Bucking

[SlumDonkey]

My first post, so please be gentle with me please !

I have a little 14hh cobby pony, I rescued him in very poor condition at 18 months old so he is very special to me.
In most respects he is a little star, BUT he can't cope with going to fun rides and bucks (and bucks and bucks !) this is no fun for me, although the last ride he did I got a young woman to ride him and she thought it was great fun.

I sent him to a so called remedial trainer, at great expense, but of course they didn't take him out anywhere so didn't see or solve the problem.

Can this behaviour be trained out of him ?
He has been to lots of fun rides and if anything is getting worse not better.

 

[Wishfilly]

Does he only ever buck on fun rides? Do you take him out elsewhere? Does he use exactly the same tack etc on fun rides as he does at home? What is he like hacking in a group from home?

The fact that he is bucking repeatedly suggests to me that it's not an excitement thing, and so it's either fear or pain related.

Do you have any videos of him on a fun ride showing what he does?

 

[SlumDonkey]

Only on fun rides !

Same tack, had new saddle fitted when he came back from trainer.

I can hack from home, alone or in company, no problem.
I can take him to friends yard, ride out with 1 or 2 or 6 or 8 other horses, no problem.
Take him to car park in the middle of nowhere where he's never been before, ride alone or with others, no problem.

I have got film of him, but can't upload it, I keep getting the message that the file is too large even though I've cut it down a lot.

.

 

[MissTyc]

Easiest thing is to pop it into Youtube. If you upload it as "unlisted" then only people with the direct link can see it.

Is he bucking because he wants you to let him go? I knew a horse who would start bucking dramatically if he wanted to join in fun, but once he was on the move he did stop the bucking.

 

[SlumDonkey]

 

[Wishfilly]

Having seen the video, it's not quite what I was imagining, and it does possibly look like frustration. What happens if he is allowed to go forwards/kicked on in that situation rather than held back?

 

[Sir barnaby]

I had a mare very similar and as long as the other riders I was with were happy and capable I just used to kick on so misty was going forward in a good strong canter and then she didn’t buck anymore, if I held her back too much she would put in the biggest bucks, so if your happy too yet kick her on forward thinking at all times

 

[scats]

Just watched that clip and Millie sprang this exact thing on me at a farm ride a few weeks ago when I was having a canter with a friend. What started off as a canter sort of descended into this humpy, nearly on the spot buck thing. I made sure I got her head up and sent her forwards. She attempted it again the next time we had a canter but I was ready for her.

 

[Sir barnaby]

I have noticed with the Hunt rides / farm rides now it is groups of 6, all riding abilities, which is 10 mins between each group setting off, so unless you get in first setting off, it is difficult to send your horse on if they are a bit fresh or excited just in case you then catch up with the ones in front, as it wouldn't be good manners to canter up-to another group especially if they are only walking and trotting. I haven’t been to anything this year as no transport but just wonder how you are all getting on with the pleasure rides and new rules for safe distancing etc.

 

[SlumDonkey]

He's not being held back, he does feel a bit like he's going to explode before he does it.

 

[ycbm]

It looks like pure excitement. Two options. Take him again and again until he realises it's just normal life, or give up group rides.
.

 

[Summit]

Looks like normal excitement bucking to me

 

[splashgirl45]

looks normal excitement to me, i would just send him forwards so he doesnt get in the habit, the worst thing to do is stop, i know that is the normal gut reaction but sending him forward is much better....you seemed to be trotting very slowly so i would send the trot on before you canter as well..