Bucking

N

Nakipa

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 November 2008
Messages
101
Visit site
Hi I am a newbie so be gentle with me.

I have a four year old TB gelding who is the kindest, gentlest and most laid back person. I haven't done much with him but he is generally a sane and sensible person until we go to canter and he does a huge buck. Needless to say we haven't done much cantering and he isn't very balanced yet to canter in the Manege.

Yesterday unfortunately he got very excited as we started to trot whilst out hacking and I could feel him getting shorter and shorter and bunching himself up and he then exploded into a huge buck and fired me off.

I always use a neck strap and have not been unseated before by his bucks but yesterday he caught me out.

What in your opinion is the best way to deal with a buck? Is it better to keep my weight off his back and stand up in my stirrups so that he can't catapult me? He doesn't put his head down so is it better to kick him forward or to try and stop when I feel him getting ready to buck?
 
well, i'm probably not the best person to advise, as i'm currently crocked due to being bucked off, but if you can appreciate the irony...!
i'd start with a loud "NO" and if necessary "GO FORWARD". sending forward is usually safer tbh, esp if he doesn't put his head down. trying to stop him if he's feeling a bit full of it might lead to him going upwards instead.
if possible, light seat, even contact on reins and ride fwd to iron out the kink, basically.
as already mentioned though, if you haven't already done so, i'd try to investigate why he is doing this. does he do the transitions freely on the lunge, without and with saddle, on both reins, without any bucks, for e.g.? this will prob be a good indicator.
hope that helps a bit and that you didn't get hurt yesterday!
 
With my last one who would buck playfully when excited - generally I ignored them (by taking my weight out of the saddle so you can barely feel them) but if he did them at inappropriate times then I would ride him strongly forward (staying in a light seat). Definately dont come to a stop / slow down when he does it as he'll soon learn this is a good way to get out of work! Rode a horse for a friend a few months ago who could buck, he'd slow down and start doing a bronc'ing type / plunging thing. I had it out with him on two occassions (in an enclosed school) where I basically just kicked him forward until he stopped doing it! I just held on tightly to his breastplate strap and kept myself right out of the saddle. You do need to grit your teeth to do it though!
 
My tb was the same once I had him going forward he was much better.Firm verbal no once you feel it coming and instructor told me to give him a quick tug on bridle one side only to distract.He used to rodeo after jumping and I had to be quicker than him.
 
Thanks peeps for the quick responses. I was sure that back, saddle and teeth were fine but I think I will get them checked again to be sure.

There is food for thought there and I will give it a try.

He is very physically immature and gangly and so he just cannot canter on the lunge. I have free schooled him in my Manege and he gets his legs in a knot cantering in there too and invariably bucks.

He was backed late because of his physical immaturity so maybe this is a big factor.

Thanks again x
 
If he gets his legs in a tangle cantering and then bucks when free schooling then I would likely ONLY consider trying cantering under saddle once this is sorted out. Seems very odd that he cannot canter easily... does he canter normally in the field etc.?
 
Yes he canters around no problem although when he does he is usually playing and so bucks and farts like a good 'un. My sand school is only 20 x 40 and so in a few strides he is going round a bend and this is where he has trouble.

I will get his back checked asap and then work on just walking and trotting until he is physically stronger. He has very poor top line and needs to build some muscle there.

Thanks again
 
Nakipa - sounds like you've had some good advice on here already. Also sounds like your horse is young/possibly has a physical issue. So, all I'll add is best wishes with getting things sorted slowly, sympathy for being bucked off (I've had that a few times with babies...) and a little bit of love to give your horse becasue it can be really easy to start feeling upset/angry when you're hurting and in a muddly puddle surrounded by hooves! It really doesn't sound like he is meaning to do anything bad at all.

Good luck!
 
Hi Nakipa - I hope you are OK!

If he is just kicking up with exuberance then kicking him on is definately the right approach. When you feel him starting to bunch then make sure you are not contributing by holding on to the front end - you will only "coil the spring" under those circumstances. If he starts to bronc and you have sufficient "grip" then let one rein out and pull/push him round in a circle with the other. This will interupt his bucking - hopfully enough to enable you to regain control
smile.gif


Good Luck
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top