I am afraid of getting bucked off my horse...?

Question

I have been bucked off before, but only once. For some reason I'm not scared of randomly loosing my balence or just like, not paying attention and falling off, that really wouldn't scare me at all... but I can't stop thinking about how scary it's going to be when my horse spooks or bucks cause it's having fun. I don't know why I'm so scared anyway. Any advice? Also any advice of how to tell if your horse is going to buck? What to do when you know you're falling out, and what to do to try and sit through it? Thanks!

Answer 1

Every rider has that fear at some time or another in their riding career. I have that fear at times but I don't let it stop me from doing something I enjoy. You know in a sense when I fall off or get bucked off, it reminds me that no matter what kind of bit you have or how sharp you spurs are that the horse can still win. Do you watch Greys Anatomy, in the season finale of season 3? remember that song Keep Breathing by Ingrid Michaelson. It talks about if something bad happens all we can do is breathe and get over it. Same with horses. I fell off my horse at a show, was knocked out. People told me that he came running over to me and tried to get me to wake up. He wouldn't let people come near me unless they were with my mom. Needless to say, my friend got my horse and took care of him while they loaded me in the ambulance. I didn't fall off because of him it was my fault. I didn't check my girth. I was on crutches for 3 weeks and when i got back on to ride he'd only walk. So i bet your horse won't do it for the fun of it. I bet you two have a speical bond, and if you fall off he'll come to you and help you up.
When you ride a buck, lean back a bit in the saddle and pull on the bit to get their head up. A horse can't buck with their head down

Answer 2

Here are a few hints about bucking. yes its true a horse must put its head down to buck and training a horse that bucks to respond to the bit is very important. Lunging helps to take the extra energy off and to establish that you are the boss. If a horse doesn't respect you on the ground how do you think she will respect you while you're on her? While its best to get right back on after getting bucked off sometimes its not realistic. I got bucked off 6 weeks ago and ended up with a concusion and a tailbone injury that STILL hurts. Its also true that MOST horses give some warning signs thay are about to buck... mine didn't. If you are afaid and don't trust your horse try have someone lead you at first then lunge the horse while you are on it. You will still be in control but you will have a safety line and it will help you rebuild your confidence. If your horse is a bucker you should go through and ask why. Does her back hurt? Does the saddle pinch? Are you sitting straight, not off centered? Does she hurt anywhere? Ask an experienced horse person to ride her out to look for any problems. If a horse always gets away with bucking by getting someone off (bucked off or dismounted) it wins and this encourages the bad behaviour. Ask an experience horse person about a buckstopper as well.

Answer 3

I have been buck off many times. Honestly, I was scared for a while after my first time, but always get back on because if you just put the horse up, then he learns that if he doesn't want to be ridden that he can just buck you off. Horses can sense fear, confidence, etc. If you are tense, then your horse will be tense and sometimes that can cause them to buck too because it makes them uncomfortable.
Also, to tell if your horse is going to buck, you can feel him tense up. They usually put their ears back and get heavy on the bit right before they buck. DO NOT pull back when they buck because that gives them leverage to buck harder.
Bond with your horse and build your confidence (and your horses) slowly like walking in an arena if you have one or somewhere where there are not a lot of distractions or anything. Before you even get on him sack him out with a feed sack or a plastic bag tied to a stick. When you feel confident, you can go to riding around more things. Just give it time for both of you.

Answer 4

I'd buck, too, if someone was coming down so hard on me with that up and down posting you do with your legs much too far forward.. That horse is WAY too small for that much percussion on his back.
Posting is a front-to-back motion in which the horse propels the rider up slightly and forward by the bounce in its stride, and is much more natural to do if the leg is behind the girth and heels in a straight line down from the rider's hip.
This horse is NOT having the slightest amount of fun. He's protesting.
A horse doesn't "buck off" a rider; riders FALL off, and 99% of the time, it's the rider's fault. If you lose your balance or don't pay attention and fall off, your seat needs work and you don't have enough weight in your heels. That's how Christopher Reeve ate it.
Learn to post properly, lose the spurs, and get a bigger horse!

Answer 5

Well, I know you've probably gotten some help but it couldn't hurt to give my two cents right?

Well, being bucked off can be a scary or painful experience, and often rattle your bones for your next ride. First, before you even get on your horse try to evaluate his energy level.
(Is he bobbing up and down springily when you walk him?)
If he's a bit high, you might want to lunge him or in some cases chase him. (I don't reccommend that though, a friend of mine's horse shattered her short pastern while she was chasing her.)

Once your on your horse, keep his energy focused on you. But don't get too tense, or he'll just get more excited and ready to pop you off.

The best method to riding a buck is just to sit back, and keep those reins up. If you let go of the rains when he goes to buck, he'll be able to put his head down. The horse needs his head down to give you a real good, unseating buck. And when worse comes to worst, the one rein stop can be your best friend.


**EDIT** Hehehe, I got thumbsed down. I haven't an idea why I find that funny.

Answer 6

when a horse bucks, try and remember to use a technique called the pulley reign, in which case you shorten both reings A TON and pull one up and the other one on the crest holding some mane. Keep your heels deep down, and look UP not down!!! If you look down, that is where you are going. Also, whatever you do, sit back. Its hard to sit back when your instincts tell you to sit foward, but that puts wieght on the horses hind legs, which is an encouragment to quit rearing and also helps your balance alot. I've never fallen off a bucking horse yet, (i fall off of charging ones usually) but you must push through the bucks, i have ridden my share of bucking horses and I have confidence. To tell when your horse might buck, he might lower his head and curl it inward, toss his head, snort or make other unusual sounds, or stamp and fret or be unhappy with your handling. As a horseperson, you should be able to sense little things like that, you are in sync with your horse and if your horse begins to behave akwardly, there may be something wrong. good luck!!

Answer 7

Before you get on the horse, bond with the horse. Get directly in front of the horse and pet his snout. Breath deeply right in front of his nostrils. This may sound weird, but it really helps! It makes the horse trust you. If your horse is going to buck, he will probably make a small jump before the buck. Don't be worried about geting bucked off though, the more you worry, the more your horse will worry. Horses can sense things like this.

Answer 8

You can sometimes tell if your horse is going to buck. If your horse seems to be tensing up, DON'T tense up also. Just staly calm and talk to your horse, also, hold on. I've gotten bucked off before, and my trainer got on the horse, rode her for about 2 minutes, and then I got back on. The most important thing is to get back on because otherwise your horse will think it's allright to buck you off.

Answer 9

You can tell when your horse is about to buck, because they will put their head down. So, if your horse is starting to flip out and they try to get the reins from you to put their head down, don't let them have it and push them forward so they can't buck.

Answer 10

How long have you been riding? Because if your pretty new, I would suggest riding with a western saddle so that you have the horn to hold on to. When the horse spooks, talk to it, and try to calm it down. If that doesn't work brace yourself, and if he tries to buck you off, then hold your thigh muscles in place, and hold onto his neck. Make sure you comfort him, because horses scare just as bad as humans, so treat them like children. Reassure them that all is well, and mount back up!
If your falling, try to roll as you hit the ground as to evenly spread the shock; It's an old military trick, and I find it works!
Horses buck when you feel their muscles tensing up, you should feel it to, and then try to calm him down as I said before. I wish you the best of luck!
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