Rodeo Pony Help!!!!!

[Aztec]

Hi,

I have a 14 year old coloured TB cross who thinks he is a rodeo pony!!

He is really well schooled and very responsive to the aids. Sometimes when you bring him out and ride him he is like an angel, has the perfect stride holds his head well and is generally oerfect in every way (just dont tell him that!) The sad part is though that most of the time he will be fine for the first five minutes and then the fun really starts, he will suddenly decide that he no longer wants to go forward and starts rushing backwards as fast as he can, and rearing, once you have gained control again and got his front hooves back on the floor up come hte back ones, he generally likes to do around 20 bucks in a row before you get his head back up. Then as soon as the head is back up so are the front hooves, so you can see my problem!!!!!!!!!

I dont know if anyone has any ides, i have tried to cure with regular excersice, care and patience but he is not responding, i am not too sure that a whip would help as he can be quite skittish and i wouldnt want to upset him further.

Please help, he is addorable and i dont want to give up on him


Rae

[Cas]

I would consider getting this horse checked by a vet or chiroprator. This sort of behaviour is usually displayed by horses in some sort of pain. How is the fit of his saddle? How are his teeth? How good a rider are you? Are you sure you are not doing something that makes him go like this?

It is rare that a horse exhibits this sort of behaviour "just because he feels like it". Horses don't do that, and I know that a lot of the advice on this board is to the effect of "show him who is boss", I don't on the whole agree with it.

Horses are gentle animals and they put up with a lot from people, so I would suggest getting a professional to see him before taking a whip to him or anything, particularly as you say he is well schooled, sounds to me like something is hurting him!

[Aztec]

Thanks for the advice Cas, unfortunately we have already been down this path and there is nothing physically wrong with him at all. He has been checked by three seperate vets all have said exactly the same. His tack fits him fine, i have also had this checked. I would maybe put it down to if he only did it when i am riding him but he does it to anyone, again not all the time! I am a good rider i have been riding from the age of four and have been taught by an apporived instructor so i have no doubts as to my capabilities.

I also dont agree with aggresive punishment as i feel that this would just draw us into a battle of wills which would defeat the object totally. He trusts me in every aspect, he is very quiet int he stable an angel to handle it is just when riding that he becomes skittish. I really feel that nearly every avenue has been exhausted and that this is ahabit that he has picked up from previous owners nad has been allowed to get away with it.

[Katie_85]

Cas, I'm sorry to butt in here, but although I have never given advice on dealing with horses, I disagree that the advice on here is "show him whose boss". A lot of it is check back, teeth, saddle fit. This board seems more interested in communicating with the animnal and forming a partnership than it is with "showing him whose boss".

[Outrider]

Do you ride English or Western? If he bucks as much as you say he does, I sure hope you are in a western saddle. At any rate, when you feel him start to buck, sit back and pull up hard on the riens. If you are riding a western saddle, you can try what I call a "buck rope". All it is, is a cotton rope with a loop in one end that fits over the saddle horn. The other end has a clip that you clip to the bit ring. The length should be short enough that he can't drop his head to the ground. Now, a word of caution. If he throws his rear up, this rope won't do you any good. He will get the range he needs to put his head down anyway. But it will be uncomfortable for him.

Another suggestion for the backing up, is that as soon as you feel him begin to do this, turn him in a tight circle until he stops. Each time he does it, turn him hard and make him keep going. He should learn to relate his backing behavior with a turning response that should persuade him from doing this.

Another idea on bucking. I have had horses do this with me, and I will get off quickly after the first buck or two, get to the front, take the reins in both hands and make him back up for quite a ways, with loud reprimands for bucking. Then get back on. When he does it again, get off and do this again. It has worked for me. Best of luck and keep us informed. Happy Trails.

[lamprellsarah]

i used to have a rodeo pony, and she only did it when she got excited, the only reason she stopped was when she got tied and realised i wouldn't come off so she calmed down and did it less and less. But this is obviously not the case with yours. i would agree with outrider try to turn him in smal circles it disengage the hind quarters so they can't use them as well, i have never got off of a bucking horse simply cos it seems like they have beaten you, and they could start to do it even more if they realise they stop work.
a rider walking out with you quiete a few times might help, they can urge him own and stop him rearing when you pull his head back up, also do you ride out with other horses? if not that might help.

[fionahogg]

Please, just because 3 vets have checked your horse, this does not mean there isn't anything wrong with him. I had to have 4 different vets come to check Monty before I finally managed to persuade one to give me a referral to a chartered equine physiotherapist. Each vet said he was fine. The physio said he was definitely not. I spoke to her and asked her why the vets have not picked up on his pain and she said that a vet does not look into the muscularskeletal system in much detail to recognise when there is muscular tension. She said that a vet should be willing to give a referral to a physio if the owner is in any doubt that the horse is in pain.
I'm not saying your vet is rubbish. Please don't think that. It's just from my own experience, vets are great for everything except back problems! And it does sound very much that the horse is either in pain or just fed up and stressed out. How often is he ridden? Do you vary his workload with plenty of hacking etc? If you school each time you ride then he could be bored and saying, "I don't want to do this, so I'll tell her".

Good luck! And I hope this helps!

Fiona

[Dizzy]

Hi Aztec, in my experience, when a horse reacts as strongly as the way you have described, there is something very wrong. Backing, bucking and rearing are very strong objections/statements.

I must admit it sounds like a physical problem, when you say he will sometimes work ok for a few minutes then object. As Fiona has said sometimes vets miss things, you should post a letter to Chloe, she has had problems with her mare, who had been checked by vets, in the end she got a sports therapist (I think) who found a few missed problems. She may be able to give you some tips.

If you can exhaust the physical side, and all is ok, you are left with mental problems, which especially in a 14 yr old will more than likey be manmade. You will have to work on building up a trusting, understanding, sympathetic but firm relationship with him. I've alway found working from the ground is the best way to do this.

He seems very unhappy about something, personally I wouldn't feel happy about continuing to ride a horse as unhappy as this, not only for my own safety, but for his also. Be it mental or physical allowing such negative behaviour to continue without gaining any positive ground isn't doing you or him any good.

Have you tried doing inhand work? I find this a great way of building relationships, understanding and trust.

Keep us posted

Lesley

[Aztec]

Guys, thanks for your advice, i am pretty sure that there is nothing wrong with him, one of the vets we saw was a specialist that we did get referred to. The only thing he could put it down to is excitement caused by lack of work as he hadnt been ridden in a while.

Outrider unfortunately i ride English, but i have learnt how to have a deep seat so i am quite confortable in the saddle even when he is bucking!!!

Actually, i rode him last night, very slowly and calmly and we had a great ride, he messed around at first but after 10 minutes or so (when he realised it was getting him no-where) he calmed down and was excellently behaved. I have ridden him out with other horses but they have to be very calm and quite otherwise they just set him off.

I think alot of hte problem here could be that his previous owners were scared of him and when they rode him were frightened to do any more than walk on him because of his strength. I dont know if maybe he is just used to getting his own way!!!!

But hopefully with hard work, blood, sweat and tears we will get there (not really any blood actually but i am sure sweat and tears will be my own!!!)

[Outrider]

As I understand it, you can attach a small rope to an english saddle in such a way as to provide you something to hang on to if you need it. But, english or western, the things I suggested can still be done. I wish you well. I agree with your idea. He has learned to intimidate folks and it doesn't seem to me that he is in pain. My own horse does the same thing. You put an inexperienced rider on Bob and he works just fine. You put an experienced rider on him and he will try and throw them almost every time at least once! Time and paitence I think will see you throuhg this more than anything else. Happy Trails!