What is a good way to stop your horse from bucking, before he even starts?

Question

My horse is practically perfect; I ride him every day bareback and he's never thrown me once. But today we were galloping and he kinda slightly lifted his rear end. I wouldn't consider it a buck at all, i didn't even realize he did it until a few seconds after. But it got me thinking that I would hate it if he realized he could infact buck me off, my mom always threatened to sell him if he ever hurt me, even a little. So whats the best way to break him of the habit before he ever even does it? I mean, is there a way?

Answer 1

Try and get his head in your hands, if he can't counter balance his momentum he will either just crow hop or bow up. Or, make it harder for him to buck than not to. If he does it again stop doing what you are doing and do what you did when he bucked (or crow hopped which it sound like that is what he did). Think about why he did it, could something have touched his leg or belly, maybe he has a sore back or the bit is pinching him. If he really wanted to buck YOU off he would have done it more than once and more than a crow hop. There is always a reason, and it's easier to prevent it than fix a habit.  

Answer 2

If it isn't his tack hurting him then think about this.

Everyone is saying to use the reins to pull his head up - don't, every horse is stronger than a human and it will only make him fight you. All you need to do is kick him. When you squeeze their sides it forces them to lift their head up.

Also, think about your position on the horse, it may have been that your weight shifted slightly and he had to sort it out himself.

Good luck!

Answer 3

Horses are never too old to have spirit!

It's possible he was just extra-happy. My QH mare is 24 and loves to kick up her heels every now and then at a gallop, or even a canter.

BUT, their is another possibility that your horse may just as well be in pain. If you live in a state or country where flies and bees are common, one may have got under his flank and stung or bit him.

Make sure you use fly spray, I reccommend REPELX©, if that's the case.

Horse experts always say, you can judge a horses mood by his ears, so pay attention to those.

If this continues, I also would say it would be best to have a vet examine him. Be VERY specific on when he does it and where.

Good luck to you and your horse!

Answer 4

Keeping a tighter rein.

If he can't lower his head, he can really only crow hop, which isn't all that bad.

For your mom's part, I've been told by many that you aren't a rider until you've been bucked off. It's bad when it happens, but then you can tell your horse's boundaries and what to work on.  

Answer 5

My TB used to do this with me when we both got a little fun on the trails = ] Only thing i did was when he'd put his head too far down i'd bumb it back up with the rein. orrr in the arena i'd use a running martingale (sp?). In order for a horse to buck they need to put their heads down then back up.  the martingale pulls their heads up before they can do it- tightens the rein around their mouth in a way so they can't put their head down far enough.

As soon as they try though stop & spin him in a tight circle with his nose to your foot about 10 times 'till he gets the point 'wow. this really ISNT fun.' Thats one of the things my instructor taught me when itold her about my boy getting a bit excited.  

Answer 6

Well if you feel a buck coming, lift his head up. A horse cannot buck unless his head is down, therefore in doing so, you prevent the buck. And horses don't always buck just because of pain or discomfort. Sometimes they just feel good and like to give a few hops. :) Hope this helped  

Answer 7

It sounds to me like that was just a "yipee" buck. Just having fun,, nothing malicious in that.

How to stop a buck before it happens - keep his head up,, keep your leg on and sit deep.

Answer 8

Your bareback rides are coming too close to his free range "wild horse" instincts.  When you ride out into the field, I'm guessing that it's been a very relaxing kind of thing for you and your horse.  But he is now telling you that he might just want to dump you and go off on his own.  So, you need to respond with your message to him, which is to remind him that when you are on his back, he is not, and will never be, "wild" or free.  Next time out, do a little more "riding" like you would in an arena....and no relaxing of anything unless and until you are sure that he gets the point and respects his role in life.  He is always supposed to listen to you....he is never supposed to decide anything while you are around...He only gets to relax if he is doing what you asked him to.  In fact, every one of us riding could be bucked off if it weren't for the fact that we can outsmart horses and make them believe that we are worth listening to.

Answer 9

Well before you get on the horse make sure that everything is were it is sepost to be and comfortable for the horse and then things should be good. If not it is probily from being scared or not sure of whats going on but once your on and if you get bucked ALWAYS get back on just to show your horse who is the boss.

:)

hopeihelped!

Answer 10

Oh jeez, if your scared of getting bucked off, don't ride. While riding a horse there is always a chance you could die. OF COURSE your horse is going to get excited when he's galloping. He obviously wasn't trying to buck you off, and I see no habit forming.  

Answer 11

after you ride him let him roll and stuff that what my friend does and he was a buker and tire a tie down or something because it is harder to buck

Answer 12

Short and sweet...with the reins, Keep his head up. He can only buck if he's able to tuck his head down. How long had it been since he'd be ridden, or turned out good. Let him run or lunge him before you ride him to get all that energy out.

Answer 13

you would have to get him right when it happens. but know that sometimes when they do buck it isn't cause they want to misbehave...it could be mixed signals or maybe something was in the way that you didn't see. if you were riding bareback and loping he really didn't try to buck otherwise you would be on the ground. falling off is apart of riding...you can't break a horse of every little thing. sounds to me like you have a pretty good horse.

