4 y.o. Bucking Horse Problems?Help.?

Question

My 4 year old has recently started bucking with me whenever I push him into a canter. He will not stop and just throw a bucking fit, he just throws in some big ones throughout. I know he is still young and full of energy (trust me, he is!), but we switched girths and blankets, checked the saddle, etc to make sure he wasn't in any pain. This is the saddle he has used since a 2 year old and there has never been any problems. I'm just wondering, what do you suggest for keeping a horse from bucking during the canter? (He has only ever done it to me when asked to canter, and even then, he only started doing this the last 3 times we rode.) I know to pull up their heads, yell no, etc. But do you have any other suggestions? He is only 4 and he is always full of energy, but he has a very sweet temperment. He is very spooky when it comes to some things and he does spook on trails, but I can tell the bucks are not from fear and we are pretty certain pain is not an issue either.

Yes, I do have someone who is working with me, I am not trying to fix this horse's problem myself, and I do know that a bucking horse can be dangerous so please don't warn me about these things =)

I would love any opinions you have. I mean I have some people telling me the best thing to do is just take him down to a field and ride it out of him, canter him till he's just pooped and stops bucking, but I'm not sure if this is the way for me to go.

So any ideas, suggestions, stories, anything!!! He is a TWH/QH cross. He has a very smooth canter and he is not trying to throw me off, as they are just some big, powerful, random bucks. Thanks!!

I forgot to add, he does have his ears back usually when he does it, however he is one of those horses that likes to put both his ears directly on me when we're wokring on something, so usually I have his full attention, but with the bucking it seems like they are pinned back. Only while he is bucking though, when he focuses on his canter again, his ears are back to normal.

just an update: I do not lunge him before we ride, as he is turned out 24/7, so he is not stalled and full of energy (even though he does still have alot of energy)

Stripey, I did not break him thanks. I bought him as a 4 year old in august and am still working with him. His old owner started breaking him just before he turned three and he was ridden consistantly on trails and small jumps for a year by her.

I am pretty sure there is no pain from the saddle or girth, we switched girths and he likes the new one better and I have had my trainer look at it also. No, we havent had a vet or chiro out to look at him, simply because he has not made a habit out of this, and it has only been in the last 2 weeks he has been doing this. I don't think he is in pain, I really think it is just his age and the fact that he is full of energy.

Answer 1

Young horses often go through a stage like this. It usually comes in their second year of being broke but can happen later or a little sooner. Use one rein to pull his head around and make him stop bucking then start out again. Keep this up until he gives you (or the other person you have helping) a smooth canter. Circling him may help or it may take his mind off what he is doing wrong so for that, read your horse. You want him thinking about what he is doing wrong, so he learns not to do it.

Answer 2

Re-check your saddle fit- carefully. Clearly he's bucking for a reason and it doesn't sound like happy, exuberant bucks. I'm going to wager a guess that your saddle is starting to pinch him. A 2 year old and a 4 year old have very different body types. When he was just learning what a saddle was, he didn't have the muscle that he has now from the added strain of a heavier work load and carrying a rider. I have known many horses to change full tree sizes (or several!) once they have started to fill out, gain weight and muscle. If this is a recently developed habit, then it is either a health problem, a saddle fit issue, or something you are doing. I am wondering that if it is a saddle fit issue, you might get slightly off balance in the canter and lean forward just slightly and put pressure on his shoulders. If the saddle is too tight in the shoulder and pinches him, it's causing pain. Additionally, leaning forward throws him off balance and his protest is a buck. Can't blame the guy can you? But don't quit riding when he does it- then he'll learn that he can get away with it. Ride him forward and keep your leg steady and gentle against his side. If you are unsure of what to look for in saddle fit, I just answered another question about withers and backs with regard to saddle fit. I included the specifications. Please check carefully.

Additionally, we had a horse come in who had a severe bucking problem in the canter. We got a gutsy rider who was not intimidated at all by her bucking (which is vital) and a saddle that fit her well (also vital). She had been in a saddle that fit her very poorly and as a result her back was very sore. When she began to heal and the rider persisted, the bucking stopped.

Answer 3

I know that you have checked pain but I was wondering my paint has very round withers and would buck when he was younger because the saddle rode up on his sholder a little. I have a non slip pad with tack-too on both sides. He has not bucked since I got this pad. He also matured so he leveled out some which I think also helped. Does your horse buck when lunged? I have a 3 yr old and I lunge her before I ride to give her a chance to get the buck out. Your horse also having tb in it tends to be a little more active. I know my horses have had more spunk with the weather getting colder you horse could also be experencing this. I would also try doing small circle at the canter, it is hard for them to buck yet forces them to continue to move forward. If you always make him stop he learns that bucking gets him a break. I would just let him canter for a short bit with out bucking then let him walk. I would not push him and make him canter a lot that would seem like a punisment. Good luck

Answer 4

As a 2yr old he would have been overwhelmed with the whole 'breaking in' experience, as a 4yr old he is probably feeling the way a human teenager does, trying out his own independence in a way. It sounds like a freshness issue to me. Also the fact that he is only 4, suggests that he needs more time spent on the canter. If you are certain that all the tack fits correctly, i would spend time lunging him in a roundyard so that he can work the buck out a bit, also, if someone can lunge him with you on him would be good. It really depends on how long you have had him working under saddle, at this age i wouldn't suggest any yanking on the bit to turn him and stuff, allow him time to work the fizz out of himself, (even if you have to get off 3/4 times) He is a young horse and they all use bucking to play/ get rid of excess energy, make him trot for most of the time and then allow him to canter at the end of the ride.
Give him plenty of time and be safe. He is still a baby

Answer 5

I agree with checking the saddle fit. I would also wonder if he is out of alignment. The pinning of ears is a real good indication that there is a problem someplace. Do you have an Equine Chiropractor in your area? I know when one of our roping horses stopped pulling & didn't want to turn off, we looked into it. We had him adjusted & he was fine.
I know of many professional cowboys & cowgirls who have used them as well. Before, a horse stopped working, many of them were just sold or turned out. Now they can have chiropractic work done just like people & many many times this fixes movement & attitude problems because they are no longer uncomfortable or hurting.


