My TB is proving very difficult to mount? PLEASE help

[l3048]

Hi Everyone,
I recently bought a 14 yr old tb geldning, he has been perfect; very well mannered on the ground (couldn't get much better) and also great while riding. He was out of work for a year when I bought him and we are working slowly to bring him back in. However he has started to rear or buck when being mounted but as soon as your up and walking he is 100%. I am currently waiting for his saddle fitter to get back to me with his conclusions, I have had his back done also and all seems fine. Some are saying its kissing spine; however he would have surely been sore from the start? also he would not just ride out of it?

I have just purchased a girth sleeve, riser and this new saddle which should be here within the next week.

Any help would be great

 

[mini_b]

I strongly suspect if these issues have just come about now he’s working more that his saddle doesn’t fit anymore.

don’t ride him until you know his saddle fits as he could start to associate being ridden/mounted with pain (even when the issue has been resolved) then you’ve got another problem to sort.

while you are waiting for saddle to be fitted correctly I would get a vet work up. Any behaviour like that out of the blue, your horse is telling you something isn’t right.

hope you get sorted!

 

[ownedbyaconnie]

As soon as I had a suspicion of kissing spine I wouldn't rule it out until xrays showed that definitely was not the case. I luckily have no personal experience of it so far but I have had many friends/seen on instagram etc that have horses where for ages back people etc ruled it out and the xrays showed otherwise.

I personally would not ride him until I knew why he was rearing/bucking when mounting, a lady on my yard persevered with her horse that was bucking/rearing whilst mounting and she ended up breaking a hip. I think he was only ever "diagnosed" as having a saddle that was too narrow but I would put money on him having something else like kissing spines going on. He's no longer with friend so will never know!

Bit confused by your post, are you waiting on a new saddle? Does his current one actually fit? When was it last checked? As you are bringing him back into work it could be as simple as the saddle just doesn't fit anymore as he's changing shape with work. I'd also be getting a vet work up. Maybe related, maybe not but do you know why he was out of work for a year before you got him?

 

[l3048]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry my first explanation was pretty brief! But thank you so much for your replies!

Has the saddle actually been professionally fitted to him? No, I had a saddle fitter out when I first bought him; he gave me a temporary saddle until he developed more muscle, topline and put on more weight. However, this was around 3 months ago and he is due to come Saturday. However, people at the yard are saying this is probably not the problem; in my opinion I do feel it may be because the problem has only started in the last two weeks (he has been in consistent work but only the last 3/4 works can you see significant weight gain, muscle development etc). As I have said all fingers crossed that it is just the saddle.

Are you mounting from the ground, or a mounting block? Getting a leg up or mounting block. It is literally only until he walks forward 2/3 steps and then he rides perfectly. He is currently out and I will not be riding again until I solve the problem; in the beginning we thought it was behavioural but since I realised it was not he has not been ridden.

Has the horse raced/how long had he been a leisure horse? Why was he out of work for a year? Yes he was flat raced and point to point raced for 7 years. Since that he was hunted and showjumped up until last year. A local man purchased him with the hopes his daughter would take up riding again, however she has not. This is why he was in a field for the year, he held out hopes that she would take it up but after a year he decided it was unfair on him to be left standing in a field.

What do you mean by you’ve had his back done? I have had a horse chiropractor out and physio out to check his back.

Was it a private sale? Yes, all previous owners (the raceyard, man that hunted and showjumped, and the last owner) have all been so helpful; he has never had this problem before and they were able to provide evidence through vet checks, previous x-rays (he was x-rayed before the second home as the man previously had problems with other horses kissing spine and wanted to rule it out)

Was he vetted? Yes he was vetted.

Vet input: Vet is coming on Friday to assess him, he does not feel it is kissing spine as he said this would more than likely have been a problem from the get go and that he would not be riding out of it (as stated once you mount and do about two/3 steps he behaves and moves brilliantly)

Other Suspicions: I am lucky to be at a yard with amazing and experienced people, some suspect kissing spine (minority but still) others ulcers (possible due to his lifestyle change) others feel just muscle pain due to being in work again (again very light work to build him up consisting of just flatwork and hacking) and lastly the majority do feel it is the saddle. I know that many will say I should just wait for the vet prognosis but my nerves are away with me, just looking for other advice and opinions until the vet gets out.