Troublesome behavior

[Beau_s_mom]

Need advice, but I’m probably avoiding the obvious. Got a new Paint gelding, who’s now 7, last November. He had never hunted before, but was “too much horse for our lesson program.” Hunted him second then first flight last season. He did great. Moved him to one of our member’s farm, that also is a fixture this spring. He had a few exuberant moments over the summer and was pretty cranky about canter departures. Had the chiro out, who adjusted him, but did not notice anything glaring. Vet saw him for shots and teeth early this fall, no problems. Whipped off him during cubbing season this year when we were short staffed. He was fine. For the past 4-6 weeks, he has gotten really rank in the field. Bucking at the canter when I least expect it, trying to pass the field master whenever he gets a chance. I have dropped back to second, where he still bucks anytime we move off. He dumped me on Opening Day, trotting off, stepping on his reins in the first 5 minutes out (think Thelwell cartoon). Nice behavior, in front of company and God.

I have starting working w/ a trainer who belongs to the hunt, taking lessons. She is trying to get him to be more comfortable w/ transitions and me to get off his mouth and ride him like a 300 lb man, so that I stay put when he starts his shenanigans. I have started him on supplement, Smartcalm Ultra. He is turned out most of the time (really bad weather and he’s in a stall at night), but each horse has his separate pasture. (Originally he had a buddy but BO got worried when her TB played rough w/ my guy and lost shoes.) He gets 4 oz. of Legends Show and Pleasure pellets twice a day. I really want to avoid the seemingly common practice of using ace before hunting. Next step, savvy veterans? Move him to where he has larger turn out with other horses? Any other ideas?

[Beverley]

Well, being out 24/7 in a large field with shelter could be a big help. More work might help too- I know mine don’t get ridden enough but they are happily mellow about it.

Usually I start by eliminating all grain and supplements- a hay only diet (w/access to mineral block) does cure a whole lot of ills without loss of nutrition for the horse.

Last winter my mare started getting goofy on a predominantly alfalfa hay diet- we downed the alfalfa and upped the grass, problem solved within days.

I assume you’ve checked saddle fit. I’ve got one that ‘will’ complain with a buck or two if someone uses a saddle on him that puts too much pressure on the withers.

[Beau_s_mom]

thanks

Yea, going back to basics seems to make sense…grass hay is always good. Never thought abut the saddle. Appreciate your advice.

[gothedistance]

I second the saddle for being the problem.

Also hocks.

[xeroxchick]

All good advice.
Just a thought: If you can hunt him three times in a week or twice a week for a few weeks and really get on some big runs (luck withstanding) he might decide to start saving himself and get serious. This is assuming he is not injured or something.

[whicker]

Check for Lymes and other tick born diseases. Has he been checked by an osteopath? if he is out of alignment, he could react this way. Pain can cause big attitude changes

[Jleegriffith]

I started hunting my event horse this season and it has been an adventure. I talk about it a bit in my blog (link on my signature) but I really believe saddle fit had a lot to do with it and also the fact that he prefers first field. He is a horse that needs to be kept moving and busy. Get a few good gallops in and he is perfectly mannerly but expect him to walk and trot and lord watch out.

Next on my list is the chiro.

I second turnout and feed. I know we have been under water here and the horses just aren’t moving around that much due to all the mud and that has led to some behavior. They are fit from hunting and now just standing around which creates a lot of silly stuff.

[lesson_junkie]

What kind of work does he get the day before you hunt? My very forward, very fit TB mare requires a major blow out the day before we hunt. Otherwise, she’s a beast until we get a good gallop. If it’s a slow day and she hasn’t been galloped hard the day before, she’s just awful.

What would he be like if he galloped 3-4 miles the afternoon before he went hunting?

[Little_Valkyrie]

Not to mention the U-word, but it kinda sounds like ulcers. Whenever our huntsman’s horses act even a bit odd (bucking, spooking, etc) they get a little gastro guard and it seems to help quite a bit. From what I’m seeing, you have to do the super expensive initial treatment and then just “spot treat” when they act off. Might be worth looking into.

[Jleegriffith]

I am a huge fan of a really good blowout but then again I ride tb’s and find it helps their minds if you just let them go forward instead of trying to contain all the energy. A good gallop makes my ride much better the next day. I hunted on thanksgiving and we had a really hard hunt and come sunday my horse was just perfect for the hunt. Ready to go but flat footed and much happier.

