I Hit The Deck! And A Couple Of Questions

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Mosh

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I've owned Mattie (16.3 Throughbred) for nearly 2 years now and we moved livery yard just under 2 weeks ago
I rode him yesterday and he was fresh but a good boy, working hard and attentive.
Today, however he reared, bucked, he span, he bronced, he ran backwards, you name it he did it and he did this twice.
He then settled and I did some simple trot and walk exercises so then i asked him to canter. Not too much but what he is capable of
He has a bouncy canter anyway but this time he shot up in the air and then bronced and i hit the deck. Hard
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. Hurt my hip, knee and ankle and probably my shoulder. But i can walk so i'm all good!
I got back on and just did some simple trot and walk exercises and left it at that.
I recently had his legs checked by the vet so i know hes not in pain, hes checked by a physio regularly, every 3/4months and she last came 3 weeks ago and he was fine. Also his teeth are okay and his saddle fits well.

Question time:
He does know how to canter, he knows the leg aids and voice aids but how can i keep his canter and transitions consistant i have a fair idea just want to make sure.

Someone suggested putting him on a calmer especially for Thoroughbreds and I wondered if anyone had tried this with success. I'm a little skeptical but would like to hear of peoples experiences, good or bad



This turned out quite long!
sorry!
B And J ice cream if you got this far!
 
I know you said his legs were checked by the vet and that he was checked by a physio recently (and that his saddle fits correctly etc.) but is the physio a back specialist? Or is there a chance that in the three weeks since he's been checked that he's had a rare old time out in the field - especially since it'll be a new one - and wrenched something? Such a sudden and drastic reaction like that would definitely have me thinking 'pain' rather than 'excitement' and I'd have his back checked again.

Regarding the calming remedies I think there are a couple of threads up already today asking about So Kalm and lots of good replies in them about which ones have worked for various people.
 
Hope you aren't too sore. As chillidragon said it's worth double checking he is OK. Could just been high spirits now he has found his feet in new home. You have had him long enough and you are the best judge of his condition if it is pain or silliness.
 
the person who does his physio is a back specialist and shes really good.
No one has seen him race around field at new place (too much grass for that!) but its a possibility i suppose.
I'm going to have a chiro out in the next couple of weeks so maybe she can pick something up.

One good thing, we did get comments on his lovely trot lol
 
PS I've had my gelding since he was three and never had any really problems he tried it on once or twice but nothing major. He is brilliant on the roads as close to bomb proof as you can get and we hack on really busy roads with lots of heavy traffic. When he was 11 on a hack out he went absolutely mental for no apparent reason rearing, broncing, spinning, cantering on the spot. Get progressively worse over the hour we were out and ending up bolting home. I had to grab the bit ring and force him into a hedge to stop him going over the cattle grid on our drive. It was an 8 footer and he still sized it up lucky common sense prevailed and he stopped. I got off very shaken. He has never done anything remotely like that before or since, he is now 16. The was no under lying cause or change in routine so who knows what that was all about -sometimes they just have one on them!
 
Could it be that he was feeling very fresh (you say he span and reared and bronced at first in the trot) and perhaps that translted into your riding which became a bit tense or aprehensive and as you asked for canter you subconsiously tightened up or took a hold of the reins anticipating trouble and he (feeling fresh and frisky anyway) felt even more restricted and responded by bucking?

Not saying it is your fault but I know what I am like if a horse has been d1cking about in walk and trot... first canter I know I can be a bit aprehensive and horses are quick to spot this. just a thought

Hope you are feeling better, he does sound rather full of himself whatever the cause.
 
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