I was moving towards the light...

ruffian · 09-17-2007, 04:06 PM

Yesterday after nearly two hours trail riding, my six year old tried to send me to my maker. I didn't quite give up the will to live but I certainly had my landing spot picked.
Out of the blue, his head dissapeared between his knees and he bucked. Now I get the occasional whoo-hoo out of him, esp when we're cantering or while jumping and he's having fun. This was not fun, this was full power (and we were already walking down hill, so from 17 hands up in my jumping saddle, things looked very high up and unlikely that we would meet in the middle.
I rode out the first round and a few minutes later he tried again, my friend hollered "sit up straight" which I did, I think that also startled him. He stopped, I got his head up again and then he tried to eat!
Flies were bad, it was hot and we left the barn right at feeding time, all things that put him in a bad mood.
When we got back, I checked saddle fit and then made him lunge, he bucked for quite a while on the lunge but didn't get to quit till I got three laps, with canter and no buck.
He wasn't sore anywhere, just awful grumpy.
At six (and started late) I often forget he is a kid and likely to have silly days, but landing the source of his oats on her head is a career limiting move on his part.
Any suggestions as to what could have brought this on?

Mule Fool · 09-17-2007, 04:31 PM

The last 4 rides I've taken on my mule she has been stung by bees. The only one in the group. Two of those times I think it was those bald faced hornets, she had welts on her belly that swelled up about an inch high and weeping fluid. She was definitely trying to get away from them.

**seerfarm** · 09-17-2007, 04:36 PM

Have you guys gotten the weather change we have? Age, not eating immediately upon internal dinner bell going off, flies and possible weather change.....Would definitely make my 7 yr old a little testy!

Glad to hear you came back to us AWAY FROM THE LIGHT, I might be apt to chalk it up to the above, unless he starts showing you a pattern.

andrealynn · 09-17-2007, 04:46 PM

We have had a weather change here as well. When I rode my boy yesterday he refused the bit for 15 min, which he never does, wasn't paying any attention, and when I went to canter him he started crow hopping. He has never done that to me. So I am definitely thinking the weather. Maybe so in your case as well.

ruffian · 09-17-2007, 04:49 PM

The heat (ok Alberta heat, still in the mid eighties) broke last night with wind and rain. I never thought of that but he could have been stirred up with the change (and bugs and "everyone is eating but me")

**Diamond_Y** · 09-17-2007, 04:52 PM

They can sense when a weather change is coming. Ours all get snorty in the pasture when a front is heading our way.

**beth55051** · 09-17-2007, 05:12 PM

Sounds like it was the cold front coming through.

You shoulda seen my herd out bucking and snorting this morning. We have a storm front coming through sometime later today.

They kept going for almost 20 minutes of bucking, snorting and farting. Even my two older broodies and my big lunk headed gelding were trying to join in.

roberts617 · 09-17-2007, 05:50 PM

Yep sounds like the weather. Mine are silly when the weather changes. But ya just never know with silly horses.

dreamcleaner · 09-18-2007, 07:27 AM

Ok question. Age 6, you said started late. What is late? (sorry but I am a really big advocate of not riding young horses at least if you do, for minimal time). Especially as lately I have run across two because of being ridden too young, one is finished (age 3), the other I figure done by 6. As issues occuring at age 4.

KatieMae · 09-18-2007, 07:44 AM

Have you changed his feed recently?? I certainly know my filly has turned into a wild thang with feed in her system... But, then again, my 17 year old still gets a wild hair here and there on trail rides... She just gets so excited to be away from the barn and acts like a goofball.. Never spooks, just gets silly..

ruffian · 09-18-2007, 11:13 AM

Katie Mae:
He was lightly started as a western trail horse at three, but hardly ridden until this year (he out grew his owner) I bought him in April and started him from ground zero English and over fences. For big growthy horses I don't like to even see much lunging before two and not backed until threeish. I don't do any fences (free jump or under saddle) until four, their joints just aren't mature enough.

ruffian · 09-18-2007, 11:15 AM

Sorry, got my names mixed up, KatieMae had the question about feed, yes we did increase slightly about 3 weeks ago. More beet pulp and complete feed (he was already on some)

KatieMae · 09-18-2007, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ruffian

Sorry, got my names mixed up, KatieMae had the question about feed, yes we did increase slightly about 3 weeks ago. More beet pulp and complete feed (he was already on some)

