Low E - touchy sides - lymes disease.
I had an ex-steeplechase horse once that was the sweetest thing for about a year. I took him to clinics, lessons, trail rode him alot. One day on a familiar trail ride he just bucked me off - HARD.
I sent him off to the trainer for a month - she worked him consistently (mostly flat) and he never seemed to like it much. One day she got on like always and he bucked her off - NASTY.
So I went there, we were going to take a trail ride and see what we thought our options were, we all mounted up and put her experienced working student on him at the same mounting block, and boom, bucked her off.
I decided I couldnāt sell him to anyone in good faith, so was going to take him to the 'sale. I called the lady I got him from, she does TB rescues, and she traded me a little mare and took him back.
He now is a ranch horse, the best one they own, works hours and hours in a western saddle, works cattle, etc etc. Never had a momentās trouble with him. He absolutely loves his new job. We think he just didnāt want to play āenglishā anymore.
BTW, I had his saddle fitted, teeth done, chiro, massage, so I know it wasnāt a pain issue, at least not one we could find.
Good luck to you, but I wonāt own a rear-er again, too scarey.
feet. Poorly balanced rear feet=sore back, hips, stifles, hocks
I wonder about a Lymes flare up too. If heās had it before, chances are he could have a recurrence. Iāve not too much experience with it but have heard and seen it affect a horse by making them behave differently and as some would describe as naughty or spooky - bucks and explosions, followed. It was described to me as sometimes feeling like their skin is burning and sensitive.
The fact that there was a buck off the day before, also makes me wonder if something like this is going on.
Yet, with 4 months off, he could just be re testing the water. In which case, get help from someone who is calm, patient and experienced.
Thanks everyone for the insightful input! Lots to think about.
We are in the process of trying to find the right trainer to evaluate and work with this horse. We also want to make sure nothing else is going on physically before anyone else works with him. I am going to try and encourage her to also have a chiropractor look at him. Will keep you posted!
I would agree with the other posters to check for ulcers, lyme, and other medical/physical issues.
Also, please do check the fit of your saddle. You said you had it fitted in the fall, but the horse spent the winter off. He most likely lost a good deal of muscling over his top line, and his saddle may not fit him the same as in the fall. Muscling falls away very quickly with time off, and your saddle may be fitting very poorly now because of that.
Good Luck
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My stoic and āonly bucked once in her whole lifeā mare was giving me the stink eye and pinned ears when tacking up.
Long story short, I decided to start her on Cosequin about a month ago. I think she may have been hurting a bit and her new behavior was pain related. Nothing else changed but adding that supplement and now sheās NOT crabby when I tack up and sheās much more forward.
-same rider sheās had for 20 years
-saddle fit
-same stall/turnout
-same feed
So back along the lines of tackāyou say the saddle was fitted last fall. Has the horse been in work all winter? Changes in fitness can cause changes in muscling which can change how well the tack fits.
I personally wouldnāt be quick to freak after one incident. It may be that he has some attitude, but that the whole thing is exacerbated by something else.
-pain
-feed/supps
-fresh from not being in work for several months
-etc.
I have had a horse flip over on me though. So I know how scary it can be. I wouldnāt tell someone to get back on if they werenāt comfortable.
"Blugal
I would immediately suspect saddle fit. Whenās the last time you had a saddle-fitter out?
Also, if he has only gone over once itās possible that will be enough for him, too. "
Have not read the rest of the thread. While I believe some tail swishing and bucking can occur from poor saddle fit, it is NOT JUST CAUSE to throw yourself over. The bucking for sure if you have had him a year and no bucking until now than I do not think the horse was really misrepresented and seeing about a chiro or saddle fitter may be in order.
Now the rearing up and over. Sometimes one is enough for many horses especially since he went up and over. WE have a guy who would just nap, prop and rear and then rear and lunge (his MO on the track to) when he had to turn away from the group schooling or when he did not want to go someplace. Ruling out the saddle, vet issues and chiro issues we put mr. happy pants on the long lines and waited and āletā him choose his course of action. Up and over one time was enough to convince him that was not fun (albeit in a soft arena) Most certainly I would tell the owner (some barn managers and trainer do not and this includes some BNT, my pet peeve) even if it scares her the liability to you would be to great not to do so. The horse just was standing and flipped over like this?
