Bucking

[Anne Marie]

Can anyone answer me a few questions:

I had a lesson yesterday on that I thought was a school horse that I hadn't seen before, normally at the start of every lesson you walk around the school a few times, halfway round on the second lap the horse bucked and through me off, although unnerved I got back on an carried on my lesson with some warm up exercises, and then proceed to jumping over some small jumps.

Once I was back at the yard I found out that the school had only bought Blue the day before and only seen him ridden for about 1/2 hour.

I've only been riding about 14 months and had a few questions:

1. I've never been on a horse when it's bucked before,are any there warning signs I can watch out for and what should I do?

2. Is it right that I'm riding/jumping a horse that the school has had for less than 1 day?

Thanks for your help

Anne x

[Emma_G_NZ]

Hello-
Some tell-tale signs of a horse that is going to buck is shaking of the head,grinding of the bit and putting their head down.Make sure he cant get his head down as horses must get their head down to buck.Also-Another thing I have found useful (My horse is a bucker too) is to ask your instructor if you are allowed to bridge your reins-So if he unexpectedly trys to put a buck in the bridge in your reins wont allow him to put his head down to buck (Usually the reins will run through your fingers if they put their head down quick enough).Just make sure that if he shakes his head give a sharp jab with your reins and tell him "Thats enough" in a low voice-Although make sure he doesnt rear when you jab him or carry a whip.(Some horses dont take to well to getting told off)-And make sure you get straight back on after being bucked off.If you watch the signs and you think he will buck make him walk forward and dont let him stop or get his head down.Thats my main advice-Just be careful-If you dont want to be bucked off ask your instructor for a horse who isnt known to buck.I think your riding school should have let this pony settle in first.
Emma G
NEW ZEALAND

[Wally]

I think the behaviour of the school you ride at was dreadful.

They have shown a disregard for their riders' safety. One of the instructors should have ridden that horse in every possible situation that one might expect the horse to encounter. It certainly should not be the case of using clients for guineapigs! (I use my husband!!!)

I realise that no horse is 100% but before I put a client on a horse I need to be sure in my mind that the client is as safe as I can make them.

If we buy a new horse it is not used for clients until we have tried him out.

Our youngsters are not used for clients until they have done a year as lead horses, only then will they be used for folk to ride.

[judyl]

I totally agree with Wally. I think the riding school was at fault. How on earth could they know this horse's reaction to anything if they had only owned him for a day and only ridden him for half an hour! You were very lucky that nothing serious happened when you were bucked off - they would have been totally at fault and it could have cost them a lot of money. They really should take much more care over their clients. I should make sure before I get on any of their horses that you don't know, that they talk you through when the horse is like and what you should expect of it's behaviour, etc. Riding is a risk sport and riding schools should take more care.

Good luck with your future riding!

Judy

[Sonia]

My young horse has been known to buck and there is very little warning that she's going to do it. Thinking back she's seemed a bit more spooky or restless before hand but nothing very drastic. A buck from standing seems to be a lot higher than one from walk or trot, so maybe keep the horse moving, if the horse starts to go into a buck don't stop them from moving forwards because as said previously then it seems to make things worse. Talk to the horse and try to calm it down. It's easy to feel as though you're getting thrown sideways or forwards and eventually fall off, so try to sit back and deep in the saddle so that you are re-balanced between bucks.
Let's hope it doesn't happen again
Sonia

[Anne Marie]

Thanks a lot everyone for your advise - I hope it's a long time before I have to put it into practise. One thing I'm going to make sure is that I ask how a horse behaviours before I ride a different horse in future.

Anne x

P.S. "Blue" bucked off another girl at the yard on Saturday in exactly the same way.