Rearer or Bucker, which would you rather try to deal with?

[kerilli]

Charlotte Dujardin's comment in H&H this week got me thinking... she is quoted as saying "It bucked so high that I landed headfirst on the school kickboards, fracturing my skull and bursting an eardrum."

I don't mind a rearer (within reason, if s/he is going absolutely vertical and/or over backwards, no thanks) but I really cannot stand buckers. I'm not talking about a sulky little pathetic flip of the bum, but real McCoy bucking, obv.
I realise this is a bit of an unfashionable opinion - most of my horsey mates say they'd much prefer to deal with a bucker. Maybe I'm just not that flipping sticky, but I've been bucked off a few times here and there, and done my right knee twice that way.
My other rationale is:
Most rearers have a good reason (other than high jinks) and I think I usually get a lot more warning that they're thinking about doing something, so I have time to react, attempt to distract them, defuse the moment, etc. I've only twice ever had a horse rear with no warning at all (one was a youngster, in shock at suddenly seeing a patch of different coloured mud at its feet!) and neither went over backwards, both came down again safely with me still in the plate. Luckily, maybe... I know, I know.
Whereas bucks usually come out of the blue, and can catch you totally unawares (don't I know it.)
Rearers, imho, tend to either have a bit of a mental problem (don't want to go forward for some reason - fear, discomfort, whatever) or, perhaps, a front end problem (front feet particularly.) That's where I'd start looking, anyway...
Bucking could be for all sorts of reasons, almost anything to do with the saddle, the back, the hind end, or anything else really. Or, just high jinks, of course. Much more difficult to get to the bottom of.
YMMV and all that...
Thoughts?

 

[krushby]

I'm with you on this one. I'd rather deal with a rearer than a bucker. I also think you get more warning and its potentially easier to fix than a bucking problem. That said I'm probably biased in that I've broken bones being bucked off but have never had a horse come over backwards on me - been close a couple of times mind you and it is pretty scary.

I had a mare who would vertical rear to shove your weight forwards and then throw in enormous bucks to try to get you off while you were still off balance. (and that wasn't the horse I came off when I smashed my arm).

I agree that there are so many causes of bucking its hard to know where to start whereas rearing I'd start looking at 'going forwards' issues.

 

[wench]

rearing - i think you have more chance of staying on - unless it goes over backwards. I have never been on a horse that bucks properly before - if I am ever that unforunate, I will come straight off

 

[diggerbez]

a bucker...definitely. my friend's horse reared on her and came over on top of her- her spine was literally like a broken bottle on the xray. she's ok now- amazingly but she was very ill for a long time i don't mind ones which do little mini rears but full on verticle frightens me- i won't get on something if i know it rears... buckers however don't bother me- i guess because i've never really hurt myself coming off one- broken ribs is probably the worst. my grey horse could buck pretty well and my five year old can full on rodeo-bull style buck. it was really hard to sit to at first but have sort of got the hang of it now- plus he was doing it because he's cold backed, and he was freaking out- now he knows that he's not supposed to do it so he doesn't do it very often... the day i come off and break my neck or something i'll probably change my mind!

 

[millitiger]

I don't really mind straight buckers or rearers.

My pet hate is broncing or the really big, twisting, fly bucks which just go on and on and on until you hit the deck.

so in a longwinded way , I probably agree with you

 

[ihatework]

I'm much better at dealing with rearing than I am bucking, although that said wouldn't take on full height rears, nappy half height ones not such an issue.

 

[Pipkin]

Normally i`d say buck but ask me again when my youngster is backed, seeing his broncing perfomance more than a BP is going to be needed....i may place mattresses all around him

Rearers I can cope with as long as they arent stupidly vertical....

 

[stencilface]

I don't mind either, but as long as its not too extreme

I have never sat big bucks (never been unfortunate enough to have a horse that did them ) but my old horse used to bronc like a good 'un. When I learnt to sit that he started rearing I eventually learnt to sit his (nigh on vertical) rears but never really solved it. On one memorable occasion he bashed his front feet together whilst his front legs we dead straight

I think either is ok within reason, as long as you are aware the horse might do it, being sat on an unknown quantity is not fun. I woudl say any youngster could do either as is an unknown quantity as such

mine occasionally bucks when exuberant and its lucky they're only diddly, otherwise I'd be splat, its so out of character from him

 

[only_me]

I'm middle of the road both ways - I don't mind a bucker that isnt doing it to get you off, nor a rearer that only goes half way (defo not full!)

