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Post by ruthp on Dec 27, 2009 12:07:43 GMT 1
Among other things my OH gave me a bright pink T-shirt with "Get Bucked" written across the back! Yeah. Very funny. Yesterday, Bali took it literally. We've been having problems with a little buck going into canter, and I've been working on it with my instructor. Last lesson we thought we got it sorted, having lunged her for a while. Not been able to ride thanks to 6" of snow for the last week or so, but yesterday I took her into the school and started working. She was a bit hyper, but we did lots of walk and trot and circles etc. and she settled. And then I asked for canter, and WHAM! Not a little flying buck, but a great big heels over head job, and I hit the deck. I went and got the lunging stuff, and got her cantering on both reins OK, and then got back on for some more walk and trot. Didn't risk cantering again. Feeling really fed up (and a bit stiff) this morning. Been lying awake half the night wondering how to solve this one - confidence on the wane again, and I don't want to get too scared to canter my horse.
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tamzin
Intermediate Poster
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Post by tamzin on Dec 27, 2009 12:08:52 GMT 1
has your instructor ridden your horse to see if they have the same problem?
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Post by rifruffian on Dec 27, 2009 12:21:07 GMT 1
pain.
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Post by wabuska on Dec 27, 2009 12:48:45 GMT 1
Well, blinkin' well done getting back on for starters. That surely has let her know that this doesn't end the work. She's been underworked (like all our horses) so no surprise there was a bit too much fuel in the tank. I would refer to your RI too I must say as she has the overall picture. Back or tack? Neck strap for you for now?
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big e
Grand Prix Poster
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Post by big e on Dec 27, 2009 13:50:06 GMT 1
I don't know if this will be of any help to you as i don't know how big your horse is but could someone run round with you in the school on leadrein and so when you ask for canter you can think about planting yourself in the seat so you don't get bucked off and let them control the horse for you. That way you'll get used to where the buck is coming from so should be able to sit it out rather than trying to stop the horse doing it? If they're not bronking that is One of mine used to stop on the spot and do 2-3 handstands before going into canter and i found after landing on its neck and then falling off a few times, they were quite actually easy to sit out once you knew where and when and how high. with the help of someone leading me (which wasn't as hard as the horse did stop to buck) i found my balance and kept my confidence as my mate was holding the horse and taking the p*ss at the same time
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 27, 2009 23:22:03 GMT 1
oh dear....all ok now?
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Trouble
Grand Prix Poster
Posts: 2,263
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Post by Trouble on Dec 27, 2009 23:27:51 GMT 1
Ouch....not nice, were you wearing the T shirt at the time??
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Post by peppertop on Dec 28, 2009 17:43:02 GMT 1
Hi Ruth, Sorry to hear this, you were on such a high about your confidence last time I read a thread of yours. Is the bucking happening going into canter on both reins? Does she buck when on the lunge going into canter? Hasanyone else ridden her and asked to canter? Sorry for all questions! Hope you managed to have a nice Christmas though, and we should try and catch up in 2010! Ruth
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Post by ruthp on Dec 28, 2009 22:03:52 GMT 1
Hi Ruth!
OK, some details. She first started bucking just slightly going into canter when we were hacking about 6 months ago, and I didn't think much of it - just over exuberance, and they were little bucks, sort of, come on, let's get on with it. As soon as we got into canter she was fine.
Then, a couple of months ago I was having a lesson and I asked for right canter and I just went straight over her head. No warning. Since then, I've been a bit nervous about cantering her, but have had a couple of good almost accidental canters on hacks without a problem.
So, with my instructors help we thought we'd better tackle my fear of cantering in a school (and I guess you can probably imagine where that one comes from!). But when I asked Bali for canter it was as if she didn't know what I wanted. My instructor got on, and had the same problem - she just didn't get it.
So we got the lunge lines out, and asked her to canter a circle on the lunge - and she BUCKED! Well, she sort of bronced and tried to double barrel my instructor who was lunging her. Left rein seemed worse than right on the lines, but when ridden right is definitely worse. After a few minutes though, she settled down and we got a nice canter on both reins.
