Re: [RC] update on bucky twh.... - Barbara McCrary
How much conditioning has this horse had? My
experience shows that unconditioned horses are lacking in the muscling that
helps them go downhill strongly, comfortably, safely. It takes a lot of
strength for a horse to go downhill as well as uphill. Two recent horses I
have worked with showed slightly different responses to coming downhill, but
they both improved with added hindquarter strengthening. The first horse
walked downhill with little picky mincing steps, as if something hurt. The
second horse walked downhill with his body slightly sideways ("crabbing," I call
it) and he would shake his head back and forth, also as if something
hurt.
The first horse overcame all of his symptoms as he
developed hindquarter strength. The second horse is improving every time I
ride him. He comes downhill in a straight line, he is more relaxed, and he
shakes his head less. Of course, he also has a "terribly itchy face" and
hates his forelock tickling him, so some of the headshaking can be attributed to
these issues. I will bet that in another couple of months of 3 times a
week riding, he will overcome most of these issues. I feel the difference
already.
In both cases, I tried different saddles, thinking that
it was a poorly fitted saddle that was causing the responses. I even
thought it might be the bit that either one didn't like, but I've settled into
my favorite saddle as fitting both of them acceptably, found a bit each one
likes, and from now on, it's just conditioning, conditioning...lots of long slow
hills to climb.
Maybe you could avoid the ravines until the horse has
developed more strength?
Just wanted to let all that had responded to me
and given me advice on what was going on....
I had the walker that had taken me on the "rear-
buck" thru the trees...
I have limited it down to "ravine" type hills, or
the up-down scenario. We've worked in the open, been doing a lot of
hands on, rubbing, just manuevering on longe line just for Me and Him
time. I went to a snaffle bit, took the kimberwick off. And
waiting still to get into vet.
Everything was fine on the last ride, but had my
husband on him to see what would happen. He pulled the same scenario
with my husband, brushpopping same as last time, last horse, as he was going
down ditch, he takes the bit, heads down the ditch line, in a lunge buck
motion. Thankfully, this was a wider place, and my husband got him
circled, and rode the wheels off of him right there. I've also noticed,
coming off the side into a stream bed, or doing a steep 3 length out, he wants
to get on the hind end, do a rear like his whole attitude changes in these
particular cases.
He's fabo out in the open, in
the wood on trails everywhere else he walks up hills, baby
steps down hills, crosses water and is controllable. It just seems
now to be in these particular situations. Anymore ideas? Don't
think this is something I can practice at home now. Possibly anxiety,
anticipation?