I think it would almost be safer on a rearer - if you had one it is bound to have some sort of self preservation (unless total nut job) and unlikely to let itself go over backwards.
Whereas a bucker dosent have to have self preservation - so you would be literally ejected from the saddle.

 

[kerilli]

I had a mare who would vertical rear to shove your weight forwards and then throw in enormous bucks to try to get you off while you were still off balance.

Ah yes, I had one who used to do that. Charming, isn't it. It only worked the first time with me, but I never enjoyed it...

Yes, it's the broncing or the huge twisty bucks I really detest.
Forgot to say, it's a really good reason NOT to use an elasticated girth on a bucker. My big wb went for it once big-time across the diagonal, by the 5th buck both I and the saddle were literally 1/2 way up his neck, in front of the withers. At that point I got his head up, he stopped and I managed to get off... I think he learnt a few new words at that point!
a friend swears he's seen a horse buck both saddle and rider clean off along its neck and over its head, ducking its neck down and stretching both front legs out in midair to shoot the whole lot forwards... ugh.

 

[measles]

A bucker. I would never entertain a horse that stands up. One spine and all that.

 

[ChloeC418]

A bucker - my 14.1hh taught me well how to sit to them!

Dela does rubbish mini-rears (although they were an all time high for her at the regionals - she was an idiot!) and I hate it, she's the first one I've had that does them. She only does them if she's being silly now though She bucks when its cold sometimes, and learnt how to properly buck rolleyes after teaching flying changes, but she hasn't bucked at all since last winter Dela's bucks are really funny, she has to prepare herself for them, so I get a fair bit of warning

 

[stilltrying]

Previously I would have said I preferred bucking….rearing terrifies me. Having quite a sticky bottom (one of my few talents in the saddle!) I have never been too worried about bucking….that was until my horse broke my foot/dislocated my ankle during a bucking session while I was still on him…..

I stayed on – courtesy of the sticky bum – but think perhaps in that instance would have been better to fall off?! So now the answer is neither, although the likelihood of the same happening again is probably nonexistent....

 

[maiziemoomoo]

Id definetly prefer a rearer to a bucker. 5 years ago i got rodeo bucked off a youngester, as i fell my teeth went through my bottom lip. I ended up with a rather large hole that required 17 stiches by a plastic surgeon!!! ( no lasting damage thank god!!!) Give me a rearer anyday - u usually no the rears are coming!!! Bucks are generally all of a sudden and then splat!!!x

 

[Pasha]

Neither please!!! Although to be fair I don't think i've ever been on anything that really wanted me off

I can totally see where you are coming from on the 'sorting out' front...

My first proper horse when I was 14 started to rear vertically with me and that was due to a wolf tooth. My current main horse started to slam the brakes on and threaten to rear when the saddler made his saddle too narrow and it was pinching him! Both scared me witless! I am such a wimp But both signs of pain and easily sorted!

Bucking I agree is something else, but I am much happier going forward regardless! I think it's the planting bit of a rearer that I hate.... my boy will buck and sometimes rodeo accross the school for seeemingly no reason but it's not scary! Whereas the WB mare I ride will plant and then really buck once when she's in season and you've accidentily used a bit too much leg - get the same gut wrentching feeling from those as I do a rear!

Funny thing is I can't be scared of falling off as I haven't yet (touch wood a million times), yet Tigger Bounces with excitement? Friend's eventer managed to bounce me right off in a Dressage warm-up and I landed right on my coccyx.... soo sore

 

[kirstyhen]

Forgot to say, it's a really good reason NOT to use an elasticated girth on a bucker. My big wb went for it once big-time across the diagonal, by the 5th buck both I and the saddle were literally 1/2 way up his neck, in front of the withers. At that point I got his head up, he stopped and I managed to get off... I think he learnt a few new words at that point!
a friend swears he's seen a horse buck both saddle and rider clean off along its neck and over its head, ducking its neck down and stretching both front legs out in midair to shoot the whole lot forwards... ugh.

I used to ride a big WB that did that too, I ended up halfway up her neck before I could stop her and sort it out! I reckon she could have got it off if shed really gone for it!

I don't mind either really, although I'd rather ride a horse that did neither

The thing I really detest is horses that don't care about themselves or have a distinct lack of coordination, then no matter what they do I don't want to be
onboard! My friends gelding can turn himself inside out if he fancies, but his self preservation makes me feel slightly safer! Whereas another gelding I ride, just cantering him scares me half to death! How his owner jumps him I have no idea!!

