Suggestions to handle bucking in new horse?

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Tobiano

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So I have had Roo 4 months, he has had back, teeth, saddle done more than once, is being prof schooled twice a week and ridden 5 or 6 times a week, and is great in a lot of ways but I am not overjoyed that he will usually buck 3 or 4 times in the course of a ride, mostly in canter or going into canter. I am 50 and not very bendy and he has already had me off twice - though that was early on.

So, thoughts please on how to deal with this? Ether to stop it (ideal!) or at least to develop my ability to stay on and ignore it!

Thanks :-)
 
How old is he? Is he green and unbalanced in the canter? Does he do the same on the lunge in canter?

Sit up and back, keep your hands slightly higher in the canter and ride him up into it with your inside leg. If he bucks, raise your hands higher (get his head up) and kick on, push forward, forward, forward.
 
Have you worked out why he bucks? Has your saddler seen you canter in the saddle? Are you absolutely certain that the saddle doesn't pinch/catch him at the cantle in the transition? What does your instructor or someone on the ground see happening? Does he buck in the school, or on a hack, or both?
Sorry for all those questions but I do wonder about the saddle fit.
 
I had this with new horse. Turned out he had ulcers

He doesn't show obvious stress, in fact seems very laid back

He was a little girthy but nothing major

In hindsight he did give you his head to groom when u were grooming his left side

He gradually got worse and would stop dead and buck when asked to canter
 
Yes, I used to ride a mare for a lady who used to buck on the canter transition and also in the canter.

Turned out to be the saddle- and her ovaries but saddle didn't fit either.
 
Hmmm, agree with others, would suspect pain and/or discomfort somewhere. Trouble is, its a b@ggar to find out where........ and you say you've done all the normal "checks".

If the horse is either a youngster OR coming back into work, you might find you need (yet another!) saddle check as he might be changing shape and his saddle WAS OK when you had it checked, but might be pinching a bit now? I'm having this with my loan mare who's changed shape due to needing to be rested after injury, and its a pain, but you have to keep checking, checking, checking.
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
Hmmm, agree with others, would suspect pain and/or discomfort somewhere. Trouble is, its a b@ggar to find out where........ and you say you've done all the normal "checks".

If the horse is either a youngster OR coming back into work, you might find you need (yet another!) saddle check as he might be changing shape and his saddle WAS OK when you had it checked, but might be pinching a bit now? I'm having this with my loan mare who's changed shape due to needing to be rested after injury, and its a pain, but you have to keep checking, checking, checking.
Click to expand...

Sometimes the horse doesn't agree with the saddle fitter.
 
I had this for nearly six years with mine. I knew something was wrong but we couldn't find it (I even had him bone scanned). He could be a little 'backward' trotting/cantering on hacks (sometimes) and always seemed to have a sensitive back. Having had his feet x-rayed - it was them. All sorted now and he is wonderful to ride - AND NO BUCKING!
 
My horse does exactly the same!! I came off him for the first time 2 weeks ago and it wasn't pleasant lol
my horse is an ex racer and all checks have been done numerous times but he gets very excited when we pick up the pace but only in open spaces or out with company. He used to do it in the school too but that was a saddle issue!
I have just accepted its an excitment thing now and hope i can stay on when he decides to throw one in!!
 
While you get it checked out, some tips for staying on... Don't let his head go down, keep your hands high up and his hocks underneath him. Keep rein contact even on both sides of his mouth, and really ride him forwards. Maybe you could do lots of circles and transitions in canter to keep him focussed on you, and less likely to cause mischief.
Sit deep, and get him moving as soon as you can, making a positive transition out of the bad behaviour.

Obviously if he is in pain, it isn't fair to carry on until you have the all clear, but this stuff is only for if it is bad behaviour.
 
I used to have a mare who always bucked when I asked for canter out hacking but
never in school. Eventually, after having everything checked I just put it down to excitement and just learned to sit to it. :)
 
Thank you everyone. To answer some questions -

- He is 8 but very green. He bucks in the school and out on hacks. Mostly on the left rein and my RI says he is weaker on the left side particularly the hind legs. Had his new saddle in June, professionally fitted, and had it re-checked by the saddler last tuesday - no alterations. My RI also approved of the saddle fit (she made me change the first one I bought for him!) but I will ask her to watch carefully in the canter. He had his back done when I first got him and he has just had it done again this Monday, so maybe that will help.

Ulcers is interesting! He is very laid back on the ground, not at all girthy, in fact enjoys his belly being brushed (usually provokes a 'let it all hang out' reaction). Oh and the vet removed a nasty bean when I first had him so it is not one of those. I know ulcers can crop up in the funniest places but that does seem a remote possibility.

I dont think it is really to do with excitement, as he does it in quite random situations but he will buck if I touch him with the whip - I certainly dont whip him with it.

I will ask my RI to see if she can help me identify what might be causing it, and get the vet to have a look if it doesnt improve.

Thanks again - and for the tips on sitting to the bucks, think Pilates is also on the cards!!
 
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