Rodeod off - experiences?

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Thezoo

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A long one - apologies!

A couple of weeks ago my usually safe and sound dressage horse rodeod me off the moment my bum touch the saddle when mounting. I was badly hurt and had to be operated on as an emergency, and am recovering slowly from a broken wrist and elbow (now plated back together).

This was so incredibly out of character for him. I have had him checked by the vet, physio, saddle fitter and there wasn’t anything bad enough as such for any of them to think it clearly caused it. However the management routine at the yard he was at was not suiting him - not enough forage, not enough turnout - I was seeing my chilled boy get increasingly stressy with intermittent diahrreah and unusual behaviours, touchy in the stable, coming out in bumps etc. He’s been taken away from there and is already a lot more relaxed again on ad lib hay and all day turnout.

My confidence has taken a real knock and I’m worried when I get back on, because there hadn’t been a definitive cause identified that I can ‘fix’, it could happen again. He has never ever done this all his life even when being broken in, he is 12 now.

Has anyone had any similar experiences or advice? Hopefully positive! I just want us to be able to get back to ‘normal’ again once I am able. TIA
 
Once and we found the cause - a bee sting inside his back leg with dead bee dangling down! He never repeated it or showed any signs.

In your case, everything about it screams ulcers and they can feel worse when exercising. Can you have your horse scoped and tested before you get back on? Also, I'd try mounting from a leg up the first few times so there's isn't he association of pain.

For you, a couple of rides on something else first might help so you're not as worried about your hand and arm as well as him.

Poor horse and poor you. Hope you recover soon.
 
Yes, horse had changed shape and I had missed it!

Saddle altered and it never happened again.

I would have someone else (pro) ride a few times so you can see it won't happen again.

If it does I would ask the vet to do a diagnostic.
 
Not a positive the one time it happened to me but circumstances were very different, mare was new to my yard, owner was not happy with the purchase so I took over to get her going and resell, a few days later I was on the floor having stayed on through the bucks but came out the back door when she reared, my feet were still in the stirrups, she continued rodeoing across the school so I didn't get back on.

A vet, back check showed nothing but she was never really happy ridden so went off to a NH specialist who did get her going over a long period of time, still with a few reservations as to her behaviour, in hindsight knowing now about KS I think that is what was wrong but they were not really known about then, she may well have had ulcers but again not commonly looked at, no idea what happened in the end with her.

I think if something so violent comes out of the blue there will usually be a physical reason, in your case the most likely is ulcers due to the management issues and other signs so I would scope as a precaution before trying to bring back to work, then I would probably get a pro involved just in case.
 
Happened twice in 7 years of owning my last horse. First time he was newly backed and something spooked him whilst mounting, I missed the saddle and ended up on his bum whilst he bronked round the school! I did get a pro to ride after that and once I saw he wasn't doing it again I carried on with him. Second time was beginning of this year and about 5 years after the first time. Had been foot perfect in lesson, livery bought her horse past school and stopped for a quick chat. She then left and I asked horse to do one more exercise in canter. He well and truly spat his dummy out and bronked me off. Wasn't badly injured but very concussed.
 
We’re having this issue with a relatively new horse at the moment.

After the second time he did it, we had him scoped and found ulcers. These were treated and he improved under saddle so we thought we’d solved the issue.
He rodeo-ed with me on Wednesday there and decked me a cracker - I’d just gotten on and was walking around so hasn’t asked anything of him. Luckily i only bruised my lower back but he’d previously knocked my dad out doing similar.

Like yours, he’s had teeth, physio, feet and saddle done recently. Saddle was checked and ok-ed approx 10 day’s ago.

The vet is booked to do a full workup tomorrow so I’ve got my fingers crossed that he finds something. I’m thinking KS, personally but will see what the vet recommends once he’s seen him.
 
I had rodeoed off H twice when he was a five year old once my groom picked up a pole and the second time a trainer picked up a white blok .he was very strange with people doing things in the school for years and it took him a long time to get confident in the school .
We Suspect he’s been rapped he was pretty angry and frightened when he arrived once he worked out that life was truly different he grew out of it all .
 
