Bucking 3 year old!

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hallarider

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Hi everyone

I am after some advice if you don't mind.

I purchased a 3 year old about 3 months ago. He was just backed and ridden away.

When I purchased him I knew he had a buck in him as the person that was backing him told me but I put this down to him just being backed and he is lovely in every other way!

I rode him a couple of days after getting him in the school. Walk and trot was fine but as soon as I asked for canter he bucked a couple of times and unseated me! I was a bit shaken but got straight back on and he was fine. He has bucked a couple of times on the lunge. He only bucks when he is asked to go up a transition - he doesn't buck every time - he has bucked about four times since we have had him, the last time was yesterday when my friend, who is more experienced that me was hacking out and when she asked him to trot up a hill he bucked with her but luckily she pulled his head up and kicked him on.

We have had his teeth and back done - all fine.

What would be causing this bucking and how do I stop it as I am getting worried about getting on him.

Many thanks
 
Difficult to say without seeing him. At three he is still young and to an extent finding his own balance, is he being ridden on a fairly light rein?

The danger is that with upward transitions if you take up the rein a little as you might with a more trained horse you may be impeding him going forward - normally that might result in rearing but i suppose could also enocurage him to tuck in his nose and buck.

Do you have any different bits to try? What are you using at the moment?
 
Hi Motherhen

That would make sense with gathering up the reins - He accepts the bit very easily - almost too easily so we do try to ride him lightly. He was backed in a waterford fulmer but I ride in the french link fulmer. He is incredibly lazy in the school, the other day I could hardly get anything out of him so we thought hacking would be the best thing for him but the bucking starts as soon as you get behind him to get him going forward.

On asking someone else their opinion they said 'hes only three and bound to buck' I just don't believe that, yes hes young and has a long way to go but bucking is just unacceptable - nobody wants a bucker! The back lady said he is incredibly weak behind and needs building up - would this add to the problem? I suppose hacking would be the best thing rather that school work?

thanks for your help
 
Premusamble his saddle fits? Obvious but often over looked in young horses.

How do you ask him to go forwards? Do you have to kick him?Does he still do it if all he's asked by is a click and 'trot on'?

Many young horses haven't been taught to go forwards so don't response to a gentle nudge so get a boot in the ribs and quite rightly complain about it!

The fact you say he's very lazy and won't got forwards at all, plus he's 'weak behind' suggests he's genuinly stuggling to go. And because he's finding it hard he's complaining about it. No just-broken young horse should be unresponsive or lazy. Not all horses are ready to be worked at 3yrs old - he might just be too young yet.

Does he willingly go forwards on the lunge? Are you or your friend too heavy for him? (depends how big he is and how big you are) - he might be struggling to carry a rider.

Also bucking is often a sign on a lack of balance - when they loose their balance it's easier to do a quick handstand and start again.
 
He is just young and does not know where his legs need to be just yet.

I would free school him for a couple of weeks, pushing and asking him to go into canter - make sure he is on the correct lead. When this is established, go back to a huge lunge circle and just ask for a transition and a couple of strids of canter, he needs patience, experiance and the winter to build up his muscles.

Dont push him to hard - i think he is a young 3 by the sounds of it and if he were mine i would just long rein him, free school, and lunge for the next 3 weeks, i would also check his diet. How is he looking himself - is he bum or front high? - he could be about to just "shoot" up and that can be giving him some balance issues too
 
Thanks Kallibear

Saddle hasn't been checked yet - but its next on my list. He is very willing on the lunge also when we long rein him he is very willing and responsive. I weigh 10 stone so does my friend - hes 16'2 so I don't think there is a weight issue there. I think its just going to be a matter of time and helping to build up his back end. Hes not a naughty horse by nature at all.
 
By what your explaining, he is basically backing off the leg and when you insist more he is objecting by bucking.

I have often found and often in older horses, if they are very behind the leg bucking usually happens.

If it was me i would work on transitions, if he doesnt listen to the leg straight away then give him a tap, if he does buck you must keep his head up and kick him on! If you cant manage it then get someone else to, otherwise he will work out that he can ride you....
 
