Oh my gosh, I am going crazy..... complete rant.............

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rachyhorsiehib

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OK, so my 'perfect' horse that I paid out all that money for 8 weeks ago, is now not the perfect horse. I am skint and now paying someone else to ride him. Not exactly living the dream...............
This is because I cannot ride after spending Sunday afternoon in A&E following him throwing me off (fly bucked me round the field, and round again, and again until I fell off).
What happened to my laid back wonderfully behaved boy!!!???!!??
He is now playing up with my friend who's helping me out, but not getting away with full blown bucks as yet thank God.
Concern is, once he goes well for her (and he will cos she's a TOP rider and I'm so grateful to have her), he'll know as soon as I get on him that he has reduced my confidence back to minus 10....

WHAT DO I DO!?

I am crushed, and sore. Oh and still skint. Therefore feeling rather sorry for myself just now.

Every hour or so I say to myself "You can do it!! Be confident! Don't let the little bugger get away with it!"

But then I realise that if he does it again then the odds are I'll just be hitting the deck again, which I'm not supposed to do as I have an old riding injury.

Has anyone got ANY advice for ponies that do huge fly bucks and how to stop him doing it, and possibly just getting a bit of respect full stop would help? He's currently only doing it in canter.

Also any ideas as to why he may be doing it?

It's apparently not his nature (ex childs pony which is a show pony so used to all environments) and he's been so good until now. But there were fireworks the night before and there were lots of people and horses around when it happened. Just trying to rack my brains for a reason.... Although I guess we don't need one seeming as he's carrying on being naughty....

ANy thoughts, help and advise gratefully received.

Thanks everyone.x
 
Sorry to hear about your problems!

The main things that come to mind are:
- could he be in pain? If the behaviour is uncharacteristic (as far as you can tell, I appreciate he is a new horse for you!), it is worth getting the vet to give him a look over.
- are you using any new tack on him? Perhaps new bit he does not like or new saddle that is not quite fitting?
- have you changed his feed and turn out time? Can you give him less food and more time out?

I find wearing my BP and having a neck strap to hold onto makes me more confident and if all all above checks out I would be tempted to smack him as soon as he bucks (easier said than done I know!!!).
 
oh, poor you, that must be heartbreaking.

i'm sure you'll get lots of fab advice here. the only thing i can say is whilst someone else is riding him, do loads of ground work with him, to keep the contact with him, to 'bond' and to let him know you're not scared.

i hope you're ok and healing well.
xxx
 
My post overlapped the saddle posts.

I would get the saddle re-checked. New saddles are often a problem. (not suggesting your YO is not a good saddle fitter, just that fitting a saddle is almost always a nightmare and new saddle plus new bucking almost always equals saddle problems).
 
He could just be showing his distress at moving to a new home. It can take a few weeks to show up. I would suggest that you do lots of ground handling with him and that any riding is done in a secure area, and only at walk. There is plenty of schooling you can do in "first gear" and it will give you both a chance to get used to each other. When I bought my mare (I knew what she was like) I didn't ride her for 5 weeks, then did a month of walking and halting before we attempted to go any faster. She remained a loon, but I could stop her from gallop just by sayin "walk" so it really paid off.
 
Thanks everyone.

Answers for Booboos -
He is using same snaffle he came with, but has a new made to measure saddle, so should be more than fine really. I also thought that the bucks were far too fantastic to be from pain, but I am still thinking of getting his back checked.
His teeth are supposed to be up to date but thought would have dentist next time she's over too.
He doesn't have much feed as he lives on 'fresh air', and his turn out and bring in time is same as it has been for the last couple of months.
I ALWAYS wear my body protector but I could also get a neck strap I guess.
I will be smacking him as I am determined to ride, but I tried pulling him up on Sunday and am thinking maybe the key is to drive him forward? TRY anyway as it feels more natural to try and pull him up and get off!
 