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VUyvy_8HNEQ&feature=related
Or did it become nappy and rear and slip in mud you mentioned? They are both naughty but throwing yourself up and over is one thing, being a tad naughty and barn sour and slipping is another
Jumping bug,
I have to say without a doubt it was up and over in one shot. He did not slip or get pulled over by me. We went over in one motion together.
While I am in no way a professional (evented thru training level, dressage thru 4th) when I was younger I used to own a mare that reared even before I got her. She would go up high/almost completely vertical for a few seconds hang there and then come down.
Fortunately, I never came off and was able to work her through it and she quit. If it was more like this I feel I would be more equipped with help to deal with it. However, my boarders horse shot up and over. I liken it to a dog literally throwing itself on the ground only he went up and over to do it. Somehow I remember thinking as we were going over, āoh my God, how did he do that?ā as it no way felt like any rear I have experienced before and my mare could rear! I honestly have to say I dont think anyone could have stayed on as there was not one second that I felt he might not go over. 
Jumping bug
Was just able to see the video on my other computer WOW!!!
Although this guy is only 15 hands I have to say that was how quick it was and with the same motion of up and over in one shot that I felt.
There was never any doubt he was going over. Boy seeing that I realize now how LUCKY I am to have not gotten seriously hurt!! Thank goodness for protective head gear and x country vests! :yes:
Someone will know the whole story but that video has been discussed on these forums fairly recently. If I remember correctly that horse had some neurological defect and was destroyed.
I hope your horse is ok in the long run but If you can find the thread you may get some clues on what to consider.
on the one hand seems like maybe he got into a situation, found himself āupā and then āup and overā - maybe just as surprised as you!
on the other hand - I have an Appy that learned over maybe a yearās time that the way to avoid going forward somewhere he didnāt want to go was to go up on his hind legs.
it got really bad and scary. I got a lot of bad advice that all required him standing up on his hinds with his fronts waving in the air for me to ādisciplineā him: break an egg between his ears, hit him with a bat between his ears, etc. etc.
remember, heās an App. this would just make him more ornery.
then I found a GREAT tip from John Lyons. over the next month or two I made sure to stay away from any situation where heād be likely to rear up. meanwhile every time I rode maybe 10-15 times in an hour trail I gave him a ādrop your headā cue. he learned in two months to drop his head, instantly, on a cue.
so, the next thing to do was to test it. I took him in a situation where I knew heād rear up. when I felt that weird ālight airyā thing in front that meant āhere we go!ā I gave him the cue. instantly, he dropped his head. it was over. itās kinda hard to rear when you have your nose on the ground. 
I have had him over 10 years since then. that was the last time he has ever tried to rear. literally. magic cure.
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These are all good points. He was previously abused, he acts like a stud & the only gelding w 4 mares. He herds them like a stud. Grazes away from them gets water 1st etc. He also was having problems w the bit/bridle and saddle fit. I had tried a couple bridles. He is sensitive & shldve kept trying was sick that day actually puking while on his back & that morning b4 leaving the house. Iāve only had him 2 weeks. No problems bareback. Trying to buck the day b4 while saddled w just halter and lead on him. I shldāve done a lot of things I didnāt do. The vet is coming back out to check him over extensively. If he checks out Iāll start from 0 working him in round pen to build him up. Hopefully itās a 1x thing.lessoned learned dnt cut corners. Iāll post how it goes. P.s. when he flipped over he got up & stood there. We had only been on about 5 minutes.
Iām confused. Are you starting a new thread asking for advice? That might get more responses than reviving this ancient thread.
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Yeah, Alex, Iāll go with āWeāve got a spammer postingā for $400. Reported.
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Have you considered an animal in the vicinity since the other horse was turning around. My mare reared only once in the 10 years I owned her, and it was due to something in the cornfield.
You said it, too many nice horses out there, why deal with a trouble maker, LIFE is short, enjoy it while you can.
This thread is now 9 years old. No reason for it to resurface. Iām sure OPās problem has been solved one way or another by now.
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Oh thatās funny, I hadnāt even noticed the original date!