Yes, thats what I don't want to happen, if he gets away with it a few times he will keep doing it! He is behind the leg and does buck when asked to go forward. Think I shall seek some help.... thanks everyone for your advice.
 
Yes i should, you may only need 2/3wks of someone more experienced, then you can see what they are doing and work on it together, im sure he will be fine!
 
When I backed one of my three year olds last year she would always buck the first time she was asked to canter but didn't buck after that. Now as a four year old she doesn't buck. However I turn them away once they have got the basics of walking, trotting and cantering with a rider and bring them back in the spring of their fourth year.

We don't spend more than a couple of months backing them at three but they all have to learn that they MUST go forward in all three paces.

I know I'm very lucky to have more than one horse to ride (my oldest two are 19 and 8 so in full work) but I really don't like to do much with the youngsters and even at 4, two of them are doing very little work as they are both huge (over 17 hands) with a lot of growing into themselves still to do so they are out in the field 24/7 except when they come in for a feed.
 
I've just started riding a 3 year old and she has a buck too. Usually if she's a bit excited or sometimes going up into canter. She doesn't do it every time and it's not a bronc. At the moment I adopt the "safety position" - shoulders back, ass firmly in the saddle, heels down and slightly forwards a la old style hunting and ride her through it. Bearing in mind we're going out with point to pointers and our cantering is done in long stretches up stubble fields there isn't much option other than go with it. This one can also throw her head down a little so I tend to give her a bit of a longer rein so I don't get pulled forwards. I was assuming hers came from her being a baby and not quite knowing where her legs were going and also all this cantering malarky being a bit exciting. I'm hoping as she gets fitter and used to work and more balanced then it will stop. Saying that if I come off her I'm sure I'll have other ideas!!
 
I would be inclined to lunge or long rein or loose school to get through to him the whole idea of going forward as it sounds like he is either really lazy but knows wht you want or just doesnt know what is really wanted. Not sure why he was broken in a waterford fulmer but the french link should be fine. I would also concentrate on getting the walk and trot and also just halt to walk sorted first. If the walk and trot are not good and transitions not there and horse is not balanced it will not be able to canter with a rider on so get basics sorted first. Canter loose sure but get the balance and forwardness sorted in walk and trot then maybe put a little jump up and encourage the canter after that. Get teeth and back and saddle checked first though.
 
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On asking someone else their opinion they said 'hes only three and bound to buck' I just don't believe that, yes hes young and has a long way to go but bucking is just unacceptable - nobody wants a bucker! The back lady said he is incredibly weak behind and needs building up - would this add to the problem? I suppose hacking would be the best thing rather that school work?


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I've just come back from hacking one of my 3 year olds - with another 3 year old and a 4 year old. (The 4 year old bucked a few times!
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My 3 yo was very good - but we were only doing walk and trot - and I'd agree - bucking is unacceptable! The other 3 year old had a new jockey who is more used to trained horses and he did have a bit of a buck with her as she sat DOWN a bit too much.

Your back lady has given you the answer - his back is weak and unmuscled and when you SIT to ask for canter, it hurts - he bucks. We hack all our youngsters for at LEAST 3 months before starting any 'serious' work in the manege, and even then it's usually a 40 minute walking hack followed by 10 minutes in the school. Working in the school is generally contra-indicated with youngsters (as long as they're SAFE to hack.)

Hacking is the BEST education - they don't get bored and it's far easier to establish forward!!
 
We got Little Cob (Trad Cob) at three and a half, Tiggy (IDxTB) at three and a half, and Dizzy (DWB) at four.

We did very little work in the school, and no cantering. All cantering was done in straight lines out on hacks and following others. The following gave them the lead, and the straight lines reduced the strain and balance needed to hold their own body and a rider. Also, keep the weight up and off the saddle - makes it easier for them to use their backs. The only issue is the aids given that you don't know which leg they're going to strike off on! We got round it by using the word 'Canter' and urging forward with body, plus following the horses in front.

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My 4yr Welsh Cob still bucks in canter a little - or does a 'bunny-hop' when she feels the need to change behind.

She still finds it hard take the weight on her hocks and tends to canter very straight-legged. It's coming on though.

Agree with JanetGeorge that hacking is the best thing for youngsters. And cantering in straight lines!
 
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