Poor you, I have heard of something called a 'buckstop' I have never tried one but I think it was developed by Monty Roberts (?) I don't know if they are any good or even if they work (I have only heard about them) maybe worth looking into?
 
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Sorry to hear about your problems!

The main things that come to mind are:
- could he be in pain? If the behaviour is uncharacteristic (as far as you can tell, I appreciate he is a new horse for you!), it is worth getting the vet to give him a look over.
- are you using any new tack on him? Perhaps new bit he does not like or new saddle that is not quite fitting?
- have you changed his feed and turn out time? Can you give him less food and more time out?

I find wearing my BP and having a neck strap to hold onto makes me more confident and if all all above checks out I would be tempted to smack him as soon as he bucks (easier said than done I know!!!).

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I totally agree with the above, also he could just be testing you out - all my horses where naughty when i first got them, really trying it on.
He may just need the time to settle in his new surroundings which can take months.
Hope you are healing well xxx
 
First of all don't panic, you'll sort it once you get to the bottom of it all.
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Get saddle/back/teeth checked, if you still not convinced, get saddle checked again by a differnt saddler (they can it wrong sometimes beleive me!)

Then look at what you pony is eating, quality of grass etc is it any different to what he/she's used to?

Perhaps its just high spirits and you pony knows it can buggar about and get you off, if so its not the end of the world, try lunging for a bit first just to get that freshness out him first, then get on and just walk, build your confidence up slowly, learn how to control him when he does mess around...dont let that head get between his chest, learn to keep it up to prevent him from bucking you off.
 
Once you have had all the comfort checks done and he still does it, I was told by my RI to use the whip every time he bucks. I was holding the front of the saddle and reins and tapping him behind the girth everytime he bucked, it took him a couple of circuits, but he soon got the idea.

I didnt like doing this to him, but I didnt like him bucking either, I could sit to them, but if somebody else rode him, I was worried he would hurt somebody.

He still bucks occasionally, but not as violently or twisting.

What are you feeding him? Is he clipped? this can also make a difference.
 
i would push him tire him out and when he says i've had enough push him on again so stopping is on your terms kind of thing
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(this is just my opinion it might not be the right one
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)
 
Also to add if he is relativley new to you he could be trying it on, Lord went through a bronking phase and had me off 3 times in 2 weeks
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*touch wood* he seems to have stopped now as I told him off whenever he did buck or went to buck.
Try raising your hands a little to stop him from getting his head down and if he does buck KICK him on and I mean proper pony club style to send him forward.....It seems to have worked on Lord *again touches wood*
 
I really wouldn't hit a horse to stop it bucking - more likely to make it buck IMO.

There are 2 things you have to do, YOu must stop him from getting his head down forcefully if neccessary. you must also ride him aggressively forwards - which is not easy.

Till you are used to him perhaps you can avoid doing any exciting or fast work.
 
Agree with siennamum on riding.

But before any of that seriously - get the saddle checked. Get a qualified fitter out and, if possible, have them look w/out the YO around so no pressure to say the right thing. If he has been uncomfy he might need a back person to get him back to normal again too.

And if you had the saddle made - was he being worked in the interim? Cd easily change shape between ordering saddle and it arriving if not being worked/chg of season/chg of diet etc, etc.

The other management suggestions are good.
 
Another vote for getting saddle (and bridle/rest of tack) and back and teeth checked before you do anything else.

Don't forget that horses can change shape, and saddles which used to fit can no longer fit in a matter of weeks.
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Damn, HHo just chucked out my anser!

As many on here will confirm, a made-to-measure saddle does not necesarily fit, and if he has changed weight at all since he was measured, that can be enough to make it uncomfortable.
I would strongly recommend that you get a qualified saddle fitter, and not your YO, to come and check how it is fitting.
 
I was in exactly the same postion when I bought my lad a couple of months in and I regularly ate dirt.

I have basically followed a program of working my way through changes and checks.

Teeth Saddle Bit then back then Feed.

Started lungeing before I got on to check which side of his 'bed' he had gotten out of.

