Someone fell off my horse :-(

[Trouble]

I'm housebound with possibly the worst chest infection I've ever had in my life, so my wonderful friends at the yard have all chipped in to look after my 2 boys. One of them has been dying to have a go on Snip for a while so I said to her she was welcome to whenever she wanted, BUT to watch his rearing/bucking/bad behaviour...

She rode him, the whole yard stood round the gate to watch (it's a yard thing - really annoys me when they do that!) and of course he napped. Well, apparently he started well, but then decided he wanted to go to the people at the gate, and when told no, he went upright, then put in a string of bucks.

That's the same manoevre he tries on me but I've learned how to sit it...unfortunately my friend hasn't.

I've spoken to her and she says she's fine, no damage done but I still feel a bit bad! Least now they might believe me when I say he's not an easy ride.

She was annoyed at herself fo coming off, but more annoyed at everyone on the yard for having caused it in the first place, but then butting in afterwards and had a go at her telling her not to get back on 'that horse' they nagged until she gave in and put him away - though she has said she's going to wait til they've all gone and try again.

Why do I have such a naughty horse?

[barbararob]

Don't feel bad - you were honest with her about him. I had a similar thing happen with one of my horses. My friend was going on a sailing hol the day after and the pics of her bruised body in a bikini lying on deck made me wince as if I'd got the bruises.

[Jaydurh]

it's just one of those things. if she wants another go atleast he hasn't knocked her confidence and she isn't mad at you. horses are weird but we love them anyway lol.

[peppertop]

Hi Trouble, I'm sorry your friend feel off your horse, I hope she is ok. The behaviour your horse is showing though is not normal, he shouldn't be behaving like that. I'm afraid I don't believe any horses are naughty and its only that they are trying to tell us something. I've read a few of your posts about this horse and I would say somewhere there are problems he is trying to tell you about.

[Trouble]

Then you'll be glad to hear that noly today I had a blood sample taken for full testing.

All the usual checks have been done and redone. I am not ignoring the behaviour at all.

[june]

That seems a sensible thing to do. I had the same thought that that isn't normal behaviour. The horse is trying to tell you something, but it is often really hard to work out what it is.

It took me two years to find out why my horse wouldn't go forwards happily. Turned out she had sore feet which even nerve blocks didn't show up. I'm glad I listened to her and didn't try to force her forwards. She's a pretty honest horse and my gut feeling was there was something wrong. Sure enough, as soon as I worked it out and tried riding her in pads she was a different horse.

Stick with it and keep searching for those little clues. You'll work it out in the end if you keep listening and looking.

[Trouble]

Just to add....before he's condemmed here as well, he's just given me about 8 months of trouble free riding, fab hacks, schooling sessions, jumping, everything. We even went to his first show with no hassles.

His behaviour in the winter gets worse because we have limited turnout and he is a fit, sensitive horse.

The reason I'm having tests done is that I suspect a potential kidney or urinary tract infection/problem (not a diagnosis I've just come up with, came to the conclusion after research and advice and had already spoken to a vet about it last week) I think that this is causing him to feel uncomfortable when he needs a pee, and he always has been an overreacter - so he's reacting very violently to legs being put on when this is the case.

My fall on Christmas eve was completely unrelated, as he saw something new and genuinely scary, he's still young and relatively green and it was unfortunate that he hit me in the head as if he hadn't I'm sure i would have been able to pull him up and prevent the incident.

I know very little about his background but I do know that it wasn't a good upbringing and he has clearly still got some baggage from that - the only thing I can do about that is stick with him and work through things.

I know the last few posts I have put up here have been negative BUT these are all isolated incidents and he's been ridden almost every day in between not only without incident, but he's been forward, willing, happy and floaty.

Thing is it'd be boring to post every day 'Snip was normal today' so I tend to only post when there's a problem.

Now, I also do agree that he may have a problem, but I think it's partly a short term thing which ~I'm already sorting, and partly long term baggage from his past. I've had him since he was 3 yrs old and I started him myself so I know his last couple of years have been good and consistent, but when I got him he was totally wild!

[june]

I wasn't criticising, just saying well done for getting the bloods done and listening to him. It would be so much easier if they could talk, and also if they yelped like dogs when something hurt, as then we'd know for sure something was hurting.

[Trouble]

No I know, I wasn't taking offence at it or anything....was just wanting to stress that 99% of the time he's an angel, to handle he's faultless and is handled daily by someone who confesses to being nervous and has recently had major surgery so has to be careful...

[peppertop]

Hey trouble nobody's having a go or condeming him! June and I are obviously of the same mind that horses behaving that way even if its only recent are not happy whether thats physical or mental(being in more etc) I just don't believe horses do anything for no reason at all and will always defend one that gets called naughty! Well done for getting bloods done.

[Trouble]

No no...I wasn't taking offence honest! Just wanted a whole picture!!

[julz]

Trouble, hope you are feeling better.... it's horrible being so ill, that you cant ride...

I hope your brave friend is also feeling better, and well done to her, for getting back on, when he doesnt have an audience....

I also wonder if it's feed related??

perhaps he's sensitive to something in the feed, like sugars, or starch etc??

maybe something to think about, if his blood test comes back clear??

Happy New Year xx

[Trouble]

Hmmm...not sure it's feed, all he is on is a bit of chaff and fibre cubes, and ad lib hay of course.

[julz]

what is in the fibre cubes??

[Trouble]

I give him the spillers cubes:

Digestible Energy (MJ/kg) 8.4
Oil (%) 2.75
Protein (%) 10
Fibre (%) 20
Starch (%) 10
Vitamin A (iu/kg) 10,000
Vitamin D3 (iu/kg) 1,500
Vitamin E (iu/kg) 200
Copper (mg/kg) 22
Selenium (mg/kg) 0.2