Difficult horse.... :(

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I have just been given a horse, and as the saying goes "you shouldn't look a gift horse in the mouth"...

He is ok in the stable if not a little bargy, but he is a bucker and I hate this. I don't mind a buck or two but he bronks like a nutter in excitement or just because he feels like it, I've had everything checked and have bought a buckstop but I havn't been able to use it yet because of the snow! I am a competant rider and have had many difficult horses in the past but this is starting to rack my nerves a little!

Have you ever had expieriance of horses like this and how have you learnt to cope?

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I'm feeling v sorry for my self! hahah x
 
I was having the same problem before xmas with a mare I was riding who starting rearing to try to avoid doing work properly.
Although I never came off it did get a bit un nerving.
However, just remaining as calm and confident as possible and just ensuring I made it clear that it wasnt ok and carried on as normal and she just gave up!
then she bucked once and got me off, but I got on and carried on and again she was fine again (then i went home for xmas)

what about using a standing martingale?
 
In his defence he has had 2years off after coming back from a sale who couldn't cope with him and I can see why.

I am planning to retrain him slowly and teach him some manners, he has the most fanstastic jump and willing nature if I could stop his bucking or even dub it down he would be a fab competition horse. Its just.... ahhhhh
 
Well I have one that works differently to that one, I'm not sure I like the idea about it going under the lip.

We have changed his saddle to one that fits and had his back checked recently.

I think it might be bad manners as this isnt just a buck or two its like flybucks as he does it when hes in the air and hes very good at it...
 
How long has he had the new saddle? Mine used to do these unpleasant acrobatics. Changed the saddle to one that fitted, and he did it a couple of times in the new saddle after spooking as I think he was expecting the saddle to pinch. Quickly realised that it didn't, and hasn't done it in the 2 years since the saddle was fitted!
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I think that they become habitualised into a pain response if it has happened historically.
 
If you have checked everything out as you said,i would completely take him back to basics lots of lunge work practically rebreak him.
Give him plenty to think about when you ride lots of turns,circles,turns on the forehand,leg yeild all that jazz just basic lateral stuff.
Ride confidently without aggression,when he bucks just sit fat farmer sit back leg on but dont kick,dont shout,dont smack just dont give him a reaction just ride forward and positively like nothing is even happening [easier said than done i know]

Most horses rear,buck for a reason if everything teeth,back,saddle etc has been ruled out then its more likely to be a feeding,lack of work or up there on the scale an attention thing.Alot of horses do this to get attention and a reaction if its good or bad reaction its a reaction all the same.
I have always found it best to ignore it as best you can while trying the best you can to stay on.

Good luck x
 
what happened with the last owner? i,e Did he buck they come off so he has learned bucking equals no work?

Was he in pain, so he is bucking out of habit?

Theres always a reason for bucking, does he do it at a particular time (i.e in canter, out hacking, when schooling get's a bit harder?)

I think if you can pinpoint the reason why he is bucking you have a better chance of resolving it quicker. He has learned this habit one way or the other, whether it's down to a previous pain or something he learned with the previous owner or whether he is still in pain and it's not been spotted, even though you have had many checks done you need to find why. Does he seem really fresh and excited? If so, do you think once he is back in the swing of things and worked regulary it will just phase out if you carry on regardless?

xx
 
Yes agree with making him come back to halt each time he does it. and well done you for getting on again and again - I HATE flybucks!!

Also, not the prettiest or a long term solution but have you tried a daisy-rein or some grass-reins? Just to help you in keeping his head up for a bit while he gets out of the habit? Can't think of much else!
 
[ QUOTE ]
Standing martingales don't stop horses putting their heads down! THey stop them putting their heads up!

[/ QUOTE ]

A standing martingale will stop a horse putting his head right down, as I said it stops my horse yanking down and pulling the reins out of my hands as he needs to put his head down to the floor to do this, it may stop a horse bucking because he needs to get his head down to do this, its worth a try or as suggested - grass reins would help as well.
 
I completely agree with all that bugaboo and russoheidi have written. There has to be a reason for it, even if it is pure exuberence. You have to pinpoint the cause, which I know only too well can be much easier said than done. I was told by a Bowen therapist that my horse was one of the best conditioned horses that she 'd ever come across, a McTimonist told me that there was nothing to cause his problems. Both are well respected and I would still rate them, but they just coudn't find the problem. I have found someone at last who has identified what is going on and after two seesions he's already so much happier. The point is, don't take one persons say so that your horse is physically ok. Until you identify the cause, chastising a horse, may not be the solution and may in fact only be compounding the issue. If the cause is fear or pain, then ignore the bucking as best as possible and hang on! Try singing or find something to say out loud, it will encourage you to breathe, which in turn will help you to relax. Maybe even reassure the horse with a stroke on his neck and some kind words.
At the end of the day it is v difficult to recommend solutions without seeing it. Really you need an experienced person to watch what is going on. In terms of you coping though, the singing/talking definitely helps. My boy no longer rears but throws everything else he can at me, I used to find it really frustrating and v difficult not to get in abattle with him. Now I just say out loud laughingly, 'ha ha v funny but I'm not playing' and sure enough he gives up much quicker, rather than getting into a battle.
Best of luck and don't give up, it's the difficult horses that give you the most reward...eventually! x
 
Well he was my cousins horse, so I have known him for quite some time, but he was going to be bought by a woman who got very scared of him so was quite agressive towards him, in fairness he hasnt had a very good time of it. He is a very stressy horse anyway and has seperation issues and is very distructive ( hes constantly breaking my fencing and ripping his rugs) tbh I think he has the mentle age of a 2yr old and has been taught no manners! I don't think a standing martingale will help, but I have a buck stop (like a daisy rein). When the ground clears up I will start to re-break him and lunge him untill he is bored of bucking. Someone once desribed him as a big dog with a stick in his mouth that will run at you and beat you over!

I've jumped him once in the wholde time I have had him and he is so honest and has the most fantastic jump, I spose thats why he can buck so big!

My back lady who is very expierianced, (who also does my back) said there was nothing wrong, and I have changed his saddle. He has nothing to complain about its just plain bad manners just like everything else he does!!! hahah
 
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