IMO ulcers are always secondary to something else in horses that bronc .
But fear does make horse bronc as well and sometimes horses are naughty and fresh it’s working out what’s going that the hard bit .
 
I suspect that you've already fixed it - ad lib forrage and maximum turnout.
I'm increasingly dismayed at how many horses are not turned out or turned out in an area the size of two looseboxes in case they hurt themselves. They hurt us if they don't get to be horses. Really pleased he's changed to a more relaxed environment, and when you are ready you will probably find him a different horse. That said the lack of forrage may have brought on Ulcers so it may be good to check that out.
 
Thanks everyone - seem to be a lot of you also thinking ulcers. I had this suspicion too but vets view was if it is that it’s very low grade as he looks so well and that the management change would likely address anyway as it would be such ‘minor’ ulceration. A part of me wants him scoped so I know for sure, but then they might be better now anyway that he’s been on a better routine. I guess it would make me feel better in a way if there was ‘something’ as it was so extreme and violent :( but I got the feeling the vet thought I was looking for things...
 
You know your horse better than the vet, so if you are thinking ulcers, get him scoped. TBH when a usually sensible horse does something like this completely out of the blue, I believe it's always a pain issue. If it had been soley due to management I'd have expected you to have noticed that he was becoming a bit more challenging to ride and handle.
 
Thezoo said:
Thanks everyone - seem to be a lot of you also thinking ulcers. I had this suspicion too but vets view was if it is that it’s very low grade as he looks so well and that the management change would likely address anyway as it would be such ‘minor’ ulceration. A part of me wants him scoped so I know for sure, but then they might be better now anyway that he’s been on a better routine. I guess it would make me feel better in a way if there was ‘something’ as it was so extreme and violent :( but I got the feeling the vet thought I was looking for things...
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Although mine didn't rodeo when she had ulcers (reared instead!) I just wanted to say that from the outside, you'd never have known. She kept condition on well, looked shiny and healthy and had a great coat - I'd go with your gut instinct! Hope you feel better soon x
 
Thezoo said:
A long one - apologies!

A couple of weeks ago my usually safe and sound dressage horse rodeod me off the moment my bum touch the saddle when mounting. I was badly hurt and had to be operated on as an emergency, and am recovering slowly from a broken wrist and elbow (now plated back together).

This was so incredibly out of character for him. I have had him checked by the vet, physio, saddle fitter and there wasn’t anything bad enough as such for any of them to think it clearly caused it. However the management routine at the yard he was at was not suiting him - not enough forage, not enough turnout - I was seeing my chilled boy get increasingly stressy with intermittent diahrreah and unusual behaviours, touchy in the stable, coming out in bumps etc. He’s been taken away from there and is already a lot more relaxed again on ad lib hay and all day turnout.

My confidence has taken a real knock and I’m worried when I get back on, because there hadn’t been a definitive cause identified that I can ‘fix’, it could happen again. He has never ever done this all his life even when being broken in, he is 12 now.

Has anyone had any similar experiences or advice? Hopefully positive! I just want us to be able to get back to ‘normal’ again once I am able. TIA
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I sympathise with you as mine has done that twice, first time I landed on the post of the outdoor school, and back onto wooden jump poles, the second time onto concrete and fractured my humerus. Both times it happened at the mountain block. First time his back was out

second time due to a negligent livery in the past, my boy had an accident which made him coincide with the yard gates, where un be known to us he twisted his spine and it was inflamed. So I would get the back check,

Then...the saddle as a first point of call
 
oldie48 said:
You know your horse better than the vet, so if you are thinking ulcers, get him scoped. TBH when a usually sensible horse does something like this completely out of the blue, I believe it's always a pain issue. If it had been soley due to management I'd have expected you to have noticed that he was becoming a bit more challenging to ride and handle.
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Hi oldie 48 , not met you before . either a s my current (hho enforced ) identity or my 13000 previous posts . Such totally basic sensible advice . Totally with you on this
 
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