Why does my horse buck when cantering behind others?

[katherine1975]

Hi. I remember some of my ponies did this and my mare is ok if we canter in front of the other horses. If we canter behind others she bucks. Just wondered why some horses do this and how I can stop it.
I have had her for a year and a half and before I had her she hadn't really done anything. I spent a long time getting her used to hacking in front of the others as at first she tried to lag behind. She is now confident hacking in front, yesterday we went hacking with my OH and a friend, my mare got very upset when the friends horse went past her and was only happy when he was behind her. She now dislikes being at the back of the ride - hope I haven't done something wrong by hacking her in front! It has made her much more confident hacking out on her own, any suggestions how we can sort out being at the back of the ride without her getting stroppy - she had a paddy yesterday and was cantering on the road!

 

[pardalis]

I've ridden a few like this. I've always thought it was the herd flee instinct. She wants to be in front in case she gets chomped by a lion from behind!

I have no definitive answer though!

 

[Charlie007]

It could be the same reason my boy bucks behind, its because I am holding him more so that we don't trample the ones in front!! He feels restricted with me holding him behind. If we are in front we set the pace, its probably no faster than when behind, but I am not worried that we may end up he one in fronts backside!!

 

[Janah]

My boy doesn't buck but pulls like hell and is a real handful. Always has been in the 10 yrs I've owned him. I just think it's one upmanship!

Hell on a pleasure ride, the pleasure is all his as he wants to be in front of the horses two miles in front.

What you do about it I have no idea. When you do, please share. Joie de vie in my opinion.

Jane

 

[kirinsam]

My boy goes into melt down if he is behind anything cantering. He spends so much time panicking and going up and down we get even further behind. Hunting (only time out ) we started in the middle of the pack , within 400m we were left behind and he boiled over completely stood right up and I had to lead him home. I now only ride on my own or with someone who understands. In front he is a dream to ride . I would really like to do some sponsored ride type events but am worried as to how he will behave.

 

[Tilda]

My mare is the same and I think it is panic at being left behind and also as pardalis says the fear of being the last one in the line and having no protection. We seemed to solve the bucking in canter by letting her break into canter a couple of strides before those in front but I guess this only works if the other horses trot fast enough and your horse has a steady canter. I am guessing the other way is to just make them go behind until they get used to it.

Hopefully someone else can come up with some better suggestions for us all

 

[MrsHutt]

I would have thought it was just high spirits, and sort of effort to catch up.

Hugo has been out twice recently with different riders (I am still working up to taking him myself - it will happen soon!!) and had different reports of his behaviour. The first time he was in front and when cantering would hardly 'go' at all - he was waiting for his mate the whole time. The second time he was behind and the one in front was going very fast - Hugo was belting up behind trying to catch up! I want to get him happy and confident in both situations and I think the way to do that is to keep doing both situations.

I'm no expert, but I reckon you probably should do the same - you have done the 'in front', now do the behind version???

 

[tallyho!]

Usually horses buck when they are constipated. Bucking helps the release of gas - this makes them go faster which then scares the rider but honestly you have nothing to worry about. Go to the front and problem is usually solved.

 

[pardalis]

Usually horses buck when they are constipated. Bucking helps the release of gas - this makes them go faster which then scares the rider but honestly you have nothing to worry about. Go to the front and problem is usually solved.

Lol!! That has to be the funniest answer ever! And a joke of course. OP, don't be thinking it's a farting problem.

Speed kicks in horse's natural instinct to run from danger. When being chased, the last horse is the one who'll get eaten. Such is the success of the racehorse. Safety in a pack- unless you're at the back. And a horse will do anything not to be at

 

[Pedantic]

My boy doesn't buck but pulls like hell and is a real handful. Always has been in the 10 yrs I've owned him. I just think it's one upmanship!

Hell on a pleasure ride, the pleasure is all his as he wants to be in front of the horses two miles in front.

What you do about it I have no idea. When you do, please share. Joie de vie in my opinion.

Jane

Always had this problem with mine, fine in front a pain behind and right up the backside of the one in front, must be a pony thing.

 

[AmyMay]

I would have thought it was just high spirits, and sort of effort to catch up.

This.

 

[Paddy Irish]

If you have access to a sand school you could get your OH to canter large with you behind and then keep swapping the lead so that they all get used to being ahead and behind . just a thought?..

 

[JLD]

mine does too but I am too scared to put him in the front in case he pi**es off with me and i cant stop as he is very very strong when he gets going. having said that I'm not keen on the bucking either !

 

[katherine1975]

Thanks for the replies. They are not nasty bucks but I still don't like them! I am getting braver though. Will work on making her go behind, she is fine on the roads and goes behind but can sometimes think that things are chasing her.
She used to be really slow cantering in front and I think she has learnt how much fun it is and has recently been trying to go faster! Not sure I'm ready for a galloping cob quite yet. When we get a trailer I might try and hire some gallops and practice going in front and behind.

 

[KrujaaLass]

My boy does this. Found that he is better if you can leave the safest,smallest gap from the horse in front.

 

[Keridwen]

If you have access to a sand school you could get your OH to canter large with you behind and then keep swapping the lead so that they all get used to being ahead and behind . just a thought?..

This is a very good idea, think of this as a touch up of the horses training, as you did to get the confidence of hacking in front, now the horse is used to and loves being in front, now you need to balance the horse by getting them to think being behind is just as safe as being in front.

 

[jroz]

My old loan horse would if he was excited. He would also try to throw one in if he was in front, and the horse behind went to pass.

 

[snoopyinfrance]

This all just makes mine sound even more bizarre!
I fully understand the flight attitude of horses so, please explain, why does my big girl want to be at the back??? She won't canter at the front with me (but daughter makes her) and would much rather be at the back. We joke about her fancying the backside of the Ginger Ninja.
What gives?????

 

[brighteyes]

My two do this and I can usually de-fuse any freeing-up of backs by shouting a timely 'OI!' down their earlugs.

 

[katherine1975]

My old loan horse would if he was excited. He would also try to throw one in if he was in front, and the horse behind went to pass.

She does this as well!

 

[PollyP99]

My arabx does this on occasion but like others at the front he's slow. My new cobx loan also did this first time out but with added broncs thrown in for good measure! Its the time of year and excitement I think as this is not in his nature.

The way to stop the arab doing it (who continues year around) is to leave a gap that he feels is too wide to catch the others so no 'race' is instigated, he then does a lovely collected canter, if he thinks he has a chance of catching, i.e you start right besides or just behind someone, he goes like lightening and then bucks as he catches/tries to pass them, never a dull moment!