My horse bucks with a crop! Any tips?

Question

Hi! I have a horse named Tigger and he is very stubborn. To get him to trot/canter, you have to kick him over a dozen times! On bad days, when he won't respond to my kicking at all, I usually have to use a dressage whip. This type of whip is about 2 1/2 feet long on the handle, and has a 3 inch thin rope coming off the end. If I hit him with it gentley, he'll move a tad bit faster, but then slow down in 10 seconds. However, If I hit him with it (probably as hard as if you were clapping your hands together) Tigger bucks. He absolutely protests the dressage whip; sometimes he'll try and buck whichever side it was on. I love Tigger dearly, and I would love for him to listen better without bucking so much, that way I could use the whip less and less. Does anyone have ideas on how I could get Tigger to respond better to my kicking/using the whip? Thanks!!! =D (btw, I ride English and I usually use the whip by Tigger's rear)

Answer 1

Lose the crop.

Answer 2

dont use it

Answer 3

honestly u can just stop using one

OR

if ur brave and tough that is not encouragement, tap him and if he bucks slam him one only once and see wat happen.

if he is young i wouldn't just yet.

BUT, yes a but. on the ground u could rub it on his body and tap him on the ground and if he does nothing reward him and the do that for a bit and then hop on him and see wat happens u could also try it while lunging him to.

Answer 4

do u use spurs??? they help alot if u dont use them already.

Answer 5

Don't nag! If you are constantly kicking with your legs, he won't listen to them any more. If you want him to move forward, keep your legs on him for a few strides, with constant pressure. Then keep your legs very still, so that you aren't still kicking him. If slows down, do the same thing again. If he won't listen to your legs, give him one good kick, then leave him alone. Before you trot, do lots of halt-walk transitions. When you trot, focus on lots of hat-walk-trot-walk-hat transitions.Try a different whip, and don't hit him as hard. If none of this works, maybe book a lesson with a good riding instructor

Answer 6

the only thing i can really suggest is using a different whip and use it on his shoulder.

i have a cob and he becomes stubborn also i use a normal whip.

the only problem i wuld say about using spurs is that people that are not used to them kick as hard as they would normally. (pony club kicking if u know what that is)

also what kind of place do u ride him, field, school, roads, ur own tracks, bridleways? this could affect his want to go.

some people also say that having another horse in front of him will encourage him to keep up. (maybe)

schooling him may also work, either riden or on the lunge. or riding on the lunge.

i know many of these ideas rely on having other people around/other horses/a school and the money to but the necessary equipment.

take care and i hope this helps.

Zoe

Answer 7

My horse did the same thing if he bucks say in the roughest voice NO!! U could also try spurs my horse always used to refuse jumps because he was going to slow the spurs fixed that yea if when he bucks yell No and when u say no kick him with ur heel that is what i did.

Answer 8

well maybe you shouldn't hit him and start being kinder because if you keep hitting him he might start being mean to you and people that try to touch him and he might not like you anymore so sneak him some carrots every once in a while.

Answer 9

When I first read the question my first response was "don't use it." However after I read your explanation I came to new conclusions. I suggest trying a shorter bat rather than a dressage whip. You can encourage him with taps on the shoulder. He may respond to a shorter whip better. Also, you may try spurs, however make sure you are very well educated about them, and be sure not to misuse them in any way. Consult with your instructor before using them, and/or about what he or she thinks you should do in this situation.  

Answer 10

maybe you should try to constantly giving him light taps ( the ones that make him go for ten seconds) until he figures out that you won't stop. That might make him learn to respond to just one of them without bucking.  

Answer 11

I have had many horses like this... so i know how you feel... for most of the horses i have been on it was more of a kick rather then a buck... but it was there none the less.

What i have done in the past, to stop my horse from kicking, is lunge the horse on the ground, use a longer whip and instead of not touching the horse with the whip to get him to move, smack him with the end of the whip like you would in the saddle, if he kicks up, smack him again... repeat until he stops kicking... then when you are done lunging him, pet him all over with the whip so he knows its his friend (though a very firm friend, lol) then do the same with the dressage whip before you get on... if he bucks AGAIN when your on, hit him with it again so he knows what he is doing is wrong.

Good Luck!

EDIT:::

When i read your question, i thought you were asking how to get your horse to NOT BUCK when hit with the whip... but based on everyone elses answers, it seems more like the question was meant to ask for an alternative...

So here is my other suggestion:

When you are riding and ask him to move faster, first squeeze slightly with your legs until he moves faster, if he doesn't move faster, increase pressure. if he doesn't move any faster then try a kick... if still nothing THEN pop him with the whip, using the same routine of making things more intense until you get a response. (assuming that you have done what i was talking about earlier, getting him used to the whip, if not then you'll have to stand the buck...) soon enough your horse should speed up with just the increase of leg pressure.