I still get the odd buck but not the massive unseating ones and your post has actually helped me realise how far we have come.
 
Another factor is, did you get his bloods done at vetting? You have to ask for them to be tested but may be something in them that shows up?

Agree with the saddle, back, teeth checks and kicking on. But I do have personal experience of how hard this can be, just keep trying.
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i'd try a different saddle, ideally borrow the 1 he was ridden in before you had him. just because the new one is made to measure for him does NOT mean that it is perfect for him... his opinion matters more than the Saddle Fitter's, the horse is the expert in this situation.
i'd lunge him before getting on, with stirrups down, so if he's got any bucks in there, you get to see them...
a buckstop might be a v good idea.
i'd also stick to walking and trotting for a little while, if he only bucks in canter.
 
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He has a new 'made to measure' saddle, fitted by experienced YO.....

I got cut outs from horse an pony mag last night to have a look myself too, daft I know

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A new, made to measure saddle would surely be fitted by the person that fitted it.....?

Anyway - perhaps the little horse was just excited at the open space. My paragon of virtue finds being ridden in the field very, very exciting........

Sorry you've had a bump - but don't right the horse off just yet.
 
Totally agree on the saddle fitter. I rode a horse for an ower who was having issues with the horse. The saddle had been checked by a qualified saddle fitter, but was a mile off fitting.

So got them to call a different saddler, in their case this solved the problem.
 
I bought a horse a month ago who was acting headshaky and unruly after the first week of riding. Turns out he has a back issue so is undergoing physio and I'm getting the saddle double checked this week as a precaution. He was very full of himself when I first rode but the grass we have is a lot better than what he was used to so I have cut his hard feed right down. In addition, I think they do try to 'test' us a little bit. Its good you have an experienced person that can help. As soon as I'm able to get back in the saddle my eventer friend is kindly going to help me for some rose!
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So I would agree with others, get everything checked even if he did sail through the vetting as mine did, as things can still come up. Perhaps also reassess the feed situation.

I like to think all the bumps come at first and then we shall get a smoother ride after checking all the obvious things. Try to stay positive, I know its difficult but fingers crossed it will be worth it and will make you more confident in the long run.
 
[ QUOTE ]
i'd try a different saddle, ideally borrow the 1 he was ridden in before you had him. just because the new one is made to measure for him does NOT mean that it is perfect for him... his opinion matters more than the Saddle Fitter's, the horse is the expert in this situation.
i'd lunge him before getting on, with stirrups down, so if he's got any bucks in there, you get to see them...
a buckstop might be a v good idea.
i'd also stick to walking and trotting for a little while, if he only bucks in canter.

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto all Kerilli's comments. I presume you have been in contanct with the previous owners and they have said he has never done it before? If so, and if they are local, see if you can get the old rider to come over with the old saddle and ride the horse for you and you can see how it behaves then, which will give you an idea of whether you have been duped or whether it is a new rider/new saddle issue.
 
I would say he's a bright little b***** who's testing you and has got overly excited. Check your feed regime and possibly management regime.......ie. perhaps out 24/7 very well rugged.
Show ponies have to keep that fizz undercontrol in that environment, but if they are put in an open environment, then 'hey ho!!'
Forget about saddle check, it sounds like you have that under control.
Basically, little pony has decided to test you, have you thought about hunting to teach manners??
 
Thanks for all your help folks for my Rachy, helped to affirm some of the things I have been saying to her, I have said she will have to go through some shite with him until things come together, as a lot of people including myself have with his lordship, but hopefully not with any more injuries
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QR Get saddle checked, get old saddle and rider to have a go, keep to walk and trot if he's only going off on one in canter and you say he's not getting "much" food. Cut it right out and put him on some poor grass if you can, feed soaked hay to make up the bulk and hopefully whatever part of this is down to high spirits will be smoothed over a little.

Also if you can lunge him for 20 minutes before you get on that might help.
 
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