Young horse bucking

[Patterdale]

I bought a lovely 4 year old unseen in June this year. He’d been broken around 6 months, and although he’s a forward, quirky type he was fine on the whole.
I rode him quietly until August, had a few lessons and did some farm rides, then semi turned him away whilst waiting for a new saddle.
I was hacking him once a week but he was getting too fresh, so I upped it to twice and he was ok.
The saddle arrived two weeks ago, and from when I clipped him 3 weeks ago he’s been getting progressively more ‘fresh..(!)’ he’s bucking, jogging, being very silly to get on, etc etc. He also doesn’t like having his girth done up, which wasn’t an issue in June. It has kind of coincided with changing to a short girth though.
I know this can be a sign of ulcers, but it could very well be a sign of honeymoon period over, freshly clipped, autumn flush of grass, testing me out etc etc.

He doesn’t frighten me as such, it’s just annoying and is getting slightly worse, not better. But only in the last 3-4 weeks.

Any ideas and input welcome please!

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Has the big changes been since change of saddle and girth?
If so, I'd be making a swap back to previous to see if he is more settled again.

Clipping and change in weather unsettles many, particularly young ones, he has had multiple changes very recently, try saddle 1st tho.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would check the saddle it could have got too narrow, some horses don't like a short girth I had my dressage saddle made with normal girth straps as my horse is more comfortable in a long girth.

Clipping can make them silly and fresh I tend to ride with a thick quarter rug when I first clip even if it's not particularly cold.

 

[Patterdale]

Thanks!
The saddle is brand new, especially for him and was fitted two weeks ago so I know that’s ok. He goes better in the school in his new saddle - his old one didn’t fit.
The main issues started slowly a couple or more weeks before the new saddle but I put it down to intermittent work.

I have a tendency to look for problems but I’m hoping it’s just lovely youngster trying me out rather than ulcers. He lives out 24/7.

 

[Patterdale]

Actually thinking about it, he’s been temporarily on his own through unavoidable circumstances for about 8-9 weeks now....it was after that that this started.
I wonder if that could have a bearing?

 

[brighteyes]

Actually thinking about it, he’s been temporarily on his own through unavoidable circumstances for about 8-9 weeks now....it was after that that this started.
I wonder if that could have a bearing?

Is he on extra high alert for danger, it being up to him alone to defend against tigers?

 

[Patterdale]

Is he on extra high alert for danger, it being up to him alone to defend against tigers?

Yes this could well be it...! He is also not sleeping as much as he used to.
That’s how he’s acting though - hyper sensitive and just wild.
Friends are arriving this week so we shall see if that makes a difference.

 

[Cortez]

Could be any one of the various things you're thinking of, but the first thing I'd do is cut the feed. And just because a saddle is new and "fitted", doesn't necessarily mean that it does.....

 

[MissTyc]

Could be any one of the various things you're thinking of, but the first thing I'd do is cut the feed. And just because a saddle is new and "fitted", doesn't necessarily mean that it does.....

Totally agree with this. I had the perfect saddle for my young horse. On paper. He started bucking in upward transitions/. I had multiple fitters double check, physios, "back people", you name it they checked him and everyone said there was no pressure no problem. Everyone including trainers said he was "fresh" going into his 5th winter, first year backed. Rode him in an old synthetic on top of a polypad aaaaand no bucking no "freshness". Rode him in the £100 saddle for the rest of the winter and he blossomed and got a completely different new saddle in his 6th year.

The way I see it, it's like shoes. Sometimes they fit just right but you don't like them anyway and you can't quite figure out why ....

 

[Patterdale]

Could be any one of the various things you're thinking of, but the first thing I'd do is cut the feed. And just because a saddle is new and "fitted", doesn't necessarily mean that it does.....

Don’t, I’m terrified that after all this money the saddle won’t actually fit ??
I think it does though, he’s more free in the new saddle and happy in general when schooling. Very well regarded fitter.
Feed wise he’s out on grass and has a handful of straw based chaff and a carrot just to come in with. Most other feed sends him loopy.

 

[Patterdale]

Totally agree with this. I had the perfect saddle for my young horse. On paper. He started bucking in upward transitions/. I had multiple fitters double check, physios, "back people", you name it they checked him and everyone said there was no pressure no problem. Everyone including trainers said he was "fresh" going into his 5th winter, first year backed. Rode him in an old synthetic on top of a polypad aaaaand no bucking no "freshness". Rode him in the £100 saddle for the rest of the winter and he blossomed and got a completely different new saddle in his 6th year.

The way I see it, it's like shoes. Sometimes they fit just right but you don't like them anyway and you can't quite figure out why ....

Ive read lots of these stories since ordering my saddle and they terrify me....! It did start before the saddle though, in fact he was the worst he’s ever been the week before. Took a ten min rodeo and several helpers to get on him at a fun ride..!
He had the physio before the saddle fit too and no major issues.

I’m leaning towards the, he’s just that type answer but I’ve had so many go wrong before that nowadays I always worry it’s some serious underlying issue ?

 

[Upthecreek]

I think not having company for 8-9 weeks would be a big issue. Are you still only riding twice a week? That could be another! Add time of year, clipping and the fact he is only 4. If you bought him in June he is probably only just properly feeling at home, which is often when they start to show their true personality.

 

[J&S]

If he is ok in the school but tense/naughty out hacking, perhaps a nice calm hacking buddy would give him confidence. Lets hope once he has company at home he will feel more relaxed.