Answer 12

one of my ponies bucks if i use it on his quarters, so i use it on his shoulder instead, although he only needs a small tap if he's unsure about something, he's not lazy like your horse seems to be. I would try using it on his shoulder, if it still doesn't work, use it on his quarters, and if he bucks, use it again, until he gets the message that you're the boss and he's not, you may have to put up with a lot of bucking for a while, but he should get the idea.

Another tip is to wave and stroke the whip over his quaters when he's in his stable to get him used to it being there, and not bucking!

I would not advise using spurs like what other people have suggested, they may work for a while, but once your horse gets used to them, they'll be as useless as kicking without them, and you'll just end up with a horse with ruined sides, you need to change his attitude, not just use somthing to get his attention for a bit. The golden rule with spurs is if you need to use them, you should'nt, sounds stupid, but it's true.

Answer 13

Try a stick or something. You know, you could try spurs.  

Answer 14

One idea that you might want to inquire about is whether the horse is actually trained in dressage. Another idea is that you could take your horse to a trainer. It seems as though your horse's problems might be beyond your control and that the whip might be part of the problem as well (it might be stressing your horse out). Another idea is that your horse is lazy and that you're letting him get away with bad behavior (we all give in at times). You might have to regain your power as alpha yet with a gentle nature. The last thing that I can think of is that he's just testing you to see what he can get away with. Unless, you're holding back any information, such as he's green or you just purchased him etc., then the issue might have other contributions.

Answer 15

OKAY! i'm saying in advance some people wont like my answer.  Leave it alone, its a commenly used practice.

okay, now to the answer...  

I would ask once with your leg, if he doesn't respond, ask again with your leg, and then if he still wont respond, hit him with the whip (harder then a tap-not enough to make the whip sound or leave a mark but he better feel it!)  

--If he bucks, clamp on your leg, sit up and keep riding him.. don't let the buck bother you.  

You'll probably have to do this for a few rides and through lots of upward transition, but eventually, he'll catch on then he can listen to your leg, or get the whip..

I've gone through the same thing with my horse (and hes a TB..) but he will catch on eventually if you stay consistant.

EDIT: i wouldn't suggest spurs as more then likely you'll become dependant on them, and thats no good.  In using the whip eventually you'll be able to just not ride with it anymore, or be able to use it once a week or so.

Answer 16

Use a crop, which is used on the shoulder. Also try using cues, ie for the canter: Nudge, "canter", kiss (yeah thats a cue. Make a kissing sound), tap with crop. Nudge, "canter", kiss, tap. And so on. I hope that works.

Answer 17

Your horse sounds spoiled, like he knows what he can get away with and is using it to his advantage.  He doesn't want to work so he is doing everything he can to make you give up trying to get him to work.  Instead of just beating on him with your legs or a whip until he finally does give in and go, you need to teach him who is the boss so that he does what you want the FIRST time you ask, and without throwing a fit about it.

You need to get him listening.  Do a lot of transitions.  Walk a few steps then ask for a trot.  If he doesn't respond immediately.  Stop him and make him back up.  Backing up is a lot more work for him than if he would have just trotted in the first place.  He'll learn that quickly.  Ask him to trot again.  If he doesn't, back him up.  Keep doing this at the different speeds.  I bet he'll catch on pretty quickly.

If you need a little extra support for your legs (because it sounds like he might need a wakeup call as he's become fairly dead sided), try some spurs.  Just make sure you know how to use them.  Don't use them every time, so that he doesn't become dependent on them, just use them as an aid here or there.

The process will be frustrating at first but stick with it, he'll figure it out.

Good luck.

Answer 18

My horse used to do the same. What i did is....smacked him to get him to go faster, if he bucked then fine as long as he did what i asked, If he didnt do as i asked then i smacked him again. Eventually as i was riding quite often he got bored of bucking and started to respond better. But you have to be patient and forceful. As long as you get what you have asked from him, then let him buck. Just be prepared. It's his loss if he bucks because he's just wasting his energy. My horse eventually figured this out!

Other times they can buck is if you smack him in the wrong place. There is an area when you smack being your leg, (not on the shoulder,) that does encourage them to buck. So be careful. You might want to research where abouts to smack him. Using a whip sounds simple but i found out about this area that sometimes makes them buck the other day and i was quite surprised.

Hope i've helped and Good Luck sorting it out :)

Answer 19

Have someone hold the reins while your on the saddle simply apply pressure to Tigger's ribs don't kick him, while the person holding the reins leads Tigger into a trot, after several times of doing this you will no longer need whips or kicking him.  

Answer 20

Try whipping more by his shoulder, and using more vocal commands. Also, have you tried snappers? (you throw them at the ground and they produce a loud POP)...I have a friend do that behind my horse when we train for shows and that always reminds him to get going.