Unpredictable bucking

[pazza]

Hi, looking for some help or ideas on what could be going on with my horse. About two months ago I got a new four year old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He has generally got a lovely temperment and takes most things in his stride. He always has a good look at things but doesn't spook that much and is generally quite laid back for his age. The vast majority of the time when being ridden he is well behaved, however on two occasions since I bought him he has gone into two major bucking bronco fits. The first time it happened while I was mounting and he continued to buck after I fell off. Once he stopped bucking he calmed right down and when I got back on him he was perfectly behaved.The saddler and dentist were both out after the first time and I assumed something must have pinched or stung him that day and it was a once off. The second time was about a month later after I had mounted and he had taken a couple of steps and then went into the bucking fit. I was unable to get up on him after the second time as I injured my back quite badly and won't be able to ride for a few months.

When I first got him he would not stand to be mounted but he is now standing still beside the mounting block. However, he is tense when being mounted and usually after a few steps relaxes and is fine except for those two occasions. When I mount I lower onto his back very gently. The vet is coming at the weekend but I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas or come across this kind of behaviour before with any ideas of possible causes or triggers especially since it happens so rarely and unpredictably. Thanks

 

[nix123]

I would have the chiro out aswell as the vet. Also have you thought that he could be cold backed? Maybe if you look up the symptoms you will be able to get a better idea as they can vary.

 

[ladyt25]

Thought I had written this for a second! What saddle do you have? What sort of size is your horse? I would strongly suggest the saddle is the issue here and would guess it is pinching somewhere. I got a wide saddle for mine and although wide enough in front the gullet was actually too narrow down his spine and this resulted in the same reaction you have experienced. Then he had a much more extreme reaction afterwards when I tried the saddle without me on (I too got injured on my 2nd 'dismount'). I suggest a physio to determine if back is sore and ask them to check saddle fit as well. Then get another saddle fitter out!

 

[ihatework]

Hi, looking for some help or ideas on what could be going on with my horse. About two months ago I got a new four year old Irish Sport Horse gelding. He has generally got a lovely temperment and takes most things in his stride. He always has a good look at things but doesn't spook that much and is generally quite laid back for his age. The vast majority of the time when being ridden he is well behaved, however on two occasions since I bought him he has gone into two major bucking bronco fits. The first time it happened while I was mounting and he continued to buck after I fell off. Once he stopped bucking he calmed right down and when I got back on him he was perfectly behaved.The saddler and dentist were both out after the first time and I assumed something must have pinched or stung him that day and it was a once off. The second time was about a month later after I had mounted and he had taken a couple of steps and then went into the bucking fit. I was unable to get up on him after the second time as I injured my back quite badly and won't be able to ride for a few months.

When I first got him he would not stand to be mounted but he is now standing still beside the mounting block. However, he is tense when being mounted and usually after a few steps relaxes and is fine except for those two occasions. When I mount I lower onto his back very gently. The vet is coming at the weekend but I was just wondering if anyone had any ideas or come across this kind of behaviour before with any ideas of possible causes or triggers especially since it happens so rarely and unpredictably. Thanks

I had one that was very much like this. He did it so infrequently, that when he did do it it came completely out of the blue.

On the whole it always seemed to co-incide with a grass flush. He did it once or twice April time, every year. He also did it once end of August after a wet spell. It was always on or shortly after mounting.

At the time we didn't link it to the grass, it was only looking back that the tentative link was made. We thought (and it could still be the case) that it was triggered by something pinching, possibly sensitive area under the girth.

He was actually a pretty chilled, non-spooky/sharp horse in general - so it wasn't really an expected behaviour for his type. I learnt to read the early warning signs - I got about 1 sec warning when his back raised - if I got of his back, took my leg right off and just waited he wouldn't lauch into rodeo.

 

[L&M]

I know where the above poster is coming from - when mine has a grass belly or there has been a flush, he is very sensitive to girth up and puts his back up when mounted.

Come mid winter when the grass is poor, I never see this reaction.

Of course it could also be a myriad of other things, some more sinister than others such as KS, sodefinitely think you are sensible going down the vet route initially.

 

[suey12]

Check for Trochanteric Bursitis, the back lady found mine, incidentally there was nothing wrong with back, poll or pelvis

 

[Loubidy]

The horse whisperer told me my horse has open nerves on his back like when you have a hole in your tooth and sook in cold air. She says it was likely caused by being driven so young so he has bad posture. I was told ways to massage before I put the saddle on.

 

[budley95]

Mine did this as a youngster and even managed to dislocate my hip on one occasion. His was for being cold backed though. He did grow out of it eventually with lots of work to supple him up, as that was what caused his. Get him checked and if everything is fine when you get on (personally mine panics if someone if someone is holding him) flex his neck to you and bend down and give him a treat. Sit back up and give him a rub on his neck. Tell him he's a good boy and let him chill out and accustom to your weight on him and then ask gently for walk whilst still rubbing his neck, could use a neck strap to hold onto as you do this though. What's he like if you lunge/long line him first with tack on to warm up his back?

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

The horse whisperer told me my horse has open nerves on his back like when you have a hole in your tooth and sook in cold air. She says it was likely caused by being driven so young so he has bad posture. I was told ways to massage before I put the saddle on.

Errrrhhmm (scratches head????). WTF??? Tho' yes would accept there's no doubt a pain issue going on somewhere.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

It does sound like a saddle issue really but I would also bear in mind what he is eating. I used to have a mare whose behaviour was unpredictable and found, eventually, to be caused by a sugar and cereal intolerance.

 

[pazza]

Thanks a mil for all your input! I did wonder about him being cold backed as he is always tense during mounting but because he relaxes so quickly after mounting the majority of the time I wasn't so sure as I thought if he was cold backed he would stay tense until he had warmed up a bit? Generally I tack him up slowly with the saddle going on first and walk him around a bit before getting up. On the two occasions, I probably didn't spend quite as long tacking up etc but it still wasn't that rushed. I haven't lunged him before getting up on him yet as most days there has been no problem but I may start doing this when Im back able to ride (as much for my nerve as for him!!). I am still wondering about the saddle but figure since Ive had it checked I should try rule out other issues before revisiting the saddle as the cause. The grass thing was interesting but I don't think that can be whats wrong in this particular case as the grass has not been great this summer after all the dry weather. I could review his feed but at the moment he is not really getting any cereal or sugar as he is getting Top Spec Cool Balancer with some chaff and then dampened. Unless he is having a reaction to the balancer? But would the bucking be a more regular occurrence if it was feed? Also who would you recommend to look at his back? Physio, osteo or chiro? The possible causes for this are a minefield really!! Thanks again for all your advice so far!