Caramac71
Well-Known Member
We've had my daughters horse for nearly a year. When we got her she was rising 5 and very green. We had her on trial and vetted her at our yard. she was very unsettled at that stage and vet noted on report that she was green, spooky, tail swishing when ridden and kicked/bucked in canter. However he could find nothing physically wrong with her.
Over time, she settled down and everything improved. She would still put in a kick or a buck in canter, usually on the transition or if she was changing leg. She loved jumping and never bucked when jumping so we used poles/small jumps to progress her in canter with no issues.
We gave her a break over winter and she came back into work with a positive attitude. But over the last few weeks she started kicking out at leg aids, being girthy and sensitive to groom. She also dropped loads of weight over winter (she lives out) despite our efforts to maintain it.
We out her on a mare supplement and also changed her diet and started her on equishure. In that time she came into season. She was suddenly no longer girthy, could groom her everywhere with no reaction and she accepted leg aids. She was going forward into canter with no resistance.
A couple of days later that all changed. She still goes into canter without kicking, but once in canter she kicks out with her left hind every few strides. What is even more unusual is that she does this jumping as well as flatwork.
People around us have been quick to label her as naughty, and told my daughter she needs to ride through it. But it's getting worse and I'm not prepared to push her without ruling out pain. She is a sensitive mare and although she can be quirky and opinionated, I do think there is more to this.
I spoke to my vet yesterday and they are coming out on Friday. I have never had to claim on insurance before so I'm not sure of the process - whether I should be phoning them before the vet comes, or wait to see what they say in Friday.
Also I am concerned that as bucking/kicking in canter was noted in the vetting, although it was completely different to her behaviour now, whether this will give them reason to exclude this? The insurance company did not want her vetted, nor did they want a copy of the vetting, but I used my own vet for the vetting and I'm not sure if his report will be included as her history if I make a claim?
Do I just wait til Friday and speak to the vet about this? Or should I speak to insurance first?
Over time, she settled down and everything improved. She would still put in a kick or a buck in canter, usually on the transition or if she was changing leg. She loved jumping and never bucked when jumping so we used poles/small jumps to progress her in canter with no issues.
We gave her a break over winter and she came back into work with a positive attitude. But over the last few weeks she started kicking out at leg aids, being girthy and sensitive to groom. She also dropped loads of weight over winter (she lives out) despite our efforts to maintain it.
We out her on a mare supplement and also changed her diet and started her on equishure. In that time she came into season. She was suddenly no longer girthy, could groom her everywhere with no reaction and she accepted leg aids. She was going forward into canter with no resistance.
A couple of days later that all changed. She still goes into canter without kicking, but once in canter she kicks out with her left hind every few strides. What is even more unusual is that she does this jumping as well as flatwork.
People around us have been quick to label her as naughty, and told my daughter she needs to ride through it. But it's getting worse and I'm not prepared to push her without ruling out pain. She is a sensitive mare and although she can be quirky and opinionated, I do think there is more to this.
I spoke to my vet yesterday and they are coming out on Friday. I have never had to claim on insurance before so I'm not sure of the process - whether I should be phoning them before the vet comes, or wait to see what they say in Friday.
Also I am concerned that as bucking/kicking in canter was noted in the vetting, although it was completely different to her behaviour now, whether this will give them reason to exclude this? The insurance company did not want her vetted, nor did they want a copy of the vetting, but I used my own vet for the vetting and I'm not sure if his report will be included as her history if I make a claim?
Do I just wait til Friday and speak to the vet about this? Or should I speak to insurance first?
