Bucking Horse -
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How do you deal with a bucking horse? It has only happened recently and she has never done it before. I haven't changed her food and she seems in good health. She had her teeth checked by the dentist but he could find nothing wrong.
I have changed my saddle but it was fitted by my saddler so I can't understand why she is playing up? Beth
Hi Beth, thanks for submitting our first question!
As you have not changed her food and her teeth are fine, I would suggest the next logical step with a bucking horse is to get your saddle checked again.
If she has only started to buck recently there is a possibility that either she does not feel comfortable with the new saddle or perhaps it is pinching or rubbing her.
Even slight discomfort will make a horse resist the rider and this is only a natural response to pain ie she wants to be rid of the saddle.
Did your saddler see you ride the horse in the saddle when he came to fit it?
If so, maybe the problem has got worse as the saddle has "settled in" to her back. There is a risk that bucking can become an ingrained behavioural habit over time so you are doing absolutely the right thing by addressing the problem early on.
I would avoid using the saddle for a couple of days - let her back rest and then try her again in your old saddle if you still have it and if this was comfortable for her.
Ask the saddler to re-examine the underside of the saddle to see if there is any uneven pressure, or if you prefer get a second opinion from a different saddler.
We would always recommend using a Saddler who is a qualified Saddle Fitter by the Society of Master Saddlers.
We also suggest riding with a saddle pad or numnah under your saddle to absorb sweat and prevent the saddle from slipping. Hope that helps!
Thanks from the team at Total-Horse-Expert.com
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