CHIC let me down today (a couple bucks!)

[Me'N'Chic]

:(Yeah, I don't know what the deal was!!!

I have had her since this past March; and I have ridden her almost daily, often for hours long rides!! NEVER any major issues!

Well, because of the weather, I had not ridden her since last Monday--but we had a "heat wave" of 40 yesterday so my daughter and I took horses over to my friend's house and rode with her daughter (Paint girl ). We had a long ride thru all their fields, road sides and her outdoor arena.

All went well--we walked, trotted, cantered many times in many areas (arena, cornfield, hayfield, woods, etc.) Even practiced making them hang back while the others went on, etc. My daughter was cold so she went back to house earlier.

Paint_girl and I rode a while more and were almost done. We cantered along field and both horses did great. We cantered down another edge of field and in the middle of canter it felt like CHIC did some bucks or something funky. So after we stopped, we started cantering again--I felt one buck-type thing so I disciplined again. Then as we were standing there, CHIC pee-d, so we thought, "Oh, may be that was the problem--she really had to pee!" So we tried again---this time Paint_girl waited and I went up a ways and was going to canter towards her. Well, the mintute I cued to canter, she did a couple bucks! So I circled her and harshly said NO. NO! Then I decided to get off and lunge her ( I had mecate reins with lead rope).

I "authoritively" got her lunging and she moved out good but then she went to canter and she thru in a buck-kick--:eek:--but then lunged on fine.

It was getting pretty dark then--so I got on and we walked on back and the rest was pretty uneventful.

So geesh----what happened to my girl--any ideas or opinions on why this would happen??????

[cloedoll]

For her to change her behavior that quickly, I would assume it was something pain related first. Did she maybe step on a rock? Or something similar to that? If not, maybe she just got happy. Are you sure they were bucks and not crow hopping - they kinda feel the same at first, especially if you have never been on a horsey who crow hops before. =P Horses *do* have their days, sometimes they're just off and sometimes they decide it's time to re-test their rider, lol. I haven't ridden Keidas in a month and if he goes just a few days without being ridden, I know to prepare myself when I mount up because he goes a tiny bit nutty. Maybe the cold weather + not being ridden in a week made her want to test you? That's all I can think of at the moment. I wouldn't stress too much about it. Is there anyway you could get another ride in today or sometime very soon?

[vicklynn]

Cant tell ya. Maybe she was tired of cantering, maybe her back hurt, maybe there was a bur that got under the saddle pad. City toss' a kick buck out during lead change, rarely, but I know what and when hes doing it, and why.(that he will get past). Sure hope it was a just a one occurance thing. Seemed like you handled it, and her pretty well.

[JackieB]

. Wierd. Not sure what would cause a problem like that one. Glad you didn't get tossed off!

[Flair]

Maybe she was tired of cantering, maybe her back hurt, maybe there was a bur that got under the saddle pad.

Good point, Vickilynn.

If she was only bucking or crow-hopping or something at the canter, I'd wonder what might have made her do that. It's the faster gait, and their back gets used differently than if they were walking or trotting, so she might have had some discomfort with a rider in the saddle.

Mary, check over the tack, and see if there's anything on the saddle pad, or even the underside of the saddle itself. I'd probably check her back too, could have been a bug bite or a sore that gets missed with the long winter coat, and when you sat down to canter, the saddle sits down right on that.

It sounds like you handled it pretty well, though. Good job. :)

[Dakota Sunrise]

hmmm, I wonder what go into Chic? Like the others said, maybe it is something pain related, or something had gotten under the saddle and was making her uncomfortable, or maybe she just didn't feel like working anymore and was giving a little attitude.

I'm glad she didn't get you off! Good job.:)

[jeezitsjacki]

first I would look at pain related things.. or maybe she was just done. How long had you been riding for? sometimes if I ride ben for longer than usual he just turned into a brat because he wants to be done

[Dixie]

I'd check to make sure everything is still fitting Chic properly. Not rubbing or have things poking out. Check your pad, girth, everything! Turn your saddle over and push your hand everywhere into the fleece to see if any nails or screws have popped out. Dad had a saddle once that a nail came loose in just under the swell and was poking his horse in the wither. It can happen, it shouldn't but it can.

How old is Chic? Even if she was wanting to be done, it's not ok for her to behave that way. Shes not done until you say she is, unless of course a person is running the legs off a horse and they can't hardly keep themselves upright anymore.

I'd check her back too. Run your hand down along her spine on both sides, pressing it into the skin as you do so. If she is sore somewhere, she'll hallow out her back.

[lisakaye]

Easter has been doing that for a while now. Katie knows to expect it but it sure scares me cause I don't have much confidence in riding her since my accidnet last year. Maybe Chic was excited and full of energy. I don't think I would consider a mild buck or two letting you down though... it is a good thing that you punished her right away and stayed on throughout the bucking.

[Me'N'Chic]

Thank you all for your insight. It just really bothered me because she has never done this in the MANY rides I have had on her this year! Also it was weird that is happened later on in the riding instead of the beginning---so i wouldn't think it would be "freshness".

I do need to check my saddle because even though it is new, this one place on the underside does have a screw that comes loose.

Another thing i wondered about is we were in a spot where i sensed she may want to go fast so off and on during the canter I would occasionally give the reins a little squeeze and say easy. I did do this several times--a couple times she really tucked her head/flexed at the poll and I wondered if I pulled a bit much and she was "collecting" too much--then got a little mad at me because she wasn't used to cantering that way??? Where's the person to video-tape when you need them??;)

I am trying not to let this hurt my confidence--I want to learn from it and go on! Just makes me a little nervous whe I think of all the times I rode/ride alone and go cantering across fields--gulp---!!

[Me'N'Chic]

Haven't really been able to ride much since this day--rain on Monday, pelting snow yesterday, but I did ride her down the driveway and back at a walk--did great, especially considering the conditions! But I have yest to try cantering again--who knows when I'll be able to try that again!