Advice to stop a large bucking horse

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scillywoman

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I have a large strong 17' shire x irish hunter who bucks when he get frightened. He can do it from a standing start if I'm quick enough to get his head to my knee I can just about stop him unfortunately last time he gave a particular violent buck on the turn and put me in hospital with a pubic bone broken in 2 places and concussion. I live on the isles of scilly so can't get any professional help. I wondered if anyone can advise me whether a daisy rein or graze bridle would stop him. At the moment my husband will only let me walk him out in hand round the island or on the beach. It is such a shame because he is a lovely ride when he behaves.
 
I am far from any expert on the matter, but I would suggest lots and lots of in hand work - using long reins - you can then simulate him being ridden (rein wise). You need to obviously bomb proof him as much as possible, so exposure to more and more scary things and lots of reward when he doesn't react by bucking.
You could try using a clicker - a very popular method for instant reward recognition.

Also have you thought of using a good calmer? I used RelaxMe by First Horse on my exuberant WB - it really works and may be helpful to use for a period whilst you are bombproofing him on the ground particularly.

You don't state his age so I won't have a guess as to why he reacts so strongly when scared.

Last piece of advice is ALWAYS use a neckstrap when riding him - be it an old stirrup leather whatever! Good luck :)
 
I'v e started him a month or so ago on a chaff with added calmer plus a half small scoup of magenisium as I've just discover the island grass is lacking in this. He's 10 years old and we've have had all sorts of problems since we've had him which we've gradually with patience over come but he is really nervous and he lost he mate last year which I think has added to the problem. I would like to get another horse for company for him but with the last one they bonded and I couldn't take one out the field without the other which stops me exercising either outside the field without dragging a protesting husband with me. He's a lovely natured horse in the field and quitely happily follows me round the field running round obstacles and backing up without a rope attached.
 
I've had all kinds of exciting times with my big lad [see various other posts]...PM me if you feel like it but on a practical day to day level...don't feel bad about getting a saddle with the biggest knee rolls you can find and if the mood takes you, ride in draw reins or perhaps a double bridle...

I have very light hands and often use either of these with 2-3 inches of slack on them but knowing the tool is there makes me ride so much more boldly....

The trick is staying alive!! Everything else will come in time!
 
unfortunately he's the only horse on the island. I was thinking about draw reins but have never used them before, at the moment I'm trying to introduce him in hand to every strange thing I can find but some days he's good as gold and others he seems to spook at the silliest thing i cant even see and past the things that you expect him to jump at. The other day he decided he didn't like the girth being done up (I have a very gentle girth that doesn't pinch) and went off bucking round the field, he stopped facing a wall and looked back at me as if to say what happen there and let me take his reins and lead him round the field quiet as anything, the next day perfectly ok when I saddled him. I'd like to try him with a dummy tied on the saddle and some kind of rein that prevents him bucking when he trys and deter him from doing it again.
 
He's maybe lonely and insecure...horses need horses..fact!!

Can you get him a couple of small friends, shetlands or donkeys or suchlike...its good for his mental wellbeing
 
Yes I was thinking that but have found shetlands can be nasty tempered and donkeys very noisy so I've been told by islanders, there was a couple on the island few years ago and one wouldnt stop Hee Hawing it's been suggested I don't get one!!! I did think of a llama but don't know if they can live out all the time.
 
Who cares what the neighbours think! I'd strongly suggest he needs company, he sounds very stressed out. I assume his back & saddle have been checked recently? Stopping him bucking with gadgets is no use, if you don't solve the cause of his problem he'll find another way to express it. From your post it sounds like your confidence is fast going too which will make him worse. Is help out of the question? Because getting some would do you both a huge favour.
 