 

[event_rider]

A bucker. I would never entertain a horse that stands up. One spine and all that.

I agree!!! Having a horse turn over on me was probably one of the scariest falls I've ever had and something I'm not keen to repeat anytime soon!

Buckers generally are fully aware of what they're doing and generally make concious decsions about their actions whereas I always feel that a horse that full-on stands on two legs is never fully in control of itself! Dunno if that even makes sense...

 

[DarkHorseB]

Absolutely hate rearers - seen 2 very good riders end up with broken pelvis when they have gone over backwards.
Don't mind buckers - most horses and ponies I have had can throw in a buck when excited just high spirits though have occasionally been caught out by it Remember jumping my first ex racehorse over a cavaletti and being bucked off rather spectacularly on landing!! My last ex racehorse would only buck with my sister whatever she did to him - never with me in 15 years.
I do classify this bucking differently to what I would call broncing i.e. I will keep going and do whatever it takes to bury you. That would be right up there on my list of will not deal with any more... with age has come a bit of self preservation

 

[FlyingCoo]

Me personally prefer a bucker as had horse rear right over the top of me and never again!
As for the rearing my thoughts of it being a "forward" issue were thrown out the window this season as ponio started rearing whilst in the start box of the XC after a winter hunting!!
Have let him off though as its done wonders for his XC and has been foot perfect all season just caught me by surprise the first time and nearly hit the deck before we got to 5,4,3,2,1!! To me now though its his way of saying I'm up for the job let me at em!

 

[mystiandsunny]

I don't mind either up to a point. If it rears as a natural response to things (like Lilly does - in the field her instant response to anything is to go up on her hind legs), and is balanced and unlikely to go too high/go over, I don't mind too much. If it bucks for 'kicks' and it isn't too ridiculously high, I don't mind either. I mind when either one of them gets too extreme and becomes dangerous.

ETA - one thing I won't have, is the rear-plunge-drop shoulder trick. It's nasty, intentional and not a game I want to play. Often it's pain, but once learnt, can be a 'get out' clause for ever after.

 

[kandm]

A bucker. Sister's horse bucks to kingdom come. Not talking litte bucks here, I'm on about big leap into type handstand type bucks. As long as said horse is going forwards I find them a lot easier to sit than if it's stand still bucking bronko on the spot. I have now got used to the bucking, my old pony used to do handstand bucks also (I know there is a difference between a horse and pony) and you would just lose the neck and sit there for dear life .

Here's a few piccies of my old pony bucking with my sister ...

After sitting those for a few years, and then moving onto my sister's 16.1 who bucks, you get used to it .

 

[Decision_Tree]

A bucker. I would never entertain a horse that stands up. One spine and all that.

agreed! I have been landed on by a rearer and that was awful! My current horse bucks so big that his tail slaps me on the head/in the face.... nice! His saddle, back, teeth etc etc and so forth are all dandy - its just he gets super excited and loves a bit buck to show off to his mates and keep my on my toes! he can also turning into a bucking bronco but I am lucky enough that I can apply the yank head up and kick kick BOOT method which resolves his antics! With rearing - there is little you can do bar GET FORWARD and hope you dont go over.... Id rather get throw than landed on.

 

[Firewell]

Neither and Both.

I won't ride a horse that tries to get me off with either vice or a horse that means to get me off full stop. So in that sense I won't tolerate a horse that full on bucks with it's head between it's knees and I won't tolerate a horse that stands up reguarly.

At the same time if a horse just occasionally tries to stick in a small buck or bronch then I don't mind to much, equally I will tolerate a horse that has reared once or twice as a flight response to something that really spooked it. As long as it's not meaning to get me off I can usually stay on and settle the horse so it doesn't do it again.

Every horse I have had, especially the young ones have done the odd buck or half hearted rear for some reason very occasionally. I find they grow out of it except my old boy who still liked to put the odd cheeky buck in just to keep you on your toes, they were normally just one and were easy to stay on if your experienced but he did buck off his novicey sharer when he was 26, naughty boy!

