Why's he doing it? Help?

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GroovyGallop

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Hi all, new to this board! :)

I own a little 15 year old welshie x that i've had since about January 10'. I bought him after a huge confidence knock from my last pony and he really has been a real poppet ....upto now. Within about 4 months i was doing things i never thought i'd ever be doing, hacking out alone, going for gallops with my friends, riding in the school, popping fences. Little things, like i could walk through a field without jig jogging. Finally i could enjoy having a pony i could have fun on and get the confidence i so badly needed at the same time. :)

Had a new saddle for my birthday, fitted by a saddle fitter, changeable gullet type. This was about june time - went lovely in this! Until around a month and a half ago. Out of nowhere one day, he started trying to shake while i was riding (like a dog will shake when its wet.) one day he caught me off gaurd and i fell onto his neck and had to slide off him. I got back on.. but hes never been the same since that day? :confused:
The day after this happened, i went for a hack with my friend. We were out for around half an hour, and came to the route to go back home and he started trying to shake again. I legged him on, this made him jig jog, so i pulled him up.. but he wouldnt stop jig jogging. This sort of alarmed me.. because although to alot of riders it'd seem like nothing, my little ANGEL pony was being silly! and he doesnt do 'silly!' did a pony swap with my friend as shes a very confident rider and she got on him. He did the same but this time started bucking when she kicked on, and he doesn't buck, EVER. So, being a paranoid mother i put it down to back/saddle. Gave him a week off, and tried him in his old saddle which he was never silly in. Did the same. tried to shake & buck. Had his back checked, the lady couldnt find anything that she thought would make him play up. So i called his old owners down who are lovely people, they couldn't believe he was being silly either. One of the girls got on, walked, trot, canter, jump.... nothing :confused: I got on, walk trot canter jump... nothing. took him around the track didn't put a foot wrong. Basically making me look silly for calling them out in the first place! :p

The following day i took him in the school, he was fine. perfect! Next day had him clipped. Thought he might be a bit fresh so i lunged him the following day, he was fab. Got on him today to go for a hack, got down the lane and he started shaking and bucking again, jig jogging, i applied my leg but he just wouldnt go 'forward' or WALK, he HAD to jig jog, then he'd keep popping a buck in. It got silly so i turned around to go home (i know i know, bad idea but i just couldnt have carried on) He did it all the way home and it got so bad that i had to get off as he was doing very big bucks on the road.

When i got home i decided to take him in the school. Figured he was just taking the p*** as he was fine most this week! He was okay for 10 mins, had some nice trotting. then he kept trying to canter when i wanted trot. so i pulled him up and stopped him dead. and then the jig jogging started! everytime i put on leg, he'd do a buck so i smacked him, then i got 3 broncs in a row. I ended up having to get off. Its really knocking my confidence because i have no idea why he is doing it, why is he fine one day then not the next? :confused: I have got the dentist coming out tomorrow but i really dont think it is that. Anybody had anything similar, any advice/tips ?

Sorry its long!
 
Poor you! You are doing all the right checks, so thats good. It does sound like he's just being naughty and getting away with it. Have you just started feeding him for winter, or has he just come in at night perhaps?

I would say that he needs riding through this, and pushing on. However confidence is fragile - as you know from your last pony. Don't let your head concentrate on the neagative. You will get through this. Could you find a freelance instructor to give you some lessons and help you get through this? It would be worth the investment.
 
As you've had all checks done, I would have a few lessons with a recommended instructor, often an experienced person on the ground can pick up the little things that may be causing the problem, good luck with sorting it out.
 
Sounds like surplus energy to me - I'd give him a gallop and let him work it out ;) or get a friend to if you prefer! good luck with him :)
 
I would get the vet to give him the once over. If you had only had him 3 to 5 months I would say he is now trying it on. However you have had him longer so I would suspect something is not right. I have no idea what it could be but would at least ring the vet and see.

At least then you are 100% sure there is nothing wrong with him
 
JFTD said:
Sounds like surplus energy to me - I'd give him a gallop and let him work it out ;) or get a friend to if you prefer! good luck with him :)
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Absolutely not what I would do - you don't want him to think that this is the perfect excuse to gallop off rather than work correctly. Find yourself an instructor that you trust and work through any problems with them. It is always a steep learning curve getting a new horse and you want to instill the right behaviour into your new horse from day one. Everyone has 'wobbles' with their confidence and it is great to have an instructor to support you and iron out any problems. If you don't know of anyone, ask similar minded friends or enquire at local saddlers, feed merchants etc. Be positive and best of luck x
 
Echo Bravo said:
Does he just head shake or whole body??
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It's his whole body.
Yeah thanks guys, i think lessons sound like a good idea, just need to try and find a good freelance instuctor round here, as don't know of many!

I've thought about a good gallop too! Gave him a good long canter on the lunge the other week, but guess it doesn't have the same effect as a gallop in an open field though, might have to try it! :)
 
Could you join your local pony club or riding club (depending on your age!). They will run courses and lessons, and will be able to tell you of good local, qualified instructors...

