Kids horse here for 1 week and it BUCKS!!!!!?

Question

Well,

We bought our 11th horse for our now 6 year old son.

My daughter that is 15 just came in from a trail ride our sons new mare and informed me that she bucked. NOT a little playful buck, but all 4 feet off the ground and a good strong 6 of them.

My daughter that was riding is and excellent hand. She was taught correctly and has been riding for 8 years. She is a 1D barrel racer, and rides with body cues and is soft in the face...Heck she was even riding this mare in a halter!

How many of you think this horse bucked before she sent it out here to me?

The horse has only been here for 9 days now.

Answer 1

What are the mare's stats?  How old is she? What kind of training, etc.  

Has the horse been worked regularly during her stay with you?  if she hasn't, she was could have been feeling her oats, & couldn't contain herself.  If she is in good health & condition, not being worked daily would be very frustrating for her.

If she is a young, green horse, she isn't suitable for a 6 year old at all, & would need more training under her belt

(girth! (c:  ) before  she should be a young kid's horse.

good luck, hope this helps!

Answer 2

I think that yes the horse may have bucked before considering the way she bucked.

Horses who just start bucking usually start with pig roots then their buck gets more fierce.

This could either be the result of new surroundings and a new rider, a behavioral problem or just the fact that the horse is feeling well and shows it by bucking.

but then again it may be a medical problem in which case you should get your vet to check her just to be on the safe side

but good luck i hope she turns out OK!

Answer 3

How has he been riding? Is it the first time that she has acted really bad or bucked? Was she being ridden with a different saddle? Anything different other than the rider? How many times has he been ridden at your home? How old is the horse?

Horses aren't perfetc and many times we (humans) have no idea what set them off. Most times that I've seen bucking with a trained horse that's never bucked before it is due to pain or discomfort of some kind.

First thing I'd do would be to check for a sore back, sore shoulders, have her teeth checked ect. Just because a saddle fits nine out of ten horses perfectly doesn't mean it's going to fit that tenth one correctly. Many times saddles cause discomfort without the rider knowing it.

If all that is fine and she's not sore it might truly be a case of a dishonest seller. I'd try to not be too quick to judge though as it really is possible that it's the first time she's ever bucked and never did it with her previous owner. Call them up just to discuss it with them, see if they have any advise or suggestions on what might have caused it to happen. If they get an attitude or get defensive it's a bad sign that they knew about it and she truly does have issues they didn't disclose to you.

Answer 4

I'd check under that saddle pad!  Any "sharpies" ?  Also check the cinch, girth, buckles- everything that touchs the mares hide!

She may not be a bucker- just irritated by something.

Answer 5

Did you try the horse out before you bought it? Did it come from a reputable location? If you don't know, that might be part of the problem. Anyone nowadays can drug a horse to appear calm until you get it home.

She may have kidney issues(weight on the back will trigger bucking), or may have had a back injury you weren't told about and gets sore easily.

Is she strong-headed/willed? If she is, she could be testing you to see what she gets away with. I'd nip it in the bud before it gets dangerous for your kids. If she's not strong-willed but very good natured, then she may have a health issue OR yes, she did it before you got her. Good luck.

Answer 6

It is definitely possible, i would give her some more time to get accustomed to the change. Maybe she's just not happy with moving farms or she wasn't happy with the tack or something like that, give her some time. I would ask the previous owner though, and she what she says if it continues.

Answer 7

put it in the same situation and see if she does the same thing....you don't want a bucker

Answer 8

I would see if the behaviour persists before putting it on the previous owners.  It is very possible that they drugged it, but try to rule out other options first.  Did you take the horse out on trial?  It seems like you have had a run of bad luck trying to find a horse for your son, at six years old why don't you try and get him a pony that he could more easily handle on his own and give him some time to grow before you move him up into a horse?  

Was your daughter riding the mare in a saddle?  Did the saddle fit?  Was there possibly something in the saddle pad?  If she was riding her bareback had the mare been ridden bareback before?  Sometimes when a horse is first ridden bareback they can get a little spastic even if they otherwise seem to be a good horse.  Try to rule out any physical problems, such as a sore back, or pain of any sort.  