I hope you are right about it being his age, but we have a 4 year old that my 6 year old can ride, so.... But what ever it is it definitely needs to be addressed before it becomes a habit. Since the previous owner was riding him before he was three & taking him on trails & over small jumps, it could STILL be muscle or joint soreness when he is asked to canter. I'll put a saddle on a two year old, but I would NOT put a person on their back. I do tons of ground work & even under saddle until they are comming 4 or are 4.

Answer 6

You never mentioned when he was broken, or what he is primarily used or intended for. What he is doing now sounds more like a pig-root (a single kick up of the hindlegs) which horses do when they are full of energy or excited. But this can lead into a big problem and to more serious bucking where the horse twists and all legs leave the ground [and you will fall off]! You need to be persistent.

Sounds to me that he is just super green and needs to be worked solidly so he learns some discipline. I know you said that riding him through it and tiring him out is not for you, but you don't really have a choice here!!! Plus you need to introduce a negative consequence when he does it, be strong, jab him sharply with your heel, pull his head up hold it til he relents and canter on smoothly....so he knows what you don't want rather what you do want [him to canter nicely].

The last thing that you want is to let it go and for him to pick up a bad habit and have him bucking [more severely]

Go get riding, and goodluck.

Answer 7

Hi- I'm fairly certain it isn't the saddle-Preferbly, prior to actually bucking(as soon as you think that's what's up) use just one rein(which one doesn't matter)Just get his head turned-If a horse's spine isn't staight they can't buck- Another thing is a western tack item called a "tie down"(virtually very inexpensive)It's job is to keep a horse's head from being able to get it up high, & it'd be hard to buck-& I have 1 more idea-I don't know if you have access to a round pen, but even just on a longe line-It's gonna take 2 people-(a very experienced rider on the horse) & one in control of the line-keep making him canter, if he starts to act up, you can stop him on the ground and bring him in, and start it all over again, until he relizes this bucking stuff is un-acceptable. Hope it helps?! bye

Answer 8

I have an unpredictable mare, with the bucking/rearing thing, so I can definitely sympathize. I think with your gelding, he is at least giving you a little help: pinning his ears will signal you to "hang on tight", and also if he's doing it when you ask for the canter. It helps you know ahead of time that there's a buck coming. But I am sure it is very annoying and unnerving!

Some things I have done with my mare (and I'm just telling you, not sure what you want to do with your horse, so discuss this with your trainer and decide what's best for you) is switch to a curb style bit. I kept the broken mouth piece, like the ring snaffle I started her out with, but the bit I use now has shanks, maybe five or six inches long, which provide leverage action to help me keep control of her head, if she tries to buck or rear. The ring snaffle didn't really phase her, she would just do what she wanted as far as bucking. But I can tell a difference, and the first time she started to goof around, I pulled back pretty hard, and she kinda just calmed down. She has been MUCH better since the switch. She rides well on a loose rein, so I don't need the contact of the bit/shanks unless she starts to buck or do some other unwanted action. She is coming along well, and hasn't bucked in months.

Another good practice to try since he bucks when you lope, is to longe him in a round pen freely and lope him out good with the saddle on before you ride. If you don't have a round pen, use a longe line, but make sure it's long enough that he can get out to the end of it and use a big circle to lope in. This will help take the edge off of his energy and hopefully he will not want to buck when you're riding him.

Good luck, and stay safe!

Answer 9

Are you sure that his back isn't in any pain???
It is possible he is doing this because it's getting colder and horses usually get hyper and fresh. If you start to canter at the same place everytime is there something that is spooking him. If it's not that and just bad behaviour pull his head up and pull on your inside rein and make him go in circles and circles and circles until he is walking then try to canter again if he does that make him go in small circles until he stops. Also I have heard that you can just keep going and ignore him so he will learn that he isn't avoiding the canter by bucking!!!!

Answer 10

You could desire to have a vet verify his mouth, neck, again and legs. Horses commonly dollar for the next factors: a million) If the bit you're making use of reasons them agony. two) If they want their enamel floated. three) If they have got a neck or again hindrance. four) If they have got a leg harm or hindrance. In so much circumstances, factors a million, two and three most often set them to bucking. It might even be that he dislikes area paintings. Some horses show a specific dislike of the world. It is also that he is also stressed approximately what you're asking, which outcome in him fitting confused and bucking consequently. Do you longe him on a protracted line earlier than you journey him? Try tacking him up, with a halter beneath his bridle, and longe him for 15 to twenty mins, attaching the road to his halter, now not the bit. If he indicates no bucking or antics, you can also need to anticipate that he has a again hindrance, induced through a rider's weight. In that case, have a vet verify him. Rearing, if he does, is one other topic. Rearing is a VERY unsafe dependancy, and need to now not be influenced in any variety. If he rears even as you're on him, force him ahead making use of your legs and voice. It does now not topic what gait he makes use of to transport ahead (if it's not bucking, any gait's ok) so long as he movements ahead. Horses can't rear while they're relocating. You might discover it simpler to coach him in case you simply paintings with the three so much elementary of a horse's gaits. The stroll, trot and canter. When he settles extra into a coaching movements, name a respectable who trains gaited horses. But, due to the fact he does have QH blood, it's going to correctly be difficult for him to participate in the Walking Horse gaits, consequently his confusion.