Any tips for bucking?

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polopony

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I've had my horse for around three months now, he's a 12yo thoroughbred and is an ex polo pony. We've had a few problems with napping, which i posted about a while back, but we have more or less sorted that out. But after a batch of lameness and mud fever, now fully sound he is back into work, he is very good when lunged, but nearly every time I ride him he, at some point becomes fizzy and decides to buck. Sometimes I end up on the floor, sometimes not. As I learned to ride on an older mare, that is a galloper, but would never dream of being silly, I am not at all used to this. Any tips on what to do before I end up losing my confidence and give up on him altogether? Thanks in advance (: x
 
Have you had his back, saddle, teeth etc checked? My pony has a dodgy back that needs treating at least every 6 months or we get handstands when we canter!
 
I think i might get his back checked, i know everything else is ok though. But the thing is he doesn't bat an eyelid in the school, making me think its naughtiness. But I'm not sure :confused:

Thanks though :)
 
yea id deffo get the back checked as mine will throw hugh vertical bucks if hes at all in any discomfort. Also have you checked saddle fit? If everythings fine then they may only be excitable playful bucks, mine will do a wee tiny buck if hes in one of them moods all i do is make sure my reins are short enough that he cant stick his head down to do a hugh one which may get me off lol and do different things to keep him concentrating on something else eg spireling a circle in canter, trot circle to leg yield to canter to leg yield to trot ... something just to stop him thinking about being naughty
 
thanks for all the advice :) to add to my troubles i can't have my reins too short because he's an ex-polo and really doesn't like having contact with the bit.
 
Agree with others about making sure he is not in any discomfort first. Does he buck in walk or just when you move up to trot and canter? If he is calm in walk, I would really work on improving the contact with lots of transitions (walk, halt,walk), circles, straight lines and moving away from the leg. If you can get a more consistent contact you stand more of a chance of being able to keep him connected and working and less likely to bronc when you move up a pace!
 
I'm going to ring up about getting his back checked tomorrow. But generally in walk he is fine, if he decides he doesn't want to do what I ask he generally becomes fizzy and starts the bucking; even if I'm just asking to walk around the field and he wants to go back the other way :/ Thanks for all the advice though.
 
completely agree with everyone. get the back and saddle checked. My friend got a horse recently passed a 5 stage vet check put a crap ill fitting saddle on him, and after 4 months became a bronco. SHe thought he was just at it but eventually got the back physio out and then the saddler...alll well now. maybe worth a try.
 
I agree with a back check and an instructor! Even if it is his back it now may be a learned behaviour once it's sorted so will still need to be schooled out.
If you can't pull on his mouth then try holding your hands up high, like level with his ears, when he gets fizzy and push him forwards as this keeps the head up without having to pull on the reins, he may got backwards and sideways a little at first but just keep your hands up and forwards and keep asking him to go. Then you can gradually lower the hands once he has settled.
As others have said too, shorter stirrups and ram your ankles down like anchors and keep your shoulders back to help drive forwards.

Good Luck.
 
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