Forgot to say, welcome to the forum!x
 
Perhaps when he did that first shake you got a bit nervous and then started getting tense which in turn has made him tense. Just remember to relax move your shoulders around a bit and breathe properlly, from your stomach not shallow breathes in your chest.

Get a good instructor, where are you if your close to me I can recommend a great one for nervy riders and naughty ponies :)

But before all of this make sure you get the vet out to check him all over he may be hurting some where that the back lady would not have picked up on.
 
Well doing a good old body shake is not so unusual. I had a mare that would do it practically everytime we went on a hack at some stage. Usually with her it was if she was a bit sweaty and she'd just stop, have a good shake and then toddle off again. It certainly wasn't a naughty thing with her, I think she just was a bit itchy and hot. I just let her do it and that was fine.

The difference with yours is the bucking/jogging. I just wonder if it started with her feeling frustrated at not being able to relieve the itch and then finding that playing up actually has a positive effect ie you got off/went home or whatever.

I do think the bad behaviour needs nipping in the bud and would get some help, like get a good instructor to ride through it.

But I wouldn't tell her off/smack her for having an shake. Just sit there and wait tll its done and them calmly move on again
 
get the new saddle re checked again. drop all his bucket feed off, and get some constructive lessons from a good instructor. the grass is still very rich at moment. good luck. please dont continue to let him rule the roost whatever the reasons.
 
kirstyl said:
Absolutely not what I would do - you don't want him to think that this is the perfect excuse to gallop off rather than work correctly.
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I'm of the opinion that you can't expect a horse to concentrate and work correctly if he has a surfeit of energy. Better to allow him to work off the energy with a good gallop at a time of your choosing (I never said let him decide where or when!), then invest in the lessons to get yourselves working together "correctly".
 
I'd get a chiropractor out to have a look at his withers, back, poll etc. Something doesn't sound quite right physically to me and I'm not sure it's just an abundance of excess energy.
 
JFTD said:
I'm of the opinion that you can't expect a horse to concentrate and work correctly if he has a surfeit of energy. Better to allow him to work off the energy with a good gallop at a time of your choosing (I never said let him decide where or when!), then invest in the lessons to get yourselves working together "correctly".
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/\/\agree/\/\ The shaking bit isnt a problem at all, loads of horses do it when they're itchy or wet or bored. Let him do it and just hang on! The bucking bit isnt quite so simple, it could be that he maybe isnt doing quite as much work as he needs or is used to and is just too fresh. If the saddle/back is all good then try working him harder - find some good hills to trot up and make hime work in a good outline to make him use himself better - its harder for them to do it properly! What do you feed him? maybe its just a bit too fizzy?
 
I know of several good instructors in the Derby/burton/lichfield area...is that right area for you?
As for your problem, it does sound as if he is playing you up, as you say he has been clipped etc so possibly feeling fresh and well in himself.
If the dentist finds nothing wrong it may just be an idea to get the vet to give him the once over, but definately find an instructor who can have a look at you both and see if there is anything obvious x
 
JFTD said:
I'm of the opinion that you can't expect a horse to concentrate and work correctly if he has a surfeit of energy. Better to allow him to work off the energy with a good gallop at a time of your choosing (I never said let him decide where or when!), then invest in the lessons to get yourselves working together "correctly".
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I guess we'll have to agree to disagree. Just because a horse is messing about and being full of it, there is no way I would ever say the best course of action is to gallop it 'to work off energy', no matter when. The OP is not a confident rider! In this case I would probably work the horse on the lunge (this means a schooling session, using side reins ideally so the horse is actually having to work properly) until the horse is working in a softer and more submissive manner, knowing that this rider is not on board to have to cope any excitable behaviour. If a more experienced and confident rider is available then she could work the horse in the school or out hacking - I agree - trotting up hills is fantastic and burns off energy quickly - certainly does with the steepness of hills around here!

A good instructor will be able to help you so much with your confidence and the confidence and progress of your horse! Ask around and be prepared to try a few before you find someone you really click with.
 
Given that it is so out of character I'd get him checked over by the vet, then:

have the saddle re-checked;

have the back person out;

(get these two at the same time so they can discuss).

If those are all fine, then get a good instructor to work with.
 
Pony at the old yard I worked at did this for a while: it culminated one day in shaking, getting the young tot off her back, then rolling in the sand school for 5 mins in view of many shocked ponies, riders and RI! We later worked out she'd been fed the high energy stuff the grand prix horses were on, as it's in exactly the same packaging as the basic dry horse feed - only the name on the bag different! She went back to old, reliable sweet Starlit once she was off the high energy mix.
 
Are you allowing him to shake? Shaking is not a bad thing, my horse does it every once in a while. However the bucking is not on... hmm
I agree with some of the others re getting a good instructor, hope the problem is solved soon.
 
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