Bucking

[Emma_G_NZ]

Can someone please tell me HOW to stay in a buck and what excersises help in sitting to one-My pony tends to buck-And me being a beginner-Always come off!I am loosing my confidence but want to keep my pony!Please tell me!Also-I am scared of jumping!When I jumped last time I almost came off because it felt like a buck!I think I must have been left behind.Can anyone suggest any cheap methods on making cavelletti and does anyone know any games which have cheap materials?Thanks!Emma :)

[Wally]

Firstly don't make cavalletti, the old traditional poles attatched to cross peices at the end are not such a good idea, they don't collapse when a horse hits them, or come to that, the rider! Use buckets and balance pole on top. You can sometimes get the inner rolls from carpets to use as jump poles. Go and ask at the local carpet shop. Straw bales, old car tyres, all cheap and don't hurt when you land on them.

Approach your problem from a different angle, ask why is my horse bucking?
What hurts him? is he just full of high spirits? How old is he? Just being able to stay on will not solve the problem.

Clean his sheath with soapy water, get his mouth checked for sharp teeth, make sure his saddle fits him well, is his bit smooth and free of edges?
Make a note of exactly when he bucks. Left or right rein, up or down transitions, this could tell you what his problem may be.

The only way to stay on a buck is 20% luck and 80% ability. If he puts his head down let the reins slip through your fingers, hold on to the saddle and sit back, almost feel as if you are leaning back. This won't help your jumping though as you have to take up the opposite position.

Finally if none of this proves fruitful ask yourself is this the right horse for me as a beginner.

[Jo]

Hi

Gwenllian's advice should be taken - IF all is well and your pony is being naughty, the only way to stop him bucking is to stay on board and let him know you will not be intimidated by his nonsense! I would avoid jumping until he stops because one of the best ways to keep him safe is to stop him lowering his head (I am NOT suggesting brute force here, just a good contact with you being alert for signs of the dreaded buck)and if you are afraid to let him have his head over a jump you will catch him in the teeth - not nice. If you can keep his head up he cannot put in a huge buck - and when he kicks out you have to be firm with him (like, growl at him). Hope you sort things out.

[Sharon H]

Are you having lessons on him? If you are (and I think you should) the best person to ask would be your instuctor. Learning to sit a buck is something that you will only be able to do if your position in the saddle is secure to start with. Also it is very important for you to find out why your pony is bucking. It is not normal for ponies to behave in this way. They are usually trying to tell you something and you should be listening! Sorry if this sounds hard, I don't mean to, but you must get some help for both of you before either you get hurt or the pony becomes un-rideable.

[Jay Kay]

As has been said in the other replies, have his teeth, saddle and back checked. If all is OK, then seek professional help, if he is bucking thru sheer devilment, and you are a novice rider, then it is a potentially dangerous situation.
Sorry to be so blunt but you will lose confidence if it carries on and worse still get hurt. Adding to that the pony will learn a very bad habit.

Jay Kay.

[Mossy]

This reply may be totally out of place as I don't know how old you are or how novice you are. I am assuming you are young and not a total novice. A pony who bucks does so either because something hurts or becuase he knows he can get away with it. As has been said previously you need to sort out which and deal with it.
However the next bit of my reply depends upon your level of experience and that I do not know. If you are very novice a bucker is not for you for the reasons stated above. However if you have a certain level of experience learning to sit bucks, under supervision, as a child is much easier than learning as an adult.
1 The animal is smaller so you are nearer the ground if you do come off, and you bounce better. You also learn how to fall.
2 You tend to be less aware of potential dangers to life and limb and are more relaxed anyway so less likely to come adrift.
I was taught to sit most bucks when I was 12 by a very narrow little pony who was a monster. His favourite trick was spinning on the road whilst trying to get his head down to buck. He would also buck whilst cantering if he got half a chance. He would not be allowed in a school now! He was a real monster but when I got my own horse some years later, who could also buck for England, I was reasonably relaxed about the prospect.
Sorry if I am way out of place here.