 

[SmallSteps]

I have a horse who won't go in a saddle that fits at all. Doesn't matter who fits it. She's a little downhill, hates saddles that move, and is a relaxed happy camper in anything that's a smidge too narrow *smh*

Although yes, if I rode mine once or twice a week, on a hack, freshly clipped, they'd all try to kill me so I may not be the right person to help here lol

 

[LEC]

Standing at the blocks for getting on is a big issue as potentially really dangerous if they are being difficult. I think you probably need to establish the boundaries on this. I had one kill himself because I never sorted it. Was very sensitive to pressure and was feeling full of it that day so started broncing and fell over on concrete smashing his pelvis. Interesting its also the most stressful thing for humans - getting on as their heart rates always go up which is why a lot of horses are triggered. I would go back to absolute basics on this and establish the groundwork behaviour around it and be really strict about it. There might be some anxiety which you need to reassure.

Short girths can cause issues. I still carry on with them but tend to put saddle on first. Do up girth loosely. Add bridle and then do up girth again and then probably a final time before getting on.

When you clipped does he have hair under his saddle? Another issue I see a lot of full clipped horses and by removing the hair it can cause real issues in how the saddle feels.

To me it sounds like a horse who has pushed on the boundaries and you have let them slip just with small things and now you are where you are. Have you got a walker? I find this really helpful, or I lunge before getting on. Quite often this time of year with 4yos I lunge, get on, get straight back off and lunge some more. If they feel explosive then what is the point? I am a pretty brave rider but I hate explosive. I also find raised poles are fantastic. I have one who can be a liability but raised poles make them think and I will carry on going over and over on a small circle until they can behave. They cannot buck and be stupid over trotting poles (well they can but they only tend to do it once). I just find them a really useful non punishing way of getting them to think and behave. Plus they tire them out.

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Actually thinking about it, he’s been temporarily on his own through unavoidable circumstances for about 8-9 weeks now....it was after that that this started.
I wonder if that could have a bearing?

Of course it will have a bearing, it sounds as if you have found your answer.

 

[NinjaPony]

Isolation will definitely make a difference. My placid pony turned into a real handful when retired without a field mate because my other boy was on box-rest. I found him a friend and he settled down pretty quickly.

 

[Patterdale]

Haven’t been able to reply to this due to the pop up ?

thanks for all the replies. I’ve decided to do a course of ulcer treatment. I can’t ignore the fact that he’s girthy and bucking. Which started a few weeks after he started being alone, which was probably very stressful for him.
He’s got a friend again now but I really do suspect ulcers. He wasn’t girthy or a bucker particularly when I got him.
So hopefully I’ll see some improvement with ulcer treatment.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ulcer supplement too please? There are approx eleventy billion on the market...! Thanks!

 

[Bellaboo18]

Haven’t been able to reply to this due to the pop up ?

thanks for all the replies. I’ve decided to do a course of ulcer treatment. I can’t ignore the fact that he’s girthy and bucking. Which started a few weeks after he started being alone, which was probably very stressful for him.
He’s got a friend again now but I really do suspect ulcers. He wasn’t girthy or a bucker particularly when I got him.
So hopefully I’ll see some improvement with ulcer treatment.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ulcer supplement too please? There are approx eleventy billion on the market...! Thanks!

From threads and fb they seem very individual but acid ease suited my mare; its actually her hind gut that upsets her though.

 

[Bellaboo18]

Haven’t been able to reply to this due to the pop up ?

thanks for all the replies. I’ve decided to do a course of ulcer treatment. I can’t ignore the fact that he’s girthy and bucking. Which started a few weeks after he started being alone, which was probably very stressful for him.
He’s got a friend again now but I really do suspect ulcers. He wasn’t girthy or a bucker particularly when I got him.
So hopefully I’ll see some improvement with ulcer treatment.

Does anyone have any recommendations for a good ulcer supplement too please? There are approx eleventy billion on the market...! Thanks!

I think you're right to not ignore the signs. Are you getting him scoped?

 

[Patterdale]

I think you're right to not ignore the signs. Are you getting him scoped?

I’ve been down that road with another horse, and I’ve decided not to this time. The actual scoping and the starving beforehand is unpleasant, and with the symptoms he has there’s not much else it could reasonably be really.
Omeprazole won’t hurt him if he doesn’t have ulcers, so I’m just going to treat and see how he gets on. Hopefully I’ll see some results.
He’s not a stressy horse but he’s had a stressful year...multiple moves including from Ireland, then a long stint alone. He lives out 24/7 on good horse grass so hopefully if stress has caused ulcers then the stress is at least now removed - he’s staying with me and he’s got company again now.

 

[Bellaboo18]

I’ve been down that road with another horse, and I’ve decided not to this time. The actual scoping and the starving beforehand is unpleasant, and with the symptoms he has there’s not much else it could reasonably be really.
Omeprazole won’t hurt him if he doesn’t have ulcers, so I’m just going to treat and see how he gets on. Hopefully I’ll see some results.
He’s not a stressy horse but he’s had a stressful year...multiple moves including from Ireland, then a long stint alone. He lives out 24/7 on good horse grass so hopefully if stress has caused ulcers then the stress is at least now removed - he’s staying with me and he’s got company again now.

Keep us updated. Good luck

 

[Patterdale]

Will do, thank you