my baby bounces!

[lou01]

hi there, i have a 6 yr old mare who is fantastic, however every time i ask her to canter she either puts her ears back and shakes her head or she puts her head on the ground and doesnt buck but 'bunny hops'! she has had me off several times as they are impossible to sit to. she has just had her teeth done ( apparently they were a bit sharp) and her back is fine and has just had a new saddle fitted. she has only done this when i have ridden in the grass paddock (i have no school) and occasionally after a jump although i wonder if this is just inexperience as her jumping is very green, she has never done it when cantering in a field etc on a hack or in a proper school, in fact her transitions are amazing on a hack! has anyone else had this problem? or is it something my mare just thought up!

[anon]

dont let her put her head down?

[Deleted]

Putting her ears back and shaking her head sound like signs that she's unhappy with something. Obviously, without seeing exactly what it going on, it's hard to say where the problem might lie. If you've had all the physical elements checked, which it sounds like you have, and this only happens in specific situations, you need to look closer at all the details of the environment where it does occur.

It might be helpful if you could get someone to video you so that you can stand back and have a look, so to speak. See if there is anything, no matter how small, that might be upsetting to her. I'm wondering if it might be something you're doing without knowing it. It sounds like when you are in a more relaxed environment she is ok, it when you are "working" that there is a problem. Are you more tense? Does your seat change? Are you trying too hard? Are you now bracing yourself for the "buck"? If you could watch yourself, you may well be able to spot what is going on. Alternatively, you may need to get someone out to have a look.

If you still can't get to the source of this, it might be worth revisiting the saddle. I know you've just had one fitted but unfortunately they can sometimes still cause problems, especially to young horses. A friend has just had 2 new ones, the second supposedly made for her pony, and both hampered him. She has now gone treeless and the difference is quite amazing.

[rhonda]

she could possible have a sore back.you should get her saddle and back checked out.
if thats any help.

[miller]

She might just be unbalanced - are you trying it in a school on a circle? My lad when he was 4 used to buck like a demon - everything checked and fine - started schooling him outside in field or bigger school and bucking went. Gradually decreased size of circles and as his muscles built up he found it easier so didn't buck. He's never done it since and he is 17 this year

[SamCSpottyHorseOwner]

Mine does this too, in the school. He does a funny bucking circle thing too, where he swings his quarters round and twists his neck before slithering to a halt. Weird! Out on a hack his canter is excellent. I think it is because mine is young and slightly unlevel still- lack of schooling so he doesn't have the muscles to carry us both properly in a bend at canter, and of course, a cr@p saddle which doesn't fit brilliantly.
I am getting a treeless saddle shortly, and hiring a larger menage for schooling (he hates schooling and would much rather go for a blast up the road), so the bends are more gentle and there's generally more room.

I'll let you know about the saddle solution.

Good luck!

SamC