Unpredictable bucking...any ideas?

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laurahicks30

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My friends' Irish Sportshorse threw in some massive bucks in the school a couple of weeks ago and sent her straight to hospital. Ive been riding him ever since and had no problems apart from a slight bunny hop every so often.... Until yesterday when I experienced the bucking bronc that sent her flying... Had just taken him over a very small cross in the school with no problems but by the other end of the school he'd gone nuts. Got back on and took him over it 4 more times, each time getting more and more calm and finished when he'd jumped it calmly...

She's only had him a couple of months and he was a showjumper before doing 1.10m. He seems to throw his head up after every jump, possibly expecting a jab in the mouth? On another note he is very stiff on the left rein, especially in canter. Whats the best way to help this?

Any ideas in general would be appreciated :)
x
 
Hi, I would say for certain that this horse has a pelvic problem, probably low on the right side. Vet, physio or McTimoney should be able to check and correct. Good Luck.
 
After initial teeth back and saddle check my next call would be the vet.

My boy started bucking and was also stiff on the left rein - I did all the usual checks, convinced it was his back, and then the vet discovered mild arthritic changes in his hock - since resolved with cortisone injections.
 
Dartmore said:
Hi, I would say for certain that this horse has a pelvic problem, probably low on the right side. Vet, physio or McTimoney should be able to check and correct. Good Luck.
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I am genuinely interested how you can be so exact from the post?


But to the op. She needs to get the vet out, horses generally do these things for a reason.

Hope she gets to the bottom of it. Good luck
 
How unpleasant for both horse and rider. We had a mare who used to explode into a bucking fit ever so occasionally. We never got to the bottom of what caused it though but it did cease eventually and she didn't do it for the 3 years prior to us selling her. I am sure there was a genuine reason for it and it must have resolved itself as these things sometimes (not often!) do. The sort of bucking you describe doesn't sounds like something you put down to high jinks. A good physio or chiro would be my starting point once you have ruled out saddle and teeth.
Hope you get it sorted and your friend is fully recovered and back in the saddle soon.
 
Might be worth paying for the horse to have it's back xrayed to rule out KS. It may seem extreme but at least you will find out for sure. By the time you've paid for a physio / McTimoney a couple of times the cost would amount to the same.
 
Hi, the reason I feel sure is that the description given is exactly the issues I had with my horse. Agree about teeth, saddle etc but for such violent and sudden explosions the horse is trying to dislodge the rider big time. The bunny hops also suggest pelvis. This is just my opinion - feel free to disagree.
 
Hevs said:
After initial teeth back and saddle check my next call would be the vet.

My boy started bucking and was also stiff on the left rein - I did all the usual checks, convinced it was his back, and then the vet discovered mild arthritic changes in his hock - since resolved with cortisone injections.
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Ditto this.

Exactly the same experience - bucking & stiffness - x-rays showed spavin in hock, resolved with cortisone injections.

Bucking was worst in upward canter transitions & landing fences, because it hurt. She never felt lame to ride & was only ever 1/10 lame when vet lunged on hard surface.

I would def start with vet rather than chiro/physio etc, & take it from there.

Hope your friend gets it sorted :o
 
It really sound slike some sort of health problem and not naughtiness, it really sounds like a back problem of some sort especially as he is stiff in one rein, I would stop riding him get the vet out and saddle fitter and back person!
 
I can sympathise with you...

As others have said get the vet to fully investigate the horse, and then get the saddler to double check the saddle is OK. I’ve had neuromuscular massage therapy done on my horse, and it has helped him to relax and he's much more supple now than he used to be - but do get the vet out first before trying any complimentary therapies!

If (like my horse) there is no apparent problem at all (according to vets, chiro and saddlers) perhaps send him away for re-schooling for a couple of weeks by a pro who isn't fazed by a buck. This could help if the horse is being naughty and hoping to dislodge his rider in order to get out of work.

Other than that, get yourself a really secure saddle, with HUGE knee rolls, and learn to sit to it, and carry on as normal. I could not stay on my horse when I rode in his Albion GP saddle, but I've never fallen off (yet - touch wood!) whilst riding him in his new K2 Jump Saddle. I do stress though that you need to be sure the horse is not in discomfort before you continue to work him. I'm confident my horse isn't in pain as I've had him checked and double checked, but also because there is a pattern to his behaviour, as he only does it at competition venues when he gets excited, and never at home.

It is horrible though. I'd never have bought him if I knew he had this in him.
 
Yes i agree about getting the horse checked out but also cross off if the horse is a slight tad fresh or as you didnt give the sex if it is a mare is it possibly in season, my 4 y/o ex racer went through this when coming out of being racing fit, and has been a lamb until the other day when we had a bucking spree and i found out she was in season and was actually in discomfort when i touched her sides/belly now she has finished she is back to her usual self.

I noticed some comments about hock problems and cortisone injections i have just got a lovely lad who has been diagnosed with slightly arthritic hocks and has been injected with cortisone will his future soundness be quite good and any idea how long the cortisone will last for, thanks for your replies.
 
Having just gone through 5 months of hell with a naughty horse.....what your describing doesnt sound like naughtyness particularly.

If it was every time you got to the far end of the arena away from the others and it was a napping type bronc you would see a trend. Or if its when you were going out alone and the horse didnt want to etc. My horse did this alot...and it was always when he didnt want to do something....or through over excitement. It was always random in the sense of he would do it doing all sorts of activities even hacking....but you could kind of predict it because you would tell when he isnt in the mood. If the horse generally has been working ok and then suddenly starts it when work load is upped i.e jumping i would prob be inclined to get a check up by a vet who then could reccomend whoever is appropriate.

This could be excitement....but i would imagine that if it was excitement it would happen sooner after landing or the corner before a jump.

Such a violent reaction like that really does sound like pain/discomfort/not happy with something.

How is your friend? hopefully she was not too seriously injured. Fingers crossed you get to the bottom of it. Good luck.
 
My usually well-mannered mare bucked me off on 2 hacks about a month apart with a few uneventful hacks in between. I got the vet after the 2nd incident and he diagnosed back muscle wastage. After several acupuncture sessions and 3 months off work, she has made a full recovery. I can't think of any reason for the unpredictability of her behaviour but she was obviously in pain.
 
It certainly does sound like pain especially with the stiffness on one side thrown in. Agree on vet first, then chiro, saddle fit, etc.

Hope your friend is okay and the problem gets sorted easily.
 
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