERY calm arab I use to loan, who was standing on the drive whilst I was talking to his owners and for no reason, he went over with me.

It is the most scariest thing, and on all occasions didn't know it happened until I was on the floor and the horse was laying next to me.

Maybe it was the bit? Does he feel like he can't go forward in it, therefore went up? Is it stronger than previous bit?

I am glad you and horse are ok, if a little shocked!
 
I can't be 100%, but the bit he came in (a loose ring, lozenge augrian metal bit) was working ok until about 6 months ago I guess. He has always been strong but not to the point of bouncing and leaping - that joy has started in the past 6 months. EDT is coming Tuesday so hopefully rule out teeth problems first.

Thanks Domane :)
 
Sorry, just spotted your suggestion Spiral, moving forward i will definitely be putting him back in his old bit and seeing where we go from there.

I wouldn't use draw reins, only because I'm not convinced my hands are good enough and could cause more problems than I solve.

I have been thinking of asking someone really knowledgeable to help me with bitting - get on him, feel how he's going etc and then take his bitting from there.

i know it sounds OTT, but he's my only horse and is likely to be my last, unless finances improve drastically lol so I might as well focus on him going as good as he can :)
 
being flipped over backwards with is decidedly not fun, it's happened to me a few times, generally when a horse has decided on a particularly bad place to rear on a steep slope and lost balance.

although it's probably not what you want to hear, 9 times out of 10, when a horse goes over backwards it is the rider's fault as they have unintentionally pulled them off balance. Most horses know how to stand up, but they don't practice the manouvre often with a rider on board, if the rider is slipping backwards and/or using the reins for balance it is inevitably going to pull them over. If a horse is thought likely to rear a neckstrap is your best friend - keep a finger looped through it as soon as they feel a little bit tense, and then as soon as they start to go up you have your sealtbelt there.

however, sometimes pulling a horse over backwards can be terrifying enough an experience for the horse to make them never want to rear ever again. I personally wouldn't be concerned if a horse flipped over once - but if it happened again (and again) thats when you would have to question the horse's sanity!
 
RachelFerd said:
however, sometimes pulling a horse over backwards can be terrifying enough an experience for the horse to make them never want to rear ever again. I personally wouldn't be concerned if a horse flipped over once - but if it happened again (and again) thats when you would have to question the horse's sanity!
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^^ ditto this!!
 
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