I have an 8 year old Appaloosa gelding, and i have been taking him to gaming events this past 2 years, and last year I tried to get him to gallop. When i ask him to go he swishes his tail and bucks, but when i get him under controll he just lopes. Is it something i'm doing? What can I do?? Please help me!

Make sure his saddle fits him correctly. Make sure there aren't any rubs or scratches, etc. on his body that are irritating him. Keep a strong leg on him, and if you really need to, use spurs (if you aren't already).

Jessica, do you wear spurs already? If he's swishing his tail and bucking when asked to canter, the use of spurs might actually be the reason for that. He doesn't need spurs to ask him for "forward": spurs are not meant to make the aids stronger but to make the aids more subtle. Until he listens to the leg--with nothing on it--spurs should never be used.

 Depending on what you're comfortable doing you could get a freind who has a horse that has a bit more 'go' to race you. That gets 'em going pretty good. Also if you have any big hills, they seem to love running up hills- just make sure you walk them up just as often so they don't try to run up every incline. Anyway, if you get him going then, work on cues and controlling him in those situations, then try and do it where/how you did before. 

In my experience of horses not wanting to run it's a lack of motivation; if it's a tack or health problem- that will show up no matter how fast you're going and in more 'think' related exercises. I wish you luck!

I dont use spurs, and I never had. His saddle fits okay, but maybe its bothering him. Is there any way to fix it without getting an whole new saddle?

Have a saddle fitter come over to look at your saddle and evaluate how it fits your horse. If it is not a perfect fit the saddle fitter might be able to give you some suggestions about how to better the fit without buying a new saddle. Normally it's not a great idea to make a saddle fit with different pads but it might make things better  for awhile. The saddle fitter may be able to see if you need a vet or chiropractor to look at your horse. Your horse is telling you that he's uncomfortable: he'll really appreciated it if you help him. A good horsewoman always listens to her horse

There are a multitude of things that could be wrong here but here are the top things it could be.

~Pain

~Saddle fit

~Feet

~Teeth

~Rider related 

If the saddle is too narrow for him, there is no fix.  The more padding you add the more it will pinch.  If it's too wide and sitting on his withers then you can be creative with pads to get the fit right.  I assume you're riding in a western saddle if you're a gamer.  Make sure the saddle isn't bridgeing (sitting on his back in the front and rear, but not the middle) or that it's not sitting on his withers or pinching him anywhere.  Here's a site that can help you determine if your saddle fits.

http://www.western-saddle-guide.com/saddle-fit.html

If his feet are out of balance he could have a sore back (sore hocks also cause a sore back and sore feet).  Is he barefoot or in shoes?

When was the last time he saw the dentist?

But...  I would be concerned about soundness.  Bucking in the canter is also a sign of sore hocks.  Does he do it more when he's asked to take one lead over the other?  Scout could be ready for some joint maintenance.  You could start him on a good quality MSM http://www.su-perstore.com/m7/sfemsmultrapure--su-per-msm-ultra-pure-powder.html and if it's inflammation that's the cause the MSM will help.  Keeping him on the loading dose will give better results and 24/7 turnout if possible.  The MSM is cheap and is a good place to start.   Do you have any pictures of him from the side with his saddle on?  Do you have a trainer that can help you?

You could also do a bute trial with him to see if it's a pain issue.  Give him 1 gram of bute twice a day for 3 days.  If he stops the bucking you know it's a pain issue.

It could also be you.  Do you have a trainer?  If you ride primarily with your hands, then he could just be showing you he's not happy with that.  Can you get someone to video you riding?  This would be a huge help because then we could see the whole picture of what's going on. What kind of bit do you ride him in? 

By reading your post, it sounds like you're young and probably not paying for Scout yourself so would have to talk to a parent about the extra money which can be a challenge.  I would check saddle fit first and if that's not the problem my next stop would be to the vet for a lameness exam. 

eta:  gamers aren't normally lazy.  If this has just developed in the last year, it's most likely not because he's lazy.

 There are some simple things you can try...on condition that: no illness, hoofs in shape and ballance!

1. ask him to gallop without a saddle on him (Please do this only if you're comfortable w/o a saddle!). This make sure it's not the saddle how scares him or make him uncomfortable. At first, try this during a Groundwork lesson!

