Horse random bucking

[lilly.thompson12]

I have a share horse called Piper. The other day I rode him out with my friends on their ponies Percy Star and Indy. We went for a canter up a field, and the first canter Piper was good as gold. All 3 other ponies went cantering off and Piper waited for me to ask him to go and didn't even rush to catch up. But then on the second canter, the ponies all cantered off and instead of him going, he bucked so I kicked him on and he went for a bit but then did another massive buck and threw me. He didn't go and catch up with the other ponies he stopped and ate?
Then, we went for another canter but put Percy up front, followed by me, and then the 2 girls and he was good as gold. Then one more canter in the same order, but Indy tried coming past us so he did another small buck?
Any ideas? Just doesn't seem logical because of the first time he was left behind but was good as gold! He is so random!?

 

[Shay]

Could he be a bit hot and tired? Sometimes ponies buck when they have had enough and want the rider to stop now - particularly with younger riders as they have learned the trick works! Equally could your saddle cloth have rucked up and pinched him somewhere? Or a fly bite? On the other hand he could just have been excited and putting in little fly bucks - without seeing him it is difficult to say. Might be worth speaking with your instructor or an experienced adult who can see what is happening? The most important thing is for you all to be safe!

 

[Barnacle]

Just sounds like excitement to me. Horses will often do this and it's not always predictable. My advice is to practice lots of overtaking at the walk and trot so the horses all get used to being left behind. If your horse starts trotting to catch up to those in front, force him to go past so he ends up leading. If you focus on these things at the slower gaits where you have more control, it'll be easier to start practicing the same things in the canter. Also try to do lots of canter work in an enclosed space to really get the horse on your aids. It sounds a lot like the first time he was paying attention but then when he knew what was about to happen the second time he got very excited. It's also not that unusual for a horse to react that way and if you fall off to just stop. If your friends can manage it, I'd also make them canter ahead but very slowly (like no faster than a fast trot - but in a canter). Then if your horse bucks, instead of pushing him on, turn him away. This will really put him off. In the meantime your friends need to slow down for you though and wait because you don't want to end up out of control. You can then do it again - have them start cantering slowly, ask for canter and if he bucks, turn. If you keep this up he won't dream of bucking as all it'll get him is an uncomfortable turn in a direction he doesn't want to go. But it's really important that you only try this in a slow, controlled canter where you feel balanced or you could both get hurt or you could teach him the wrong thing. Also, be sure when you ask for canter to be leaning back rather than forward. It may be tempting to stand in the stirrups and lean forward in preparation for a gallop but if you lean back a bit with your shoulders back you'll be less likely to fall off and your horse will be less likely to buck.

Also this may seem obvious but get his saddle checked. Even if it was fitted to him, if he's changed shape - especially around this time of year - it may be rubbing or pushing down when he goes into a canter and this can make him buck at entirely unpredictable times. I've seen ponies change their behaviour overnight just because of a new saddle.