There is no one on the islands with experience needed. I've had horses since I was 11 am now a young 61 and yes the confidence comes and goes but I haven't given up its just that I don't bounce as well as I did and can't afford to break any more bones (I run a B&B). I have helped bring on horses in the past and have done the join up with him and everything else I can think of. I sometimes wonder if the saddle is a issue because I've ridden him bareback with no probs at all but a lot of the time when you saddle him he's on his toes as soon as you start to tighten the girth. I never got straight on always walked and trotted him round to loosen and warm him up first before riding. His back and teeth have been checked in the past. Once you're on him and his relaxed he is a beautiful ride but I quite often feel he is just waiting for something to happen to frighten him at the beginning.
 
scillywoman said:
unfortunately he's the only horse on the island. I was thinking about draw reins but have never used them before, at the moment I'm trying to introduce him in hand to every strange thing I can find but some days he's good as gold and others he seems to spook at the silliest thing i cant even see and past the things that you expect him to jump at. .
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Arghhhh my advice is don't use draw reins for a bucker they will only encourage it!!! They pull the head downward to the chest the very position for bucking, no no no!!!:D
 
I sometimes wonder if the saddle is a issue because I've ridden him bareback with no probs at all but a lot of the time when you saddle him he's on his toes as soon as you start to tighten the girth.
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I think you might have an exacerbating reason there...
 
Please consider getting him a friend, some horses just don't cope alone. I'm another who says sort the saddle & don't use draw reins. Didn't mean to imply you don't know what you're doing, but someone on hand is always a help.
 
Get a couple of Shetlands or Dartmoor Hill Ponies. Shetlands and nasty temperaments, mine are thoroughly laid back and gentle. We have two Hill Ponies, both came as semi ferals but they settled within days and I can do anything with them now, they are gorgeous.
 
I dont think having a companion is going to stop him bucking but i do believe horses should have company of their own kind. I have a mini and my 3 year old daughter handles him daily and he is not nasty at all infact the complete opposite. You dont necessarily have to get a shetty there plenty of companion horses and ponies looking for a home. But i would def try daisy rein or stirrup leather to keep his head up. Good Luck
 
The op has said he is nervous & saddle could be a problem, so sorry but I disagree anything to keep his head up will solve the problem, he'll just find another way to let her know he's nervous/uncomfortable. Would only help if its lack of schooling/ habit or high spirits that's causing it. Once found a riderless pony loaded with gadgets, apparently had
 
On phone. It apparently had started bucking because saddle didn't fit (to cut a long story short) so they stopped it bucking. It took to bolting instead...
 
scillywoman said:
I'v e started him a month or so ago on a chaff with added calmer plus a half small scoup of magenisium as I've just discover the island grass is lacking in this. He's 10 years old and we've have had all sorts of problems since we've had him which we've gradually with patience over come but he is really nervous and he lost he mate last year which I think has added to the problem. I would like to get another horse for company for him but with the last one they bonded and I couldn't take one out the field without the other which stops me exercising either outside the field without dragging a protesting husband with me. He's a lovely natured horse in the field and quitely happily follows me round the field running round obstacles and backing up without a rope attached.
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Before I read this post, I guessed he was on his own. It is typical of the kind of behaviour that develops when a horse has no other equine company. He will be in a constant state of anxiety even if he sometimes seems calm. He will not get so much rest as horses do with company as he has to act as 'lookout' 24/7. It is not fair to deny him company because of the problems it causes you. A good solution would be to get two mini shetlands as company for him as then you could take him out without one being left behind. He would eventually get used to this if you are consistent with him.
 
scillywoman said:
The other day he decided he didn't like the girth being done up (I have a very gentle girth that doesn't pinch) and went off bucking round the field, he stopped facing a wall and looked back at me as if to say what happen there and let me take his reins and lead him round the field quiet as anything, the next day perfectly ok when I saddled him.
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I think you need to rule out physical issues. Gastric ulcers come to mind with this behaviour and possibly hind gut issues too. Low sugar diet, a good balancer, yea sacc and try some activated charcoal granules such as these (if you can get them).http://www.finefettlefeed.com/ The vet will be needed and a scope if he thinks gastric ulcers are likely. Omeprazole is the treatment for gastric ulcers and not cheap I'm afraid.

This sort of unpredictable behaviour can be due to discomfort in the gut which of course comes and goes in intensity. It might be worth giving pure magnesium oxide or calmag rather than a compound calmer and give him plain salt (desert spoon a day) in his feed.

Please be careful until you have a clearer idea of any possible physical issues. x

ps. If it turns out to be purely a behavioural problem he will imo need a long slow re education.
 
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