So I lunged her a couple more times in the following week, and then my instructor came back and we lunged her again. Then instructor got on, and got a nice canter on both reins with no trouble. So I had a go, and again, no trouble, although I was probably a bit tense and maybe blocking her a bit.
On Saturday, having not been able to do any work for over a week because of the snow I took her into the school, and she was a bit lively, but after some work in walk and trot I figured she was relaxed and listening, so I asked for canter on the right rein and once again I went straight over her head.
So, yes, I am definitely part of the problem, in that I'm getting more anxious about asking for canter, and now I know she can tip me straight over her head I'm going to be even less sure about cantering on a hack too.
And yes, before anyone asks, the first thing I did when she first bucked me off was take her straight to the physio to get her back checked. (I was having psychotherapy myself at the time, and I think my therapist nearly gave up when she realised that I'd been bucked off, and the horse went to the physio, but I didn't!) So back, teeth, saddle etc. all fine.
So there you are. All suggestions, advice, recommendations, volunteers for the rodeo etc. gratefully recieved!
R.
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Post by honey on Dec 28, 2009 22:10:46 GMT 1
umm my stallion does exactly the same and 18 months later im still no way forward as you teeth back saddle ect checked all fine. im convinced though something is annoying him more than being naughty, cause its as if when i ask for the canter he doesn't want to move forward into the contact. sorry i haven't been much help but hope you find your solution soon.
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Post by peppertop on Dec 28, 2009 22:24:24 GMT 1
My take on this would be that she is crooked.All horses are to some degree, but through work and schooling they can become straighter. Most horses are like us and right handed. this basically means that the right side of the body over extends and the left over contracts. Basically they are permantly stuck in left kink( can't be true left bend as they are contracted on the left and there shoulders and hind legs are not following the same path) If asking a crooked horse to canter, sometimes the only way for them to sort there legs out when travelling on a circle is to literally throw there legs in the air. Which is why out on a straight line it ofetn won't happen . On the left rein she will fall out through her right shoulder and on her right rein will fall in through her right shoulder. the assymetry is the same on either rein. I don't know if you can remember much of the work we did with Rudi, but on the lines he always fell out one way and fell in the other. I would suggest doing some straightening in hand work and move onto lunging. only trying the canter when the straightness has improved. A great book for understanding starightness is www.amazon.co.uk/Correct-Movement-Horses-Improving-Straightness/dp/1905693141Its not that helpful in sorting it out but gives a good understanding of why our horses seem to struggle with these things so much. You will probably adding to the problem as you will be mutually crooked with her, which feels straight as that is the norm. Its difficult to describe how to move on in writing, but see if any of that rings true with her. You know where I am!
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Post by ruthp on Dec 29, 2009 9:47:27 GMT 1
Well, I have no idea how you do that - some sort of equestrian psychic powers? But yes, you have got it in one - she is crooked to the left. Very noticable when working in a school, as getting any sort of right bend is tricky - I've been working on it a little bit, but obviously not very effectively!
So, what sort of exercises should we be doing? She is very difficult to long rein (if you remember it was really difficult to get her to go away in the round pen) so I had to resort to lunging which she is obviously more used to.
And do you ever come near here?
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Post by ruthp on Dec 29, 2009 11:18:02 GMT 1
Well, my lovely instructor has just phoned having logged on and seen my post. So, she's coming over this afternoon, and Bali is going to do some work! She also suggested that I should go and have a lesson on another horse, in order to prove to myself that I can canter. Excellent idea as I'm getting pretty blocked about it. So if anyone knows a really good, sympathetic school near Rutland where I could book a lesson on a schoolmaster, let me know!
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Post by wabuska on Dec 29, 2009 11:47:58 GMT 1
That's great Ruth. I admit I taught my first horse to buck by asking forward and then holding in his front end. It happens, but the case may be far more complex in Bali's case. Do let us know how you get on.
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Post by portiabuzz on Dec 29, 2009 11:53:21 GMT 1
good luck!! x
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