Does anyone else's horse/pony do the full body shake?

[spacytracy]

So, my DD’s 13 h pony is for the most part a good egg. She get anxious at times, and her nervousness is displayed in snorting for the most part. But almost every ride, she does a full-body shake. It can be before the ride, in which case MOST of the time its once an done, but other times its during the ride, and it is violent, and DD 99% of the time gets shook off. She’s a pixie of a thing and I honestly don’t know if I could stick on these things. They’re a full-on, dog-after-a-bath shake.

My question is, would you think this is an allergy thing? A nervous thing? A pony gonna-get-you-off thing?

I really don’t have anyone to school her on a regular basis, and I’m too big for her.

What would you do for this? Wait til DD is stronger and just have her work it out?

I have started her on magnesium to help with her pony-ish-ness (she is kind of a brat on the ground - nasty to the other horses and just a cranky mare).

do you think I should try an allergy supplement? Or is this behavioral?

[Nezzy]

my horse does it on occasion and it HURTS!! i would double check tack for any itchy spots.

[My_Two_Cents]

We had a mare that we used in a volunteer therapy program. The first hour she was used saddled then there was a 15 minute break. The second hour she wore a surcingle with a handle and a fleecy pad. Every.Single.Time. in the first round of the second hour she would do a whole body shake. We tried to walk her around without a rider but she would wait until the rider was on. Tried to train it out of her but the horse was a saint otherwise so we had to pick our battles. Side walkers knew it was coming and depending on the rider sometimes they would lift them off for a few seconds and other riders just loved the “earthquake shake”.

[saddleup]

This time of year, when they’re shedding and itchy, mine all do when they start to get sweaty. My trainer had a pony she named “Richter” because he would do it to get rid of his rider. He was a stinker.

[Scribbler]

Mine does the full body shake after she rolls.

I can absolutely see a pony figuring out this is a way to get the rider off that the rider can’t stop or prevent, and that doesn’t quite meet the standards for “bad pony.”

Like my horse knows she shouldn’t bit or kick on the ground, but she’s figured out she can give me one hard, fast flick right in the face with the tail, out of nowhere, and look totally innocent: I was just swishing my tail and you walked right into it (she is not a tail swished usually, this is definitely targeted).

[shezabrazenmare]

I have a horse who does it.

[GotMyPony]

I’ve had my horse 8 years now, ridden regularly and for long distances for hours at a time and he never did the full body shake with me on… until the last 2 times I rode him - only 1 hour rides - and he did it both times. He’s been in lighter work than normal because of health issue (mine) and then weather, so I don’t know if it’s a getting back to work thing or what. I thought about posting on the Horse Care forum to see if it might be a symptom of something… any clues appreciated.

[pony_baloney]

Mine will do it at the end of a ride if he’s a bit sweaty. I just pick myself up out of the saddle a bit and let it all happen underneath me.

[o0rxkxrox0o]

My horse did it once with me on her. What a weird feeling.

[quietann]

I’ve never had the, um, pleasure of experiencing it from the saddle, but my mare does it after she rolls (pretty common), and after being unloaded from the trailer.

[crosscreeksh]

[QUOTE=pony baloney;8560706]
Mine will do it at the end of a ride if he’s a bit sweaty. I just pick myself up out of the saddle a bit and let it all happen underneath me.[/QUOTE]

ME too!! My old foxhunter always did that when he was getting sweaty!! If you tried to stay in the saddle it was he would almost shake you loose!! Just stand in the stirrups and let it happen!!

[Quelah]

My youngish Andalusian does it at the end of most rides. And lots of other times. I don’t consider it naughty in any way, it’s just him. I usually grab the front of the saddle.

[spacytracy]

Wait that’s a good idea- to stand in the stirrups. I’m going to try that.

[demidq]

My mare does it on occasion as well, but I can’t see any particular pattern… Perhaps a grab strap or a neck strap would be helpful?

[Jackie_Cochran]

One of the mares I ride does this. Often I think it is to resettle the saddle on her back.

I get into two-point and loosen my knees and leg grip, and I also grab her mane. If I do not loosen my legs I get severely shaken!

[UlysMom]

i call this Pony-quake and it always makes me squee!! I should change my boy’s name to Richter.

[pAin_t_Misbehavin]

Mine does it if I use a wool saddle pad-like every five minutes! I ride western, so I just sit as relaxed as possible and hold the night latch till it stops. (Maybe you could put a grab strap on her saddle?) I think standing or two-pointing or worst of all gripping with legs would get one shaken off in short order. Tell her to sit back and let her relaxed hips and waist absorb the motion. You gotta roll with it baby!

[ehwaz]

[QUOTE=spacytracy;8561096]
Wait that’s a good idea- to stand in the stirrups. I’m going to try that.[/QUOTE]

It works great. My mare does it once she gets really sweaty ( and we do endurance, so its not uncommon). Generally, after a water stop, she will shake and then itch her face on her leg for a minute or so. She is much happier if I let her do it and since she waits until we are already stopped, I let her do it. I just stand in the stirrups.

[walkers]

My mare has done it for 20 yrs. now and its so strong I really hurt especially my low back,shakes every vertebrae . I cring when she starts it ,never found a way to stop it.

[Nezzy]

I have never had any inkling it was about to happen, it just happens and Yes it hurts. If i knew it was coming i could do something, to prepare. but all of a sudden, i’m being shok to my core. Ugh.