What could be wrong? Sorry its long..

[Bens_Mum]

I'll try and keep this as short as posible!

I brought a horse from a reputable dealer on the yard I kept my old horse prior to Christmas. Horse is a 17h ISH gelding rising 5 in May. Horse had mainly hunted and for his age was amazingly laid back, excellent in traffic, fairly unflappable by most things. Horse passed 5 stage vetting with flying colours.

All was fine for a week or so hacked out gently to get to know each other. Then it snowed and had a week off. After week off lunged then got on. Minute bum landed in saddle horse went nuts bucking until I came off and hurt my back. He had never been keen on standing still to mount but this day stood fine- how ironic!!

Yard couldn't believe this had happened or horse would buck etc. No one saw it so was only my word on the matter. No support was offered, it was suggested I exagerated it etc. Decided probably a 'baby' moment and as couldn't ride took horse to proffesional for schooling and bringing on.

Horse has been fine since and not put a foot wrong. He is sluggish and hard work to get going forwards but other than that they went right back to the begining and worked with him 5 times a week for 4 weeks praticed mounting and did some de-sensitising work with him. He was still a little nervous about being mounted but much improved.

During this time I slowly started to ride a little, got confidence back with him hacking etc.

On Wednesday I rode him for 30 mins he was really chilled. I halted to get off and he totally freaked again (no reason we can find) bolted had a good buck and threw me out of the arena (over 5 1/2ft fence) when I ran him into the fence as looked like jumping out. Cue black and blue and rather shaken. Groom got straight back on and he was lunged but was very wound up still so left it there.

I have one major concern which is this horse has now twice gone off with absolutely no warning whatsoever. The only difference between myself and the other riders is that I would weigh more as the groom is very slight. The behavioir is totally out of charater and the two people who witnessed the latest explosion can't believe it if they hadn't seen it.

I totally don't know what to do now. I knew he was young and expected some issues but this was a real 'Get off me' also I dread to think what would happen if it had been on the road the day before... We are having the vet out tomorrow to see if they can find anything wrong but I have grave concerns about getting back on if they don't find anything due to the total lack of warning before this happens. Also in addition to this the horse cost me a fortune and has given me two of the worst sets of injuries ive ever had in riding 20 years in the space of 8 weeks!

Suppose its a bit of a rambling post but does anyone know of anything that could cause this that wouldn't show in the vetting? Or experience of youngsters behaving like this? Should mention he is on a Magnesium calmer and a token chaff and carrots. Is turned out daily. Any ideas/ advice much apreciated..

 

[_HP_]

Back, tack and teeth would be my first thought

 

[ofcourseyoucan]

well he is only 4 and a half, and probably picking up on your nerves. i would suggest putting a decent rug on him and turning out 24 hours a day, on hay only and increase his work! make him sweat every time you ride him! vary his work poles, jumps etc to keep his mind occupied and thinking. as he has previously hunted his work load would have been much more and his petrol tank emptied regularly. as you have had your confidence knocked on him i would query if this is the right horse for you.

 

[loz9]

[ QUOTE ]
Back, tack and teeth would be my first thought

[/ QUOTE ]

Ditto this, especially the back part. A friend of mine bought a really good sj horse, she was tiny & had no probs at all with him but anyone heavier than her & he would bronc. She got this investigated & turned out he had kissing spines. It may also be that he is just having a young horse tantrum.

 

[Orangehorse]

Look at the saddle VERY carefully. Sometimes there is a nail, or the padding has slipped, leaving a hard edge. The extra weight might be enough to"catch him" at certain times.

A very good PC pony started bolting when mounted and it was discovered that as he had muscled up the saddle became too narrow for him and it was hurting him, so he reacted in the only way he knew how.

Since this is "unusual" behaviour there is a cause.

 

[Booboos]

I think you are right to have the vet out to check the 'usual suspects', i.e. back, saddle, teeth, lameness. If all is well maybe you need to reconsider whether you want a young horse or this young horse. If you bought him from a dealer they should be able to take him back and exchange for a better match.

 

[Bens_Mum]

Thank you for all your replies. My instructor thinks it physical as we had been doing so well and he had been quite fine before this - she was there when it happened. She mentioned Kissing Spines.. He is so relaxed its bizzare. On the Tuesday he led three much older horses past a tractor on a really tight lane without blinking. Hopefully we will atleast get to the bottom of it anyway, I just hope there is a good reason for it all. Its such a shame as we had put the first incident down to young horse behavior and I was totally over being worried about him its just a shame really as otherwise he is and has been brill.