Rodeo bucking horse is back!!!

[lcharles]

After working with my new (ish) horse for 2 months to stop him rodeo bucking to the extreme (was too dangerous to go anywhere off the yard!), he finally stopped.......so in the last 6 weeks we've been showjumping every weekend...only had one rodeo buck moment in the warm up area on one occasion and he's been very good since - well good for him anyway!

Yesterday i hacked him out, he'll try and test me still by spinning in circles in the middle of the road and refuse to move until i keep persisting and we finally get moving forwards again, once he has tested me this way he wont do it for the rest of the hack. Cantered across the fields and he did his rodeo bucking.....head between his knees, bum up and all four feet off the floor!!! Everyone finds him scary and no-one would ride him if i needed them too (dont blame them!), once i've shouted at him, leant back as far as possible so i'm 'on top' of the rodeo movements he'll stop after about ten rodeo bucks!! I know he finds cantering across a field very exciting...even though he does it 3 times a week, and in different places. I then though 'Oh, i'll pop this hedge' dont know why i thought this was a good idea all alone about 3 miles from the yard on a rodeo bucking horse but i did.........cantered too the hedge...all went smoothly....jumped the hedge......very smoothly......landed and then series of rodeo bucks!! Falling off was NOT an option so my rodeo riding skill set in and i sat the rodeo bucking crazed horse for the length of the field!! Had quite a few death defying moments but got back to a trot and then cantered again with no exciteable bucks just to make a point that he cant do it all the time! x

Would he have started doing it again just out of excitement? x I must admit i get excited which probably makes him excited but why has he started rodeo bucking again?! x

He's not in pain or anything as he has been checked.....he just seems to enjoy it?! x

He is 17.1hh and 6 years old (had quite a bit of time off so more like a 5 year old)

I just hope that he doesn't start it to the extremes he did before. He used to do it when he had a strop and to intially test me i think but now he's been going well i dont want to go down the rodeo route!! x what would you do? (Except sell him to a rodeo stables in America? )

 

[YasandCrystal]

I just want to say hats off to you as you sound like you have a good sticky bum!!! I have no pearls of wisdom, only admiration for you I have a 'hot seat' and have never been able to ride a full blood horse without sending it through the roof; so I can see the angle that your excitement could be rubbing off on him. Ellen Whitakers grey is the same I think. I don't think my back could take rodeo bucks

 

[L&M]

Can't offer any advice really - the only thing I could think off is the weather as it has got very cold here the last few days, and even the laid back ones on the yard have gone 'sharp'.

Also can I ask what training you have done to stop, (even if temporarily!), the bucking as have one a little similiar?

 

[annunziata]

whow well done you I think i would have bitten the dust rather early on!!! I have a rather sharp horse no where near as sharp as yours though!! Do you think it maybe beacuse he is fit and having fun??? Thank the lord you can sit them!!
xx

 

[traceyann]

My cob has a huge buck when younger his bum used to hit my head took alot of practice to stay on and cant if he does more than six is my limit hes also has kicked his front legs out from underneath himself comming down which i dont stay on and he dosent stay on his feet either which used to be scarey both of us are passed that stage now we are to old.

 

[StormyMoments]

taz is exactly the same... well except they went from very mild to extreme as he has got older (10 now) he currently isnt cantered as im bareback and although i have galloped and been rodeoed bareback and stayed on i just dont want to risk falling off the big doofus (17.2hh) i find if i can get his head up then its more of a bucking fit then a rodeo, but it really is a yank with 2 reins jobby and if that doesnt work its a short sharp tug on one rein (i know it sounds horrible but its not just me in danger its other people on their horses behind me and members of the public) once his head is up then let them finish having a flid and then make then collect then extend in the canter dont just bomb around as that just gets them more excited. i get taz down to a canter as slow as his walk and then work my way back up again. also dont do walk to canter/ gallop as you are asking for it then as that is very exciting, get a good extended trot going half halt then push up into the canter and that should be a calmer way of going about it hope this helps

 

[Cortez]

There is a neat little gadget called a "buck stop" marketed by Monty Roberts types (Intelligent Horsmanship?) that actually does work, you might try that?

 

[lcharles]

lol x thanks x

Keeping his reins short so he can't get his head down helps but its not fair to have him cantering around fields in a showjumping canter all the time.....doing this just makes him go all uphill and he eyes up everything 'jump-like' x Have to keep doing transitions but he had stopped doing it for a bit....thought we were over the rodeo style!! x

He's ridden 5 or 6 times a week so he's used to the colder days and hasnt been clipped, no change in food or anything....he's just gone all silly again!! x

Must admit he put me off after i had him about 6 weeks as he had a rodeo strop, walked backwards into a post, totally freaked out, did a 360 degree rodeo spin and i went flying and he knocked me out by kicking me in the head! (**Note to self**Do not try holding onto the reins of crazed horse while led on the floor!) x I don't get put off easily but that did the trick until i got dragged into team chasing him - needed it desperately!! x He was sold to me with 'challeging behaviour' but really?!!?!? x lol x

Sidney: I worked out when he would do it....which was

1) when he didn't want to do something
2) when he was unsure of something-he can be spooky
3) if he wasn't rode everyday - which made him spooky
4) to test me

So firstly, i started riding him 6 times a week which took away the spooky behaviour.

I have to alternative hacking routes, luckily i have 100's of acres to ride across (not lucky if you get ditched in the middle though! lol) if i did the same route he'd know where he was and would rear, spin, buck in the middle of the rode as if 'napping' but once you got past this he was fine. NEVER turn around or let him win...or you pay for it big time next time!! x Patience, persistence and trying to stay calm!! x

Being a big horse he used to worry me a bit but now rodeo riding is second nature but i'd much rather i didnt have to go through it!! x I guess he'll stop doing it after jumping a few more hedges but wanted to take him hunting but dont think huntsman would appreciate being overtaken at every hedge by rodeo horse and clinging on rider!! x

Annunziata: I have eaten dust plenty of times.......at the show i got launched off at (mainly as i was not expecting it as he'd been so good!) i just got up, jumped back on and jumped again...like nothing happened! People thought this was funny - i choose to ignore his bucks where possible!! lol x

TraceyAnn: Well done, when did your horse used to buck? was there any reason or just excitable? x

Stomymoments: I am already at extreme....by the time he's 10 i think i'll be dead if he cranks up the bucking much more!! I would never stay on bareback i dont think!! x The short reins do work but then he goes into showjumping mode and drags me at hedges!! x He's in a waterford full cheek so brakes are ok......!! x Transitions definately help but thats just as exciting!! you should see is little ears perk up!! x

Cortez: A buck stop?! what is this?! x if it restrains him in any way it would probably freak him out- a martingale freaks him out!! x What does it do? x

Then i found he'd do it

 

[Archiepoo]

i have a friend whos got a 26yr old sec D who bucks for fun-hes always done it. my sec D is a rodeo horse tho-id be very interested in how you stopped it!!

 

[lcharles]

A buck for fun i can deal with quite happily! x its the head planted between his knees and his tail whipping my head whilst cantering which i have to bannish! lol x

 

[L&M]

Any one tried buck stop? I don't know if it would be of benefit to mine as he fly bucks - ie doesn't put his head down but lets the back end go if that makes any sense....!!!

 

[lcharles]

http://www.twofairmares.com/buckstop.html

No good for my rodeo horse!! x he has a very natural outline and don't want to ruin that and he bucks when jumping too and this can't be used when jumping so seems like persistance is the key!!! lol x

Any other suggestions? x

 

[Archiepoo]

mine bucks, rodeo broncs, and is very athletic actually! still would be happy if he didnt do it- not good for my back!!

 

[L&M]

Thanks for the link to buck stop - no good for mine either as he hunts, therefore needs to jump.

It's nice to see others have this 'uncomfortable' problem though...

 

[lcharles]

Awww thats not good! x not good for the back being swung in all directions is it!! - gotta watch out for whiplash! lol x Might put cowboy hat on my christmas list!! x

 

[Archiepoo]

i think ur right its horses that have a talent for jumping that have a big buck.- my boys has a huge butt and is like tigger in the field-dont get me wrong i love to jump but hes a nightmare!!

 

[L&M]

Agree Archiepoo - my lad is a fab jumper and often gives leads out hunting, but boy do I have to sit up on landing lol!!!

 

[SuperCoblet]

Well done for coping what bit is he in, sorry if I've missed it somewhere!

 

[Archiepoo]

well anytime you want a spare horse for thrusting give me a shout (if ur brave enough)