Once you have ruled out physical problems then think about the environment that she was in, was there something in particular that would have scared her?  Such as a dead animal in the woods or a funny scent or item?  If you can rule out all of those then try questioning the previous owners about any issues they ever had with her.  If the bad behaviour persists contact the previous owners about taking her back or send her to a trainer to get it straightened out before you put your six year old on her.  Best of Luck.

Answer 9

I would not be too quick to criticize the seller or to blame the mare.  Infact, to me it sounds like you got a GREAT horse for your son.  But I also understand your concerns.   Here are my thoughts:  Each horse is going to be an individual and going to work out a relationship and way of behaving with each different rider.  The mare may have been testing your daughter to see what the rules were; she may have misinterpreted your daughter's wants, or she may have just been feeling really frisky, new place, new rider, new everything.  Also, if she was being ridden by your daughter in just a halter--she may have just felt like she could go ahead and play.  (The mare).  I would have your daughter work this horse daily for about a month in an arena, beginning at a walk, asking her to walk on the rail, bend, turn, and stop using whatever bridle your son will use on her, or that she was ridden in before by her boy rider.  Once she "checks out" at a walk in the arena then move up to trot and do the same thing.  Circles, maybe some serpentines to keep it interesting, change directions, back and forth from walk to trot; turns and stops.  Then repeat it at a canter or lope.  But nothing to "rev her up."  During this time, try to warm her up before riding, and provide regular exercise for her.  If she does well in the arena part then maybe daughter takes her for a trail ride afterwards; but alternate, trail and arena, doing arena part before going on the trail.  If needed, try another bit or bridle.  Finally, if the mare succeeds with this "review course", then I would repeat this process with your son riding her.  She needs to "learn" your son can control and cue her; and to bond with him.  Once she does, if you give her the chance to succeed and show you what she can do, she may be the horse you wanted and thought you got!  I surely would not pass up such an experienced mare if she had one issue.  I wouldn't even label it a problem yet, I would just assess her systematically while reminding her of what you would like her to do.  She sounds like an amazing find, and she's still really new to your barn.  Please give her a chance.  Also, if your daughter gets things sorted out well with this mare, then you will have a first-hand idea of how spirited the horse is, how much energy is normal for her, and how much work she needs to stay consistent and solid.  Then you will have a better idea whether she is too much horse for your son at his age and level of experience.  Even if she is, with your daughter's help he may be able to "grow into her"; or they might be a good match soon, depending on how well your son rides.  I hope this has been helpful to you.  I got my first horse when I was only a little older than your son; the gelding was represented as an experienced done-everything kid's horse, safe with some go; it turned out he was a bucker and someone else's problem they failed to solve.  We kept him, and I worked him through it.  He's thirty now and the best horse I 've ever had, been my lesson horse for many years and really can do it all.  We just had to get our communication going.  Ask yourself why she bucked--figure out what you can do to prevent it--work her to see if this is a pattern, and go from there.

Answer 10

if she acted totally different from how she acted when you say her she could have been drugged or she could have been only any arena horse for example and decided to not adapt to being a barrel horse if that is what you want. Some horse can be anything others are only one thing and decide not to change! Take it from someone who has learned this many a times!

Answer 11

It's poosible she bucked before, but try to give her a little more time to adjust to her surroundings.

Answer 12

Maybe your 11th horse wasn't the right choice for your six year old. You didn't mention how old the mare was. General rule is subtract your child's age from 20 and that's the youngest horse they should be able to handle.

As for the horse bucking...your daughter didn't fall off. For all you know she was being stung by bugs in a sensitive area or her girth was bothering her.

My horse develops and attitude problem and spins sideways while bucking to let me know he doesn't like what I'm asking him to do. I'm still alive and I'm a better rider for it.

Answer 13

if it didnt buck for the first 8 days see if it continues...she may have been drugged.  but if it doesnt seem like her temperment, it may just be a fluke.