Green thoroughbred likes to buck when hacking and throw me off!!

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Lattaway3

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I've just taken on a 5year old gelding thoroughbred who's very green and hasn't had a lot of consistent work. I have been riding him for around 6 weeks and seen an improvement already. He used to buck when transitioning into canter in the school or hacking but he hadn't done so for weeks in the school and only slightly hacking alone.

The other week I took him out with two other horses and when trying to go into canter he put an enormous buck in which threw me off and ended up in hospital - thankfully no broken bones!

It seems he gets very agitated when trotting or cantering with others including grinding his teeth. His back and teeth are ok and his saddle has been checked so I'm assuming it's because he wants to race the others - he was bred and backed in a race yard (he couldn't race due to respiratory problems).

Does anyone have any other ideas why he might be doing this and/or ways to trAin him out of it? He's perfect in walk with others and is improving slowly in trot.

This is the first thoroughbred I've taken on so any help would be hugely appreciated!

Cheers
 
When training they are kept in groups, very few are kept alone because they dont settle in a goup, they don't race every day, they are kept in groups and start of with trotting then progress to cantering for several months before they are ever asked to gallop competitively.
A few will always want to be in the lead, but most will be used to relaxing and go anywhere in the group.
A few, very energetic horses may be inclined to put in a huge buck when they are excited, but my first check would be saddle, back , teeth, in that order.
Is he puting head down to buck, in which case hold head up by bridging reins.
 
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Thanks for the info! He doesn't put his head down its more an excited buck I think but he just seems to get agitated when in groups and once asked to go into canter that's when he does it. He's a lot calmer alone.
 
I hope she doesn't mind me saying but Wkiwi is brilliant and has loads of good advice about re-training TBs - she has been so helpful to me with my ex-racing pony :)
 
Lévrier;13000331 said:
I hope she doesn't mind me saying but Wkiwi is brilliant and has loads of good advice about re-training TBs - she has been so helpful to me with my ex-racing pony :)
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Thanks levrier. Is there a way of seeing her posts? I'm new to the site not too sure how it works :)
 
You know a racehorse is taught to respond to tight reins and changing hands, I would hack alone til she gets used to your style, when in groups, hold reins in one hand, resting on the withers. Dont try to ride with a contact when hacking.
 
Bonkers2 said:
You know a racehorse is taught to respond to tight reins and changing hands, I would hack alone til she gets used to your style, when in groups, hold reins in one hand, resting on the withers. Dont try to ride with a contact when hacking.
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I always make sure I have minimum to no contact on the bit but I will certainly try holding the reins with one hand thanks!
 
Lattaway3 said:
Thanks levrier. Is there a way of seeing her posts? I'm new to the site not too sure how it works :)
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I must admit most of the advice I have got is via PM (private message) - she is very patient and endlessly answers my questions :) If you find a post from her, hover your mouse over her user name and it will give you the option of sending a private message
 
Lévrier;13000381 said:
I must admit most of the advice I have got is via PM (private message) - she is very patient and endlessly answers my questions :) If you find a post from her, hover your mouse over her user name and it will give you the option of sending a private message
Click to expand...

That's great thank you!!!
 
Maybe something else to bear in mind is not to force yourself to ride out in groups where incidents are likely to happen, not till you and your horse know one another better. Just build it up gradually and don't feel you have to sort it out all at once. I found the post about galloping really helpful too; I have a lovely little horse who was well used to be ridden in a field before I got him. I didn't ride in the field for over a year, because I get nervous in open spaces and then when I did take him into a big field a couple of months ago he reared and bucked with me, something he has never done before (he's physically fine, was just excitement and because I had tensed up, held onto his mouth and not ridden forward etc). I am terrified to ride in a field now, but am trying to get over the fear by doing it in a controlled way, eg just working in the bit nearest to the gate, and only in walk, and building it up so I can walk round the whole field. I plan to ride there tonight and am already worrying about it, but will try to keep in mind the helpful advice on this and the other thread.
 
FelixPatches said:
Maybe something else to bear in mind is not to force yourself to ride out in groups where incidents are likely to happen, not till you and your horse know one another better. Just build it up gradually and don't feel you have to sort it out all at once. I found the post about galloping really helpful too; I have a lovely little horse who was well used to be ridden in a field before I got him. I didn't ride in the field for over a year, because I get nervous in open spaces and then when I did take him into a big field a couple of months ago he reared and bucked with me, something he has never done before (he's physically fine, was just excitement and because I had tensed up, held onto his mouth and not ridden forward etc). I am terrified to ride in a field now, but am trying to get over the fear by doing it in a controlled way, eg just working in the bit nearest to the gate, and only in walk, and building it up so I can walk round the whole field. I plan to ride there tonight and am already worrying about it, but will try to keep in mind the helpful advice on this and the other thread.
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You're right, good to take it slow! Good luck with your ride tonight!
 
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