Waxwing
Well-Known Member
Further to my recent thread about whether to sell or not to sell I am getting the vet out to see the horse this week and she been more reactive under saddle with more bucks occurring in the last couple of weeks, not every day but it has gone from once in a few months to three/ four times in two weeks and these have been proper bucks, not just a yeeha moment because the person in front has cantered a bit fast. The horse's physio contacted me regarding the horse's next appointment and I took the opportunity to ask her opinion, based on her knowledge of the horse, what potential causes might be. She was obviously clear that she is not a vet and cannot categorically say, but she feels something rear end is more likely than her back. She say she would be surprised if it was kissing spines as the is no evidence of the compensatory muscle changes she see in other horses who have this,
I absolutely get that if in pain, and certain ridden movements increase the pain bucking or other behaviours are a very understandable response to this. The query I have is is this likely to make the horse has at times been very reactive in other situations which as at "odds" with her usual personality/ demeanour.
Examples when jumped on grass first the first time this year, she had been fine when having a warm up in the school over a small cross pole but the sight of (very small jumps) on grass immediately resulted in huge bucks when just walking or trotting towards the . On other occasions she has jumped without issue.
If someone falls off or gets off when she is more reactive and she breaks loose she tends to kick out with her back legs and then take off around whichever arena/ field she is in. This has happened a couple of weeks ago with my daughter, she wasn't jumping but some other people she was with were, the horse became upset so she got off and then the horse broke loose, reared kicked out and took off.
About six weeks after we got her my daughter took her into the school to ride her one evening and before she even got on her she twirled round broke loose and set of round the school bucking. At the time this was put down to there being a lot going on the yard, her still settling and being bought back in when her field mates were out. However when the yard owner and I had a discussion about her behaviour over the past year and again she felt this was an extreme reaction to the situation, particularly as she had been very quiet when ridden and handled prior to this.
She has no issues with hacking out on her own and is happy to come in on her own and leave her field mates behind. However if she is being ridden with another horse and that horse then leaves she will become upset and you can feel like a a buck or similar may happen. If the horse returns she will carry on working happily.
She is not a horse who automatically reacts to other horses misbehaving or who automatically wants to go when their feet touch the grass.
I suppose what I am asking if there is an underlying injury/ issue could becoming excited, upset or nervous exacerbate how much she is feeling this. I do fully appreciate that horses like humans have many factors that influence their behaviour, work levels, amount of sugar in the grass and saddle fit, being some that have definitely had an impact within the last year.
I am not going to be selling her without trying to work out what factors are currently affecting her behaviour; I don't want anyone being injured and I don't want her being mis sold in the future, she is a very kind mare on the ground and when not bucking/ cavorting presents and is very quiet to ride.. At present it is difficult to predict when these behaviours might occur which increases the potential risk.
The absolute best case scenario would be something is found that is treatable, she responds well to this, the bucking and unpredictable behaviours reduce and we consider her staying. The worst case scenario is several things are found for which there is a poor prognosis but at least I am in control about what decisions are made about her future.
I realise this is somewhat rambling but I hope some of the wise people on here understand what I have rather inarticulately expressed.
I absolutely get that if in pain, and certain ridden movements increase the pain bucking or other behaviours are a very understandable response to this. The query I have is is this likely to make the horse has at times been very reactive in other situations which as at "odds" with her usual personality/ demeanour.
Examples when jumped on grass first the first time this year, she had been fine when having a warm up in the school over a small cross pole but the sight of (very small jumps) on grass immediately resulted in huge bucks when just walking or trotting towards the . On other occasions she has jumped without issue.
If someone falls off or gets off when she is more reactive and she breaks loose she tends to kick out with her back legs and then take off around whichever arena/ field she is in. This has happened a couple of weeks ago with my daughter, she wasn't jumping but some other people she was with were, the horse became upset so she got off and then the horse broke loose, reared kicked out and took off.
About six weeks after we got her my daughter took her into the school to ride her one evening and before she even got on her she twirled round broke loose and set of round the school bucking. At the time this was put down to there being a lot going on the yard, her still settling and being bought back in when her field mates were out. However when the yard owner and I had a discussion about her behaviour over the past year and again she felt this was an extreme reaction to the situation, particularly as she had been very quiet when ridden and handled prior to this.
She has no issues with hacking out on her own and is happy to come in on her own and leave her field mates behind. However if she is being ridden with another horse and that horse then leaves she will become upset and you can feel like a a buck or similar may happen. If the horse returns she will carry on working happily.
She is not a horse who automatically reacts to other horses misbehaving or who automatically wants to go when their feet touch the grass.
I suppose what I am asking if there is an underlying injury/ issue could becoming excited, upset or nervous exacerbate how much she is feeling this. I do fully appreciate that horses like humans have many factors that influence their behaviour, work levels, amount of sugar in the grass and saddle fit, being some that have definitely had an impact within the last year.
I am not going to be selling her without trying to work out what factors are currently affecting her behaviour; I don't want anyone being injured and I don't want her being mis sold in the future, she is a very kind mare on the ground and when not bucking/ cavorting presents and is very quiet to ride.. At present it is difficult to predict when these behaviours might occur which increases the potential risk.
The absolute best case scenario would be something is found that is treatable, she responds well to this, the bucking and unpredictable behaviours reduce and we consider her staying. The worst case scenario is several things are found for which there is a poor prognosis but at least I am in control about what decisions are made about her future.
I realise this is somewhat rambling but I hope some of the wise people on here understand what I have rather inarticulately expressed.
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