Advice on Bucking please

[Emarmite]

After reading Sue's posting about being called a wimp, I thought I would post my experience. I ride at the same school as Sue in the same class on a Thursday where we have a lovely instructor.

I am also doing the BHS stage 1 there with the new Instructor, but I ride on a Wednesday evening. Last week she put me on a horse which I know bucks. He seems to have calmed down recently (or so I thought), he would not stop bucking and she kept telling me to keep my feet forward, the more he bucked the more tense I got and of course my feet probably did go back, how I managed to stay on I do not know, I even had to ride without stirrups whilst he was bucking and stayed on, I was shaking by the time I got off.

She praised me for handling him so well, but handling him well is not what I saw, I managed to stay on thats all. My feet most of the time were in the same position I always ride in and to try and change all of a sudden because of the horse I think is very difficult. The owner even thought I would put in a complaint.

Could I please have everyones advise on this, and should they really have a horse in a school like that. She also mentioned that we will be doing our mock exam soon, but of course not on this horse as he is not stage 1 material, so why did I have to ride him.

Sorry this is so long


Beverley

[Sharon H]

If this is a BHS approved school and you are taking BHS approved exams, why not contact the BHS and get their opinion on this issue? It certainly doesn't sound like good practise to me, in fact if this horse keeps bucking I would be inclined to think it was a welfare issue. Why does it buck? Generally a horse will buck because it is in pain from a badly fitting saddle, back problems or problems with it's teeth, bit and so forth. Whatever the reason, I cetainly don't think people should be riding it at all, let alone forced to ride it when they don't want to! I suppose it could be some kind of sneaky 'test' to see how you cope with a difficult horse, I'm afraid I don't know the criteria for the exam you are taking, but it doesn't sound likely to me. There are loads of 'approved' schools which in my humble opinion shouldn't be allowed to trade at all but unfortuneatly, the BHS can't be on site all the time. They do, however, investigate complaints made about schools which are on their register. Might be worth a go?

[Sue Carnell]

"He must be capable of riding a quiet, experienced horse or pony in an enclosed space."

Requirements for stage 1 BHS exam.

See http://www.bhs.org.uk/Examinations/Stage_1.htm

No, no school should have a confirmed bucker in their string of school horses. They're laying themselves wide open for being sued if nothing else. I would say that by putting a Stage 1 student on a confirmed bucker, whom they know to buck, they are negligent and would be seen as such if