Coulda just been feelin his oats then

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09-17-2007, 04:06 PM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,015	I was moving towards the light... Yesterday after nearly two hours trail riding, my six year old tried to send me to my maker. I didn't quite give up the will to live but I certainly had my landing spot picked. Out of the blue, his head dissapeared between his knees and he bucked. Now I get the occasional whoo-hoo out of him, esp when we're cantering or while jumping and he's having fun. This was not fun, this was full power (and we were already walking down hill, so from 17 hands up in my jumping saddle, things looked very high up and unlikely that we would meet in the middle. I rode out the first round and a few minutes later he tried again, my friend hollered "sit up straight" which I did, I think that also startled him. He stopped, I got his head up again and then he tried to eat! Flies were bad, it was hot and we left the barn right at feeding time, all things that put him in a bad mood. When we got back, I checked saddle fit and then made him lunge, he bucked for quite a while on the lunge but didn't get to quit till I got three laps, with canter and no buck. He wasn't sore anywhere, just awful grumpy. At six (and started late) I often forget he is a kid and likely to have silly days, but landing the source of his oats on her head is a career limiting move on his part. Any suggestions as to what could have brought this on? __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

09-17-2007, 04:31 PM
Mule Fool Started Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Washington State Posts: 2,283	The last 4 rides I've taken on my mule she has been stung by bees. The only one in the group. Two of those times I think it was those bald faced hornets, she had welts on her belly that swelled up about an inch high and weeping fluid. She was definitely trying to get away from them.

09-17-2007, 04:36 PM
seerfarm Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Out with the Herd! Posts: 8,233	Have you guys gotten the weather change we have? Age, not eating immediately upon internal dinner bell going off, flies and possible weather change.....Would definitely make my 7 yr old a little testy! Glad to hear you came back to us AWAY FROM THE LIGHT, I might be apt to chalk it up to the above, unless he starts showing you a pattern. __________________ "Year's end is neither an end nor a beginning but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us". ~Hal Borland

09-17-2007, 04:46 PM
andrealynn Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Murfreesboro, TN Posts: 338	We have had a weather change here as well. When I rode my boy yesterday he refused the bit for 15 min, which he never does, wasn't paying any attention, and when I went to canter him he started crow hopping. He has never done that to me. So I am definitely thinking the weather. Maybe so in your case as well. __________________ *"C'est La Vie"*

09-17-2007, 04:49 PM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,015	The heat (ok Alberta heat, still in the mid eighties) broke last night with wind and rain. I never thought of that but he could have been stirred up with the change (and bugs and "everyone is eating but me") __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

09-17-2007, 04:52 PM
Diamond_Y Administrator Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: North Texas Posts: 3,796	They can sense when a weather change is coming. Ours all get snorty in the pasture when a front is heading our way. __________________ Diamond Y Quarter Horses - Breeders of Quality Foundation Quarter Horses Home of King of Cooke County, 2004 Perlino son of Cooke County ETC

09-17-2007, 05:12 PM
beth55051 Super Moderator Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: East Central Minnesota Posts: 4,870	Sounds like it was the cold front coming through. You shoulda seen my herd out bucking and snorting this morning. We have a storm front coming through sometime later today. They kept going for almost 20 minutes of bucking, snorting and farting. Even my two older broodies and my big lunk headed gelding were trying to join in. __________________ Do not mind anything that anyone tells you about anyone else. Judge everyone and everything for yourself.

09-17-2007, 05:50 PM
roberts617 Kid Safe Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Central Oklahoma Posts: 5,151	Yep sounds like the weather. Mine are silly when the weather changes. But ya just never know with silly horses. __________________ He who never made a mistake never made a discovery! Samuel Smiles

09-18-2007, 07:27 AM
dreamcleaner Started Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: ontario Posts: 2,359	Ok question. Age 6, you said started late. What is late? (sorry but I am a really big advocate of not riding young horses at least if you do, for minimal time). Especially as lately I have run across two because of being ridden too young, one is finished (age 3), the other I figure done by 6. As issues occuring at age 4.

09-18-2007, 07:44 AM
KatieMae Seasoned Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: C.FLA Posts: 4,139	Have you changed his feed recently?? I certainly know my filly has turned into a wild thang with feed in her system... But, then again, my 17 year old still gets a wild hair here and there on trail rides... She just gets so excited to be away from the barn and acts like a goofball.. Never spooks, just gets silly.. __________________ You can only blame your problems on the world for so long Before it all becomes the same old song.

09-18-2007, 11:13 AM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,015	Katie Mae: He was lightly started as a western trail horse at three, but hardly ridden until this year (he out grew his owner) I bought him in April and started him from ground zero English and over fences. For big growthy horses I don't like to even see much lunging before two and not backed until threeish. I don't do any fences (free jump or under saddle) until four, their joints just aren't mature enough. __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)

09-18-2007, 11:15 AM
ruffian Long Yearling Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: Alberta Posts: 1,015	Sorry, got my names mixed up, KatieMae had the question about feed, yes we did increase slightly about 3 weeks ago. More beet pulp and complete feed (he was already on some) __________________ There is something about the outside of a Horse that\'s good for the inside of a man (Will Rogers)