Question: I have a 9 yr old gelding who will buck on occasion when asked to canter. I never know when he is going to do it and Im never sure why he does it. He has been in training for 2 years and is ridden 4 times a week. Recently he bucked very agressively and while cantering. Why do horses do this and what would cause him to do it only sometimes. I always lunge him well before mounting. Can this be cured?? What is the psychology behind this behavior? Thanks

Answer: Hello, What kind of buck? Is it a yee-ha lifting of his backend or a real heads down stiff legged bowed back rocking buck? If it's the 1st kind then I usually see this kind of kicking up the heals when the horse feels good and it seems to be mostly playful. Or at least starts that way - if the rider gets unbalanced and or frightened and pulls up the horse when it does this then the horse associates the action with getting to rest (i.e. stop cantering) and the behavior can get more serious as time goes on. When I have a horse that does this I usually give a sharp verbal reprimand along with a quick kick in the side and make them keep going and if possible pick up the speed a bit. Once they've relaxed and are going nicely for several strides then I let them stop and give a pat and soft verbal praise - they seem to quickly associate the "kicking up the heels" with more work not less and cut it out. Make sure to not let him do this on the lunge line either - if he bucks on the lunge line go after him and make him work harder until he stops the nonsense then take the pressure off. If the bucking is the 2nd kind then that is a different issue all together and my advise is to get him to a trainer quick - or sell him to the rodeo. Amber

Followup Question: Thank you Amber. I think this most recent buck was from enthusiasm as you described first, but the buck started first as a wahoo little one when we first took off cantering, but it then escalated to 2 more strong bucks until I flew off. That type of buck to unseat me has only happened once before since I got him 2 years ago and it happened when I got on him bareback. I mounted him again after he threw me and he didnt offer to buck again, How do I fix this bucking thing if he keeps bucking until Im off him? It isnt a regular occurance but it only takes one wreck to get hurt. What do you think?

Answer: A horse that deliberately bucks off a rider - not just the yea-haw I'm feeling good kind of buck - always has the potential to buck you off and there is no sure way to guarantee that they won't do it again. Just like a horse that pulls back when tied and breaks the lead line - that horse no matter how much you train it will always have the potential to pull back. Of course there are training methods you can apply that will minimize the chances but just when you think you've got it worked out of them something stimulates them and they pull back or buck. A training tool to help minimize the buck or stop the buck when it starts would be to condition the horse to come around your leg in a small circle. You start in an arena and pull the horses head around to your knee - make sure that the opposite rein is completely loose and do a pull and release motion making sure to release only when the horse gives a bit. Pretty soon the horse should bring his head around to your knee when he feels a slight tug. Then ask the horse to make small circles in the direction of his head while keeping his head pretty tight to your knee - once again with the pull and release - you don't want him just hanging against the rein. Make sure to circle right then circle left, then right, then left, etc. The goal is to have the horse following his nose and doing very small circles and changing the circles to the right and left in a very relaxed supple way. Now bump the movement into trot. The goal is to create a Pavlov response in the horse and then use it in your training. Anytime the horse gets excited or isn't listening you pull his head around an have him do small circles. Starting in a safe calm environment arena you then increase the pressure or stimulus with other horses or distractions and each time his attention wanders from you then you pull him around. If you do this properly and increase the pressure gradually you can significantly reduce the occurrence of his bucking episodes - but never complete eliminate the potential for them. Amber

Followup Question: What a blessing you are! Thank you so much for the info Amber Your advise makes good sense and I will try this. This horse is normally very well mannered and cooperative, 90% of the time..In the 2 years Ive had him he has only done this big buck thing twice, but the crow hop stuff more often, but only going into canters. (even on lunge) I was told by the past owner of this problem but my trainer seemed to think it was from poor handling and it was inconsistent with his temperment. We had actually cured even the crow hop thing for the past year.>>>until yesterday! No one was there with me to see it so I have no other analysis but my own. He has a very high excitement level. I just wish I knew if this was exhuberance or bullying.I thought if a horse had a bond with his owner he wouldnt do such a thing. (???) What do you think? I had established a great level of trust with him and was just getting to "let down" some apprehension this summer and this is a real set back. Ill work on your suggestion and thank you so much for being helpful and so prompt as well. I hope I dont need this kind of help in the future (!) but if I do I will write to you again. Glenda

Answer: Hi Glenda, I'm glad my feedback is useful. Make sure to go slowly and in a very calm and safe environment for the both of you. One problem with a horse that has bucked you off is that you get nervous riding them and the horse senses this and takes advantage of the rider's lack of confidence. This is a problem even trainers have - I've been bucked off some training projects and it takes tons of resolve to get back on with a confident attitude and push the horse past the resistance. Go slow - no horse is worth serious injury and if you can't get back to where you feel relaxed and confident then you should sell the horse and not risk it. Regarding the "bonding" - I do think horses can develop a respect and liking for their humans but it is dangerous to think that just because we love them, feed them treats, buy them nice warm blankets, etc that they love us back. They love the food we give them and respect us if they feel we are dominant over them but that's about it. As a matter of fact I find that when I observe people with the horses they say "love them" it usually involves the horse being very disrespectful. I.E. horse walks right up to the human, puts mouth on the human, rubs head on the human, etc. We as humans translate body contact with affection - in the horse world all of these behaviors are a way of communicating dominance - if the other horse doesn't object it is accepting the lower status which might not create a problem until the human then tries to push the horse into doing something it would rather not do. Good Luck, Amber