Bucking while cantering

[Penny Less]

Dont canter cob v often but when cantering (usually up a slope) he feels as if hes bucking Not just to start but most of the canter. i was under the impression that if horse is going forward they cant buck ? I am wondering if he is actually bunny hopping as sometimes does this on the lunge. He wont go first so another rider cant watch me. The back end just feels as if Im being catapulted forward and its quite disconcerting ! Cant school with someone watching him as he just spooks all over the school and has had me off once or twice in the paddock. Any ideas ?

 

[JoBo]

Firstly I would suggest you find a good Instuctor and have some lessons, they can then help with the spooling etc. issue in the school.

Also are you sure that it isn't just the movement of your cob? Having ridden other 'flater' horses I realise actually how much my cob moves in canter, the back end is powerful it does move up and down.

Just a thought!

 

[Penny Less]

You could be right, although when I bought him and cantered him he didnt feel like that.Maybe its high spirits because I dont canter him often ? He is built like a tank
and I try to get his front end up a bit to stop me going over the ears!

 

[Tinsel Trouble]

If it only happens when he's going up hill it could be that you're hanging on to the front end and he's shortening is back up which will make him more springy! Try sitting up and riding him through his top line with a slightly longer rein!

Also- Lessons, hanging onto the front end is a pretty fundemental issue that needs to be resolved!

 

[Shysmum]

my boy used to do this, and it was nappiness and high spirits, together with being an unbalanced youngster - he was always shocked when he got me off though ! I put a daisy rein on, and it really helped doing very short canters while i concentrated on sitting deep and pushing him on. He no longer does it now, although I tend to keep my hands "up" during fast work to stop his head going down. It is a schooling slog tho.

hope that helps