2. ask him to gallop middle in the corner or in a small circle (on both sides). That makes it diffucult for him to lift his hindquarter. Make sure his head is not higher than his withers!

3. try to lift his shoulder a sec. earlier as you cue him to gallop. You can try this out from a stand, walk or the cowboy gear. Out of a stand still: set him back for a half step to get the right leg position, lift his schoulder and cue him softly. From the walk: check that the right frontleg is in position, lift the shoulder and cue, with your other leg in position direct on the girth. Out from the cowboy gear: put a bit more pressure to both legs, lift his shoulder and if he comes up slide on of your legs 3 or 4 inch backward followed by a soft touch. 

4. check if you ask him with your leg to far back. Try to change your leg position each time only half a inch backward till you get the result you want. 

5. try to use good spures to touch him with the wheel. I mean a real soft touch, 3 to 4inch behind you normal leg position.You can do this by lifting your heel with consistant pressure down in the stirrup.

Try only one thing a day. If it works, work on with his ground behavior. If he's healthy with hoofs in ballance and condition, he need some more lessons to trust you.  If you have some more question or need more help, feel free to email me. 

Good Luck!

Andy Stewart

there are some really good tips already but i will add one more-

-round pin: will he go off to a gallop when you lung/round pin him?

do this with no tack on first to see if he will move out naturally. this can show you alot-if he gos with little pressure then put you tack on and send him out again, if there is a big diffrence in the behavoir then it is the tack if there is no change then mount up. just ask for the lope at first, use no hands see if he will just go off of a concent pressure. you may find that your to heavy in the bit and he is mad. once he goes of nice at a lope, then ask for more speed-take your time and help build the mucsles that he needs for a controled gallop.

I just started two years ago, and i took it slow the first year. I wanted him to know the patterns. So last year i asked for the gallop. He was not trained to be a gamer, i was just doing it for fun. Knowing my horse, he was probably just doing it out of exitement. He does not seem hurt, and i would say i listen to him pretty good.

JessicaAndScout:

Knowing my horse, he was probably just doing it out of exitement. He does not seem hurt, and i would say i listen to him pretty good.

If he was doing it out of excitement then I would think you wouldn't have any problems getting him to "gallop" instead of lope.  Take him out on the trail or in a big field and see what he does.  An injury to his SI (sacroilliac the ligaments and muscles that attach the pelvis to the back) can also cause the behavior you are explaining.

Doesn't sound like excitement to me... sounds like discomfort.  So many "behavioral" issues turn out to be caused by pain...not because the horse wants to be naughty.  Remove the discomfort...no more "naughty" horse.

 

Horses are stoics. They have to be: they can't show weakness or pain b/c predators will use that to their advantage. Subtle signs of pain--like behavior changes or "wringing a tail and bucking"--are the only way the horse can tell the rider there is a problem. I agree with BHK, what appears to be excitement is more likely the horse's effort to speed up to get out of the painful situation. I'm sure you listen to your horse, but if you don't know what he is saying--none of us knows everything--you're not getting the message from him. As a fairly new rider, you need to listen to other people who can offer different opinions and add to your knowledge base. Your horse needs you to put his welfare over your wish to be right. Call your vet or body worker and ask them to look at him. He's asking you to do that the only way he knows.

BoyleHeightsKid:

  So many "behavioral" issues turn out to be caused by pain...not because the horse wants to be naughty.  Remove the discomfort...no more "naughty" horse.

 

Excuse me, I never said he was being naughty.

I am taking everyones opinions and thought into consideration, and I appriciate all of them, thank you.

 Hi, did you tryed any of my suggestions? Did one ( or a part of it) work for you or was usefull to solve the problem? I'll be glad to know about your progress with your Mustang.

Thank you.

Andy

JessicaAndScout:

Excuse me, I never said he was being naughty.

No need to be snarky   I was not being snarky to you.  If he's bucking he's being naughty.  And from what you explain he's doing it trying to tell you something is bothering him.  Take this from someone who has been around horses all her life, is now in her early forties and knows what she's doing.  We are here to help you, so please take it as that.