Post by Lesley from Kent (Floydsmum) on Jan 3, 2010 19:57:45 GMT 1
Hi All,
This time last year Floyd went from being a very sweet willing little pony to a bucker. Thing is he only seemed to do it when asked to canter, he was fine in walk and trot
So, did all the things you'd advise anyone to do and had his back, teeth, saddle you name it, it all got checked and double checked. Sent him off to Suzanne Marshall for re-schooling as thought he might just be being a little cheeky and playing up his little rider. It helped but he was still bucking when asked to canter. He then started being a bit sticky jumping, something he used to love. Definitely something not right then so got the vet to look again and he took some xrays etc.
In March finally had a full bone body scan done and it was found that he had very slight kissing spines (more the discs being pressed rather than bones touching) so he was treated with an IV drug called Tildren plus had lots and lots of Physio.
He's being going really well since then, he's been to a few low key events and seemed to be going from strength to strength. Deliberately kept jumping low and not doing too much jumping just in case it jars his back. I even use a back massage pad on him regularly to keep his back muscles free.
Yesterday the young girl who rides him on Saturday mornings had a lesson on him. All was going really well until we asked him to canter ...... he has started bucking again - not just little ones but whoppers
I've prodded and poked his back myself and he didn't flinch or show any signs of discomfort at all. Will obviously be phoning the vets tomorrow but why is it that he's started doing it exactly a year after the last 'bout'?
He's cost me (well the insurance company bless them) £3,000 this year with all his treatments - don't know what else I can do with him - insurance company now told me he's not insured
I'm at my wits end with him now. I hate to think he's in any pain bless him but if he was, why only do it when asked to canter? He's quite happy walking and trotting along.
Floyd in August this year (after his Tildren treatment)
PS: Just read another thread about a bucking pony (need to be careful how I type that one
)
Floyd canters ok on the lunge (double lines plus use the Passoa a fair amount - his balance is much, much better) but he is a little crooked so it makes sense that he finds it hard to put his legs in the right place in order to canter. I could cope if he shuffled a bit to organise himself but just wish he wouldn't buck so violently with the kids - have had to stop them riding him now.
This time last year Floyd went from being a very sweet willing little pony to a bucker. Thing is he only seemed to do it when asked to canter, he was fine in walk and trot
So, did all the things you'd advise anyone to do and had his back, teeth, saddle you name it, it all got checked and double checked. Sent him off to Suzanne Marshall for re-schooling as thought he might just be being a little cheeky and playing up his little rider. It helped but he was still bucking when asked to canter. He then started being a bit sticky jumping, something he used to love. Definitely something not right then so got the vet to look again and he took some xrays etc.In March finally had a full bone body scan done and it was found that he had very slight kissing spines (more the discs being pressed rather than bones touching) so he was treated with an IV drug called Tildren plus had lots and lots of Physio.
He's being going really well since then, he's been to a few low key events and seemed to be going from strength to strength. Deliberately kept jumping low and not doing too much jumping just in case it jars his back. I even use a back massage pad on him regularly to keep his back muscles free.
Yesterday the young girl who rides him on Saturday mornings had a lesson on him. All was going really well until we asked him to canter ...... he has started bucking again - not just little ones but whoppers
I've prodded and poked his back myself and he didn't flinch or show any signs of discomfort at all. Will obviously be phoning the vets tomorrow but why is it that he's started doing it exactly a year after the last 'bout'?
He's cost me (well the insurance company bless them) £3,000 this year with all his treatments - don't know what else I can do with him - insurance company now told me he's not insured
I'm at my wits end with him now. I hate to think he's in any pain bless him but if he was, why only do it when asked to canter? He's quite happy walking and trotting along.
Floyd in August this year (after his Tildren treatment)
PS: Just read another thread about a bucking pony (need to be careful how I type that one
)Floyd canters ok on the lunge (double lines plus use the Passoa a fair amount - his balance is much, much better) but he is a little crooked so it makes sense that he finds it hard to put his legs in the right place in order to canter. I could cope if he shuffled a bit to organise himself but just wish he wouldn't buck so violently with the kids - have had to stop them riding him now.