Our problem is the wet weather keeping us from even being able to hit the trails in between hunting days and of course the deer hunting going on around us.

[Hotspur]

Ulcer Guard

My guy Riley is a saintly packer both hunting and eventing. But he can be a bit of a worrier at meets or in the warm up area.

We found that giving him a dose of Ulcer Guard the evening before and the morning of a hunt really helped. When we show, we start the Ulcer Guard the day before travel and keep him comfortable for the entire weekend.

I’ve had this horse for 6 years and Ulcer Guard has produced an improvement in his comfort and behavior.

[moorewoodfarm]

I hear your pain! My horse and I are relative newbies to hunting, and he is quiet as can be with the whole scene. He does, however, let out a little buck every time we pick up the trot or canter (literally, every time!). He gets better after the first good run, and is almost buck-free if we hunt through tougher terrain (woods, lots of turns, etc). He is very healthy and gets lots of turnout, etc. He never behaves this way in the arena (we also do some serious dressage), so I chalk it up to experience and excitement!

[Equibrit]

A knob end ash whip helps a lot.

[Beau_s_mom]

Thanks for all the ideas. Now, if it would stop raining here and the sponge, I mean ground, would dry up just a wee bit, we could get back to work!

[wateryglen]

Any chance it’s just plain enthusiasm? His way of saying woooohooooo, here we go! Especially if they are very fit. Sometimes with some horses; it can be better to hunt them unfit! It’s stored energy looking for an outlet.
I had one half tb draft cross that always did a front end buck/hop when we moved off at a canter. For him it was his attempt at taking the bit so he could go,go,go!!! He wanted to move on and I was pulling saying I wanted some control or slow,slow,slow or wait,wait,wait. This scenario was present until his retirement. Some canter in place, prance, buck, hop, half rear…it’s all about them wanting to go on!! Make sure you aren’t clutching and/or pulling and making it worse.
JMHO!!!:winkgrin:

[Ajierene]

[QUOTE=wateryglen;4548063]
Any chance it’s just plain enthusiasm? His way of saying woooohooooo, here we go! Especially if they are very fit. Sometimes with some horses; it can be better to hunt them unfit! It’s stored energy looking for an outlet.
I had one half tb draft cross that always did a front end buck/hop when we moved off at a canter. For him it was his attempt at taking the bit so he could go,go,go!!! He wanted to move on and I was pulling saying I wanted some control or slow,slow,slow or wait,wait,wait. This scenario was present until his retirement. Some canter in place, prance, buck, hop, half rear…it’s all about them wanting to go on!! Make sure you aren’t clutching and/or pulling and making it worse.
JMHO!!!:winkgrin:[/QUOTE]

I was kind of thinking this. If he doesn’t get a chance to run and buck with a herd, he may be compensating by running and bucking under saddle - this could be especially the case when he’s out hunting and everyone first starts moving off and he’s thinking ‘yay! herd is running!’

[Bogie]

I don’t know about just enthusiasm. I guess it depends on the horse. My OTTB sure gets enthusiastic but he knows bucking under saddle is not allowed and even if I get one, it wouldn’t happen at every transition.

The fact that it happens every time you “move off” would lead me to believe it’s a saddle fit problem. It sounds like something may be pinching him. I’d look for a source of pain. Also could be hocks but if a chiro saw him in the spring, maybe they would have noticed that?

Once you rule out pain, I’d have your trainer ride him at a hunt and see if she can assess it better.

Good luck. It’s no fun to worry if your horse is going to get you off when you’re out in the field.

[Romany]

[QUOTE=Equibrit;4546674]
A knob end ash whip helps a lot.[/QUOTE]

:rolleyes: right; beat on him if he’s bad, because after all, horses are only bad because they want to be bad, not because they have no other way of expressing their pain or discomfort.

OP - I would agree with the others who suggest he’s in pain somewhere; could be back, tummy, feet, anywhere, but most likely to be feet/legs/back, just because it nearly always is.

[cyberbay]

There is quite a difference between 7 hours a day of turnout and 24 hours. Can you bump him up to 24 hours? (And check the saddle fit!).

[Beau_s_mom]

Had a good talk my my field master last night. I have had some opportunities to take him out w/ pony club on trail rides and he’s a prince (walk, trot and canter) so, I am going to explore more turn out options. Adrenaline is a factor here, I do believe. Thank you all for your suggestions. I’ll keep you posted.