Answer 14

WELL IT MAY JUST BE THAT HE IS STIFF, OR JUST FEELS GOOD?  HARD TO KNOW WITHOUT SEEING HIM IN PERSON BUT TRY MORE BENDING EXERCISES OF THE WHOLE BODY NOT JUST NECK MAY BE A START FOR YOU.  IF YOUR CLOSE TO A STABLE THAT HAS GOOD ENGLISH RIDERS OR EVENTERS , DRESSAGE IS THE BEST TO WATCH. ASK THEM HOW TO START WITH TEACHING YOU TO BEND PROPERLY,  BUT IF HE WERE TO GO INTO A BUCKING FIT WHILE YOUR RIDING , YOU NEED TO PULL HIS NOSE TO YOUR KNEE AN JUST PUT HIM IN A TIGHT CIRCLE, THERE FEET FOLLOW THERE NOSE , ITS SAFER FOR YOU AND GIVES YOU THE CONTROL.THEN MOVE OUT AGAIN, IT COULD BE THAT YOU DO THIS SEVERAL TIMES BUT BE PATIENT YOU NEED TO BREAK THE HABIT, ITS ALL REPETITION

Answer 15

Just make sure he is not uncomfortable in any way.  Horses buck because they are either in pain or something spooks them very bad.  I had a horse buck on me once and I found out that it was because the bit was hurting his mouth because he needed his teeth floated.  Once I had the work done on his teeth he never bucked again.

Answer 16

Always check the fit of your saddle. With changing seasons can come varying weight and with exercise, build of your horses muscles and such. Check to make sure the saddle fits by simply putting it on bareback (no girth necessary, just put it on a check it out) and making sure that it's not pinching anywhere. Also check for saddle and girth sores, etc. Finally, don't start fights with your horse because he just may get frustrated enough to show you what he's made of...and that's not fun. Instead, move on to something else if you feel him getting cranky (back muscles tense up followed by the arched back and head between the legs), and then return to the problem exercise once you feel that he is level headed again. As soon as you see his head "disappear" between his legs you are in trouble. Get his head in your vision quickly, for example, pulling hard in one direction to turn him (no yanking, that's like flipping the switch on the bucking machine), and once you've got him bent and turning squeeze him forward ( same thing as yanking: no kicking).

Not to be mean, but at a certain point your mom will need to get over the fact that you WILL get hurt. It's only a matter of time. I think most parents go through that phase (some to different degrees than others) in the beginning where they say they'll sell if you get hurt, but that's the reality of the sport.  

Good luck!

Answer 17

if you had his girth a little tighter than usual it may irritate him, also if you may have been switching your leads, he may not have been confortable with that.

Answer 18

Okay well its great you want to prevent this problem. Thats really good.  Well horses can buck out of the blue beacsue they can. Most of the time its out of freshness or just plain feel like it. The best thing I have found out that works in pretty much all cases is a on rein stop. Here are the steps, and you always teach it at the standstill then walk, trot ect..

1. Give your horse loose rein.

2. Slide your left hand down the rein and pull towards your hip.(vice versa for flexing to the right)

3. When your horse stops moving, and you see slack in the reins then release the pressure.

4. Reward him with a pat and a few seconds of rest.

This is pretty much like an emergency hand brake. You can use this anytime your feel like your horse is going to do something, spook, or just to keep him listening to you. That way when you think he is going to start bucking just flex him untill he stops, because he cant buck if his head is turned.

Hope this helps you out like it has for me!

Answer 19

Your horse is an animal...and animals do feel good sometimes...id say that this isn't a mean ''i want to get you on the ground so i can kill you'' buck...id say it was more of a ''ya!! Its summer and its nice out & im happy! " little heel raiser...nothing to worry about...Jeesh...let your horse be a freaking horse once in a while!! If it develops into something, then deal with it...but for gosh sakes...your horse can let out a little buck every now & then without making you freakout??  Calm-down & ride your animal...if you fall off...then you fall off...no biggie, it happens all the time...AND Don't put a friggin martingale on your horse...good god!! It didnt do anything wrong! Your mother needs to stop being to over-protective....i mean horse back riding is dangerous...maybe she should put you in a bubble instead...

EDIT: Don't put a tie-down on the bucking horse....because to buck they have to put their heads down....ah-friggin-duh!!

Answer 20

When galloping, or even cantering,some horses get so excited they buck or slightly kick up their heels.  But always check to make sure nothing was pinching him like a girth.  That would cause him to freak.  If he has never bucked you and this is the first time then he was probably just excited.  As far as keeping him from bucking, first there would be a cause, like he got spooked and then teach him to not be afraid of the object.  Since you not sure why he did buck, I don't know what else to say.  Do you remember anything else that seemed different that day?

Answer 21

You need to make sure that you are confident on him and that you are riding him correctly. I

f you give mixed signals then he might get confused and take it out on you by giving a little buck.

If you are nervous on him then he will sence that and might take the chance to mess around a little.

Or if you are riding next to other horses then he might get a bit excited ot even try to show off.

Good luck =D

Answer 22

Gosh! BarrelRacer needs to take a chill pill...you were only asking what to do incase he did it again or got worse :P

I agree he was probley just a little happy and did a little "heel raiser" not a buck or anything. It is actually a good thing he did that, I think it brought you back to reality that horses DO have minds of their owns and they can do some "random" stuff.

I would just ALWAYS be careful...you mom is being overpertective...she is BEING A MOM!! All good moms worry :DDD

Make sure you weren't falling hard on his back, riding on ruough terain, tack wasn't pinching him, and that you weren't accidently yacking on his bit.

If for some reason it gets worse out of the blue I would get him a vet check...BUT DON'T WORRY KNOW!!lol...

After all no one got hurt, and it was only a little scare.

Good Luck...and ALWAYS have fun ^^