[horseheaven]

We got our 7 year old QH gelding last October...he was supposedly a well trained, easy to ride horse "great for trails..." We noticed some issues right away and put him in professional training at local stable. Since then, nothing but PROBLEMS! He is very unreliable. At first, we could ride hime okay (he acted up a bit), but if he is not ridden every day and we go to ride him, he bucks, throws his head all about, does not listen to commands! This is after 6 weeks of training. We went to try new saddle at tac store and he actually rared up in the air, enough to almost tip over. Later, when my husband went to ride him, he bucked and hopped wildly like he had never been ridden (not just a little protest, enough to hurt himself- one time he actually left the arena walking three legged because we acted out enough to pull something in his leg...) He has been very headshy also. On several occasions, he has kicked out at people standing on the ground about 20 feet away. Lastly, when he was in crossties, having his blanket cinched up by the gal that was training him he let out a loud squeel and struck out his front leg and pawed her thigh hard enough to leave a large bruise...

We are at a loss as to what to do, he is a neat horse at times and we spent thousands of dollars on his purchase, training, and boarding...we contacted the previous owner, but of course she said "that doesn't sound like the horse we sold you, I don't know what to tell you". At this point his so unpredictable, we feel it is unsafe to even ride him (if you even could without getting bucked off...) and are considering selling him. We would keep him if we could work out the issues he has, but even our trainer is at a loss for what is going on and has said she can't think of anything else to do with hime...

Any ideas on what is going on with this boy would be greatly appreciated!

 

[bexandponies]

get him checked over by a Chiropractor! If he has only just started bucking he could possibly be very sore... the headshy thing could be a sign that his poll is out so he dosnt want you touching his head as it hurts.

As for the frontstriking and nasty behaviour im no help there but in saying that it could be his reaction to pain and thats how hes letting you know he is sore if he is.... Hope you get him sorted! Such a shame when lovely horses suddenly turn like that!

 

[Audra0729]

I would also go to the training barn and watch him being ridden by her... it may give you some insight if his problems aren't skeletal

I hope you get this sorted out!

 

[Spirithorse]

I second getting him looked at by a chiropractor. That would be the first thing I do.

Have you had him checked for ulcers? Maybe try treating him for that as well. A lot of horses will get ulcers while in training due to the stress.

 

[Whipple]

First I would show up unannounced at the barn to watch horses being trained. Then get him checked by a vet.
Beyond that, if everything is fine, I'm not sure. Good luck.

 

[sweetphoenix06]

maybe you shoul get him checked out. i dont ride my horse for about 2 to 3 weeks he will ry and bucka nd yer he does chuck his head in the air. but i thought that it was the lucerne chaff cause he gets all hiped ud when i give him lucerne. is you horse on lucerne cause sometimes that does amke a differece with there behavour.

good luck

 

[Sophie19]

I would get him vet checked to make sure it's not a pain problem. Then I would take him back to square one. Doing round pin work to get his respect in the ground, then working at a walk getting him to respond to your aids then the trot and on up. It sounds like either a pain or a respect issue to me.

 

[Fire Eyes]

I'm so sorry that's been happening. I agree with the others, a Chiroprator sounds like a good idea, then a Vet if the Chiropractor can't find anything. My gelding was playing up like that about a year and a half ago, turns out he had a strained muscle in his back. Good luck.

 

[onetoomany]

For sure, as people have said, check out his back. If his back checks out ok and you rule out all types of pain issues then it sounds like it's time to look at behavioral possiblities. If you haven't already, watch the trainer work with him (although it sounds like there isn't a whole lot of respect between horse and trainer). Striking is a big no-no in my book and truth be told I would have gone after him with whatever I had in my hand. If you have ruled out pain issues, maybe it is time to start looking for another trainer or time to discuss the issues with the trainer if you haven't already.

Also, are you sure he was kicking at people 20 feet behind him? That's an awful large distance and more likely than not, he wasn't kicking at the people.

 

[Liv]

As nearly every post has said above me, see a chiropractor! If that fails, try treating him like he's an unbroken colt and start at the basics. Pretend to re-halter train him, desensitize his legs, sensitize him to side pressure, etc. I had a mare a lot like that, and that's what I've done with her. She is AWESOME with some people, and with others she is a living terror.

Good luck!

 

[angelsgrace]

sounds like a poor fitting saddle get him checked out,what sort of saddle do you use? because if he is a QH then you'll be hard pressed to find a English saddle to fit I had that problem with my mare,maybe try parelli it calms down a lot of horses.don't give up on him he sounds like he just misunderstood....or sore a lot of horse play up when the saddle does not fit or maybe he has been abused that might explane him being head shie

Ireland