I nearly bit the parking lot today. My gelding has been known for his antics but this was quite a few notches above anything he’s ever tried before. He reared way up, leaped and then bucked hard. Then did it again, twice. Bronc style!
I know my saddle is too wide, I need to figure out a solution-new saddle, shims/pad or something. But, thats been an ongoing problem, cant imagine it caused a sudden behavior change. However, I clipped him yesterday and wonder if the body clipping could have caused this explosion? Finally, I ran out of MSM this week, wonder if he’s sore somewhere.
The entire ride he was a grouch. He was difficult to turn and stop. Had a few more bucks, nothing like the first but harder than ever before. I’m amazed that I stayed with him the whole hunt. Thank goodness I had the standing martingale or I would have been minus some teeth!
I was ready to send him to Mexico!
But, seriously, any suggestions besides drugs? I noticed when I put his sheet on last night after clipping him that he was very irritable. He normally fussed a little but last night he was really grouchy, stomping his hind foot and biting the blanket. Could being off the MSM or a fresh body clip really cause such a severe change in behavior? This is my guy that everyone loves, trainers, children. Yes, he can be a handful and, yes he has an impressive “happy buck” but today he was just mad.
Yikes! Glad you rode through it without damage.
Don’t rule out the saddle causing the problem…it did with my mare on Friday. I too am having saddle fit problems so I tried a different one of mine on her on Friday. She gave me some warning volly’s then blew a fuse- it was too narrow.
And don’t rule out the lack of MSM as contributing to todays antics.
And don’t rule out a fresh clip job contributing to todays antics.
And let me toss out there something else to considers, ulcers. 
After staying on through that ride I went home and I tripped over a ladder backwards while pulling a three-string hay bale off the stack, hurt my neck. Sort of like the time I drove to CA for a joint meet, rode hard for three days, drove home and dropped a flashlight on my toe while walking in the door, gimped around for a month.
Was it a full clip?
I vote for clip job. I’ve had this happen YEARS ago. I had a TB that was ultra sensitive after clipping and I would wait a week before riding him after I clipped him. I soon stopped doing a full clip.
Also- when you clipped him, did you rinse or sponge or wet towel him off? Those loose sharp hairs could definitely prick him!
And yeah…saddle fit would prob be exaggerated now…but…I still vote for the clip!
Good luck- keep us posted!
Ulcers. I thought about that. Last time he did this with the blanket was when I first rescued him, 6 months off the track and he had an ulcer. I just can’t see why he would have one now. He’s in the lowest stress situation of his entire life.
I think I’ll buy the MSM, a therapeutic pad and begin the painful job of saddle shopping. I sure hope it was the clip job, or a combination of everything.
I did not rinse after clipping. In fact, I put the sheet on immediately after, so he didn’t even get a good roll.
I need good suggestions of used, older saddles that might run narrow. I’ll probably be looking on Craigs list. Barns by, Stuebben?
Yes, a full clip. I was going to leave a saddle and girth patch since I was riding today. But, as I was clipping the clippers acted up. The guy who owns the place where I board looked at the clippers and to test them ran a couple of strips, right down my saddle patch. So, that was that! Can’t have a goofy looking clip job!
I’ve never ridden him the day after the clip so this could very well be it.
The MSM, I also noticed my paint gelding was kind of stiff in the hocks so my husband took the day off. I guess I need to order my sheet and supplements ASAP!
Just a thought about the ulcers… I don’t know what climate you are in, but I used to have to ulcer prone horses and this time of year was always hard for them because they a)don’t have the constant grazing that alleviates the pain and development of ulcers and b) they are in their stalls alot more.
Try getting that clipped hair off of him, and maybe lint roll the inside of his blanket to get any hair pieces off of that too…
Ha, I have totally been bucked off after a fresh clip job. I learned with that particular horse he always got a bug up his butt the first few rides after clipping although I was never sure of the reason because I did hot towel and brush all the loose hair off. I think it was more of the OMG I’m nake and want to be bad thing??
It also really helps when it is super cold to have a quarter sheet. I have had a few that get a cold back after being clipped and then bronc until they get warmed up.
I wouldn’t rule out the saddle fit either as that was the cause of my horses bucking last year (saddle to narrow that I didn’t get refitted fast enough).
I prefer wool flocked saddles for horses that are hunting as their backs tend to change with fitness levels. Have fun saddle shopping:no:
I also vote for “clipping as genesis for bucking”
I have only truly been bucked off twice, and the most recent one was 3 weeks ago, the day after Thanksgiving, when a cold front blew through with wind and very cold rain. Pony’s butt cheeks and flanks had just been clipped two days before (I had already done his chin, throatlatch, chest, belly, etc.) I’m convinced that clipping + cold wind = bucking.
(No, I wasn’t hunting; yes, pony is 20+ yrs old. Nevertheless, the concept is the same.)
Pain
That’s a pain reaction you have there!
All the suggestions above, plus static electricity in the sheet you had on.
The saddle is hurting his spine. You have to do something quickly or you are headed for a fall on frozen ground. (if you live in the part of the world that freezes.)
Please have him checked out by a vet or DVM trained in osteopathy to put his body back in place. Do you know what a pinched nerve in your back feels like? It drops you in your tracks, howling in pain. :eek:
There are mattes correction pads that can be temporarily shimmed, but that is a temporary fix until the pain gets worse and you have done more damage.
Long story shortened. A quarter horse weanling I had (bred the dam and was there when the foal was born) developed ulcers. He was treated, healed and his diet was altered to be 100% ulcer preventative here at my home where he lived with two, laid back mature horses in a low stress world. As a 2 year old he was used in a Merial gastric ulcer clinic as “exhibit C”- a previously ulcer positive horse that had lived like a happy hippy for the past 2 years. He was not in any training. His weight, coat and appetitie was perfect. Sure enough, on the scope, there on the right side of his upper stomach was a nice medium size ulcer. :eek: Go figure.
Going back to your yesterday, you have a lot of factors that could have contributed to the events. And I ditto Wither, saddle fit can make the kindest horse become unglued. If you don’t have improvement on the next hunt I would treat the horse with a tube of ulcergard on Thurs, Fri and Sat and see how the horse hunts on Sat. If he is a whole lot better, you may have solved a problem.
[QUOTE=whicker;5278785]
That’s a pain reaction you have there![/QUOTE]
Seriously.
You know the saddle is too wide. Fix it. Reflock it if that’ll do it or otherwise get the poor beast one that fits. A clip can certainly make them “goose-y”, cause them to be fussy about their blankets over the stubble, and can also affect saddle fit (i.e. making a wide saddle fit even wider).
An “ongoing problem” with saddle fit can indeed just reach a point where it goes from uncomfortable to utterly intolerable.
Sure, maybe he also has ulcers, and that should be addressed, but the saddle problem is the obvious place to start.
I know my saddle is too wide, I need to figure out a solution-new saddle, shims/pad or something.
Have you checked for wither/back impingement once you’re in the saddle (slip your fingers around up there - I suspect there isn’t enough clearance anymore especially as he starts moving); poorly fitting saddles cause permenant nerve, tissue & skeletal damage so hopefully you can find a saddle to borrow etc.
Not to mention the importance of keeping yourself safe!
We’re in Phoenix and it’s been uncomfortably warm lately. I’ll work on getting this tracked down and keep you updated. Will start with saddle and MSM.
I inquired on a bunch of Craig’s list saddles last night.
The fact that he didn’t want his sheet really makes me think it was the clip but if he continues same behavior with the sheet I will treat for ulcer. I have him on almost free choice alfalfa a full turnout to avoid ulcers. I can also add some alfalfa pellets, he can always use more weight.
Is there any positive or negative correlation between MSM and ulcers? I only have him on MSM as a preventative, mainly because I mix my grain in a batch and the other three horses have various joint issues, which he doesn’t have.
I’m also going to get a better saddle pad. I used to use a Mattes half withers relief and it fell apart this summer. I’m sure that’s at least part of the problem. That, and my saddle, being too wide and needing re-flocked.
He’s always going to be a tough saddle fit with his shark-fin withers. My saddle fits everything else I’ve ever put it on.
Not ready to give up on him. He’s carried me through lots of hunts, shows and an ugly divorce. He’s still my good buddy, but I don’t want a bucking buddy!
Please Get a Trained Saddle Fitter
Please get professional help fitting the saddle. A trained saddle fitter can make all the difference in your survival. Take advantage of getting more of an education in saddle fitting from the fitter.
This horse isn’t shaped like the rest of your horses. He isn’t going to fit the same shape saddle, no matter how much you want him to. You can’t go craig’s list cheap and expect to improve the situation.
How do you know if the saddle is damaged, the tree broken or twisted? If the shape of the tree matches the shape of the horse? Is the saddle level? Does it rock in any direction? Are the stirrup bars in the right place for your best balance point?
The fitter can flock an appropriate saddle to fit his current shape. He probably will be uneven in his musculature from atrophy and going in- correctly to avoid the pain. You will need to have the saddle re- fitted every 2-3 months if you are working him to correct the damage. He can build muscle every 6 weeks of 3-4 days a week appropriate exercise. (Not the same as hunting him)
Please get some dressage training to learn the exercises to build up his back. He is going to be a much better ride for you if you invest in him. You can transfer your new knowledge to your other horses, and improve them, too.
Rivenoak is in the Phoenix area. She hunts with Risk Adverse Rider. P.M. Rivenoak. She knows the event/dressage world as well and may be able to mentor you through this learning curve. You may P.M. me as well for more mentoring help.
FWIW I have a gelding that has a huge buck in him for no reason and an even bigger one after being clipped. He has to have a full bath after being clipped as the tiny hairs stick into and irritate him.
Brushing is not enough, he’s a monster.
It could be other things too, like a rib out our a lumbar. The few times my horse has been a royal butt, it always turns out she is in pain and being a butt is the only way she can communicate it!
Agreed. Having a saddle that fits your horse perfectly makes all the difference in the world. Of course, as your horse muscles up and his back changes, you will probably have to have it re-fitted! :yes:
Calling saddle fitters today. Also buying a new sheet as I think his sheet actually hurts his withers. Will keep everyone posted and stay off until I get to the bottom of the problem. Too good of citizen to let him hurt. He really is an honest guy, no spook, no stop, always forward. Glad to know most people wouldn’t write him off as a bronc just because he had a very atypical day.
I totally agree that this was either a pain reaction, the fresh clip or a combination of both. I usually feel so safe on him since I can count on him to take me over and through anything. This incident really shook me up. It takes a lot to scare me or get me unseated but I was pretty close to biting the big one yesterday morning.
If it is back pain due to an ill fitting saddle (made for ill fitting by the loss of hair), be aware that it can take a while for the muscles that are sore to heal. He can still be put to work on the longe line to keep him moving and fit.
Best of luck.
Glad to hear you are checking all avenues to get this resolved. Have you done any pressure tests on his back to check for specific areas of back pain? If you find some, you could use massage to work out some of the soreness. Also, would you vet recommend some bute for a few days to help.
