How do I deal with this?

[Mellany]

I have had my horse, Monty, a TBxCB, for just over a year. He's a bit green but, generally, a gentleman both in and out of the stable.
He does tend to get a bit excited by other horses. Our arena is adjacent to a turn-out field and today, during my riding lesson, the resident horses started galloping about having a frolick. Monty got excited, leapt into canter and then proceeded to buck. He's almost 17hands and has a huge buck so, needless to say, I somersaulted through the air and landed flat on my back with a thud. He then galloped around the arena bucking excitedly and took around 5 mins to catch. I then finished my lesson, albeit a bit nervously!!
I've probably made him sound like a complete nutter but, to be honest, this is only the 2nd time he has bucked with me aboard. His back is fine and his saddle is a perfect fit.
Any advice will be much appreciated. I've got a thumping headache and am stiffening up by the minute....lol.

[Lgd]

Not much to offer except sympathy for your ouches.

Schooling does help with a green horse so he will be more likely to listen to you than to his pals in the field as time goes by.

[Chantal]

I've ridden a horse who used to get excited and buck (especially going into canter) and I found settling him into schooling helped. Lots of transitions and lots of moves - serpentines and whathaveyou, but plenty of variety so he never got the chance to switch off. If I saw his attention being diverted, a little half-halt and maybe a change of rein seemed to bring him back. I suppose the obvious thing would be to use another arena, but that's not always possible! I also had to ride him on quite positively to stop him getting his head down to buck.

[Heather]

Trouble is Mellany, it is horse nature to shoot off and buck if others are doing so!! It is always a problem, especially in the sort of weather we are having at the moment. My lot are very full of beans.

Even if he has been out in the field or lunged well first, it is quite likely that if the horses do lark about, that he naturally wants to join in.

He will probably settle down again when the weather warms up - this is presuming you are in wintry England?!!

Some Parelli type ground work would probably help you to focus his attention in such situations.

Heather

[Mellany]

Thanks all! I will use the indoor arena for the moment.......... less distractions for him there. Might need a couple of days off though.........ouch!

[Kerry's Partner]

My horse recently became quite mad - I mean really angry and upset. She had several different, genuine, reasons to feel so mad. So the "cause" of the problem(s) is/are different.'

However, she really needed a release from all of this and I was in no way competent enough at that sort of thing to be able to help. I am not totally useless - for example I could have lunged her or loose schooled her BUT I didn't believe this was what she needed; she needed much more than this - and delivered in a way which showed her it was OK to let off steam (as long as her rider wasn't on board).

Anyway to cut a long story short Sue Carnell visited us and I can honestly say that I have never witnessed such an interaction between horse and person before, ever. Kerry was completely taken aback (in a very very omg thank goodness type of way) and she just loved being able to release all of her energy whilst at the same time feeling she was being such a good horse.

It's such a shame I didn't video it - it just had to be seen to be believed. Especially because Kerry is normally such an angel - people just wouldn't believe how mad she was at the time if they met her at any other time.

Anyway, thanks and due respects to Sue from both of us. My message, I guess, is that sometimes what seems like an impossible situation can be remedied.

Good luck.

Sandra

[angel]

kerrys partner

how did sue release this in the horse i am no sure if she rode it or what but would be interested in what she did

[Kerry's Partner]

I'm not sure whether I should tell you what I saw or ask Sue to tell you what she did!!!!!!!!! SO, I think I should consult Sue. Either way one of us will respond.

Sandra