My young horse has never got away with having the odd Bucky attempt and he's not silly enough to stand up high so when he is really that excited or spooked that he just can't contain himself he leaps lol. Which feels just like a jump but his head is up so it's easy to sit to and then when he lands he pauses as if to go 'whoops'! I've had him a year and have remained in the plate and my late mare even though she reared a couple of times and had a few spack attacks also kept me onboard, for 5 years she kept me on her all the time bless her and stopped before she unseated me.

I have had some very close calls with every horse, normally when they are spooked badly but like I said before bucking or rearing if I feel a horse *wants* to get me off I won't get in it again.

 

[lucemoose]

neck strap and keep my eyes up and Ill prefer a bucker thank you very much.
Having been landed on whilst waiting to cross the road, and thank god I ended up in a drainage ditch with the horse on top of me....Ill take the bronco option

 

[Caledonia]

I'm a neither and both person too. It depends on the horse, and the intent.
I really hate the rearing which turns into bucking on the spot, like what I call 'kitten bucks', where the horse just leaps off the ground all four legs at once the way that kittens do. That is so hard to sit, and there is nothing you can do except hopefully sit it out. And have a conversation with them to keep breathing!
And the rears where the horse goes up, spins in a circle to cover ground back to where he wants to go, and touches down to give himself the push to make another circle on his hind legs. Again, there's very little you can do and you have to sit it out. I've covered half a showground doing that.

ETA - loving the broncing pony pix!!! ;D

 

[Prince33Sp4rkle]

depends. cannot stand full on twisting bronco bucks, as i cannot brace my left leg (nerve damage) against them.

can sit any sort of rear but dont exactly relish it.

CS is quite unsensible to hack, and his first instinct is to go up, and goes totally vertical immediately. but his bucks are pathetic normally, so am sending him forward very very firmly (read short stick wielded in an unfriendly manner.....) and trying to teach him to buck then go forward if he MUST do something, which is working, as last time he was *on one* he bucked then scooted forward, then stopped, instead of launching vertical repeatedly.

i dont mind the rearing but its not a very sociable habit, and id rather eradicate it full stop.he's never going to be a dobbin to hack, but one tiny buck and a scoot is a huge improvement i feel.

 

[posie_honey]

i have a bucker so will say bucker... however i know her bucks are by no means 'i want to get you off' bucks - more excitable or 'you're asking me wrong mum'/i'm confused/you're annoying me' bucks....and i have sat massive ones on other horses and they are not nice at all - but i'd still rather a bucker than a rearer

 

[Tempi]

Bloss has reared up and over and landed on top of me, i dont remember much apart from waking up in the mud with her on top of me - we were out on the opening meet and someone had taken a fall at the fence in front of me and id had to pull her up, she was too over excited hence rearing. She has bucks that are like leaps about 6/7foot in the air, she has bucked over the top of another horses backend before (again out hunting) and also gone over a friends horse when out hacking, again due to over excitment. Luckily when she reared i didnt hurt myself and nor did she. However when she bucks it absolutly kills my back. So im not sure really, i think it does depend on the horse - her rears are huge, she has nearly gone over a couple of times since with me, but her bucks are equally massive....

Archie used to rear all the time with me, even on the main roads, that wasnt pleasent at all.....He used to kick his hind legs out and sometimes hi speed bronc across the arena but generally rearing was his thing as he was a nappy horse. Again the rearing i could control, but the high speed broncing used to kill my back. There was one time he did it and i had to be helped off as he totally did my back, whereas thats not happened to me from a horse rearing.

 

[ArcticFox]

Interesting thread, I was going to say bucking but I was scared after riding one particularly nasty bucker. It would buck and spin until yoou came off, I persevered for 2 weeks until I gave it up. I just couldn't stop it and sent her to an expert.

I must admit the thought of sitting on a rearer used to worry me, but then I have learnt how to react when they do and what it feels like when they are about to so I guess I would have to say a rearer over a bad bucker. A little bronc is nothing

 

[lynds81]

Having had 2 horses go over backwards on me I would always take one that bucks... At least if it bucks it's kind of in your hands as to whether you stay on, whereas if it rears and goes over there is NOTHING you can do about it. I will sit on something that rears if I don't think it will go over though - the two that have gone over on me, one was not my horse and I refused to sit on it again, and the other was a youngster that reared and reversed and didn't notice a ditch so we both went backwards into the hedge but has never reared since!

Also, I can normally get a buckers head up and sit on it without too much of a problem (god bless my mum buying me a 12hh unbroken 3yo that could have rodeod for England as my second pony!) so it doesn't bother me that much.