Tips to stop Horse Bucking in Open Space

L

Lotsoflemons

Well-Known Member
Joined
30 March 2020
Messages
242
Visit site
My pony gets so excited the first few times we ride In the Fields or on the Moors after not riding there for a while He's fine in Walk and trot but as soon as you canter he just explodes 🤣 The More you ride there he's fine and regularly but he just Jumps and Bucks so big lol Any tips on How to stop this? He's such a Fun ride, But Hes very very spooky and it does get annoying when your trying to have a canter And he's just broncing and spooking at the same time 😂 He's fine on Fun Rides it's literally Just at Home in the Fields and on the Moors when he hasn't been there for a while aha Any Tips?
 
Lotsoflemons said:
When we go in Open fields we School and do lots of circles after a While he calms down but it's the initial excitement
Click to expand...
I wold say lots of walk/ trot/ halt transitions, keep on the circle and just keep going until you can feel him settle. It may take a few of sessions of this before you feel you can ask for canter without 'explosions', but hopefully worth it. Lots of praise for calm, obedient behaviour. When you do feel you like to try a canter, stay on the circle, and if he starts bucking, just try and ride through it. The moment he settles in canter give him lots of praise...but stay on that circle! Good luck.

eta. If you have access to an arena or some sort of suitable surface, you could try asking for canter on the lunge first before riding.
 
Last edited:
Further to previous suggestions, and possibly stating the obvious, but do you growl at him /shout NO! When he starts? So it's clear it's not acceptable.

I had a horse who was inclined to a way-hay buck and because I knew I wouldn't fall off and it was always just the one, I'd just giggle and ignore it. Which was fine untill someone else rode him, and as an instructor pointed out that was not the best reaction if I wanted him to stop 😆
 
littleshetland said:
I wold say lots of walk/ trot/ halt transitions, keep on the circle and just keep going until you can feel him settle. It may take a few of sessions of this before you feel you can ask for canter without 'explosions', but hopefully worth it. Lots of praise for calm, obedient behaviour. When you do feel you like to try a canter, stay on the circle, and if he starts bucking, just try and ride through it. The moment he settles in canter give him lots of praise...but stay on that circle! Good luck.

eta. If you have access to an arena or some sort of suitable surface, you could try asking for canter on the lunge first before riding.
Click to expand...
He doesnt do it in the school just in open spaces 😂
 
YourValentine said:
Further to previous suggestions, and possibly stating the obvious, but do you growl at him /shout NO! When he starts? So it's clear it's not acceptable.

I had a horse who was inclined to a way-hay buck and because I knew I wouldn't fall off and it was always just the one, I'd just giggle and ignore it. Which was fine untill someone else rode him, and as an instructor pointed out that was not the best reaction if I wanted him to stop 😆
Click to expand...
Im quite a vocal person 😂 He likes to test people! He does the way hay but multiple times aha I have a freelance groom ride him too and hes the same tests her seat 😂😂
 
I remember asking this of an old Irish guy when I had my ID and he told me he had a 100% effective method even for horses as large and athletic as he was. Thinking I was about to get a fantastic old horseman's answer I was very keen, and asked him to share. His reply? "Stop taking him in open fields, any idiot can see nothing will stop a horse like that bucking if he wants off!". Yes he was right, no it didn't solve the problem, but it was a useful reality check and probably saved my neck since from there on I took a more considered approach.
 
Nari said:
I remember asking this of an old Irish guy when I had my ID and he told me he had a 100% effective method even for horses as large and athletic as he was. Thinking I was about to get a fantastic old horseman's answer I was very keen, and asked him to share. His reply? "Stop taking him in open fields, any idiot can see nothing will stop a horse like that bucking if he wants off!". Yes he was right, no it didn't solve the problem, but it was a useful reality check and probably saved my neck since from there on I took a more considered approach.
Click to expand...
He's fine in Open fields on Fun rides it's just at Home when the fields have been closed for a few months and then he goes back in for the first time lol
 
Mine used to do a fly buck and take off like a rocket when we went to known gallop tracks. She never stopped really but the trick was to let her go for.a good gallop at least once per week to keep the pogoing to a minimum.

I also used to ride an ex racer who was an utter t*t in open spaces. It was just a case of hang on and let him go and make sure you didn't get unbalanced at the start. Not sure I'm as brave as that anymore!

I don't think either of them would have accepted walking gracefully but then I never stopped them as I was a bit of a speed demon.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top