Unusual, extreme behaviour.....ideas?

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KalaJ

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I rode a friends horse for her on Wednesday night, i used to share this horse before i bought my own and have ridden her many times. She now has a new sharer who is terrified of riding this horse due to strange, unpredictable and erratic behavior. I offered to ride to see if i could work out what the problem is, im not the best rider but because I had previously ridden this horse with no issues whatsoever i thought i would be ok.....well it wasn't, far from it. From the moment i got on she was snatching her head, i had no contact at all, trotting sideways and then she just exploded! She reared several times, bucked and then stopped. I did consider getting off at this point but being very stubborn i decided to turn her round and when i asked her to go forward she exploded again and this time i hit the deck! Ive gone over and over it in my head and just don't know why she reacted this way. A few things to point out, she had her back checked about 4 weeks ago and apart from lack of muscle from not being ridden much she was fine. Teeth done last week, no issues there. Same saddle that she has been ridden in for 4 years, no change in feed BUT they did change fields about 3 weeks ago and there is a lot of grass! Any opinions welcome.
 
The head snatching is indicative of pain. The horse is screaming out for someone to listen to her. IMO she shouldn't be ridden again until the cause is found. Lack of muscle does not really show enough to be commented on when a horse has not been ridden much. It is indicative of pain or a poorly fitting saddle. 99% of the time when a horse is behaving this way it is pain related. The problem is finding it.
 
Yes, I agree, extreme reactions/behaviour = extreme discomfort...

If the tack, teeth and back have been checked recently I would start with a vet check or perhaps thermal imaging.
 
pennyturner said:
If at all safe, try to ride bareback / with just a soft pad. If she goes fine, then saddle is the problem.
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I would also try this - my mare was/is the most bombproof zombie around, but after a 2week break on good grass I plonked on the same saddle she's been ridden with since forever and promptly got bucked off. Nobody could believe THIS horse had done it! I drove her later - no problems. Tried bareback - lovely. Has to have been the saddle - she has filled out on good living and it must have been pinching/something?
 
as others have said if she has lost muscle , the saddle which may have fitted a few years ago now doesn't!!!! saddle needs checking by a QUALIFIED saddler. once saddle is sorted out I would then get vet to check everything, teeth, back, legs feet....with a special look at the back and neck areas......if all ok lunge before riding ...good luck
 
Just get the vet. Explain everything. Get them to recommend the next course of action.
 
Sorry for the delayed reply....internet issues. I'm glad most responses have been that pain is the issue and that they saddle is the problem. I've tried, politely, to suggest to the owner that they need the saddle checking and/or vet but the owner thinks she is just being naughty as not ridden so often and the abundance of grass!. I know what I would have done with my own horse in this situation but I can only suggest what she needs to do.
 
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