tense mare bucking

[peaceandquiet1]

Please can anyone give advice? My daughter's show pony is displaying intermittent bucking bouts, mostly to do with going into canter. She has always been very sharp and doesn't really accept the leg as she should. She has had her saddle reflocked etc and was ok for a bit but has started again. She has access to forage all the time and gets micronised linseed a balancer and fibre cubes.She is worse at shows, in fact she often will be fine at home or at least appear so and then will randomly start bucking at a show. She is never properly relaxed. We have lessons etc but she has never bucked then. But she is always tense to ride even though she has been incredibly successful up until recently. Her tail goes round and round when she is upset.

I am suspecting a sore back, ulcers, saddle issues, but not sure. I would say she looks tight across her back when it happens. She does not get better with work, rather worse, but then several weeks can go by and she will be rideable.

Saddle getting checked again next week, but not sure which other route to go down.

Also to say, she is not lame, looks in fabulous condition, and all this has been discussed with my vet around the time the saddle was refitted but she has was then ok until last weekend. The rider is light, balanced and definitely not the cause of the problem.

 

[PorkChop]

I think you are on the right lines for investigation, back, SI, hocks, saddle - I would also add possible investigation into her ovaries as well, especially as you say the behaviour can be intermittent.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

The behaviour is unpredictable. She has been at huge shows and behaved perfectly so don't think it is atmosphere-related. My daughter says she feels like she is always in season....she was broken professionally and the rider then said she didn't like the leg especially the right. She hates getting her quarter markings on too.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It sounds as if you need to get a vet to check her fully.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Will get saddler as planned to make sure it is not that then proceed with vet.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

UPDATE: Saddler has found spasming muscle in saddle area on one side. Its on the same side as the mare is most touchy. So looking at physio etc now and a new saddle.

 

[Wheels]

I would be inclined to go to the vet first - back problems often originate from lameness and you could be £2k down on a new saddle and still have problems

 

[jules9203]

Look forward to hearing how it goes but if saddle and back sorted would think ulcer or ovary probs. Not sure what order to get it all looked at though. Sorry

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Wheels saddle on trial and it is second hand. Vet coming tomorrow also. But at least we have found one source of the problem.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Vet has been aand confirmed pony sore all along one side, also observed not pushing through properly with hind on same side so recommended physio and review.

 

[be positive]

Vet has been aand confirmed pony sore all along one side, also observed not pushing through properly with hind on same side so recommended physio and review.

That is a sensible approach, the physio should show whether the pony is not pushing through because the back is sore due to the saddle or because it has an issue in the hind limb, there is every chance the saddle has caused the problem and a couple of physio sessions and a better saddle will sort it, if not then the limb needs investigating, hope it is just the saddle so you can enjoy what is left of the summer.

 

[peaceandquiet1]

Thank you be positive. Still waiting on physio to respond but we are doing our own gentle massage and carrot stretches in the meantime.

 

[vanrim]

Don't rule out gastric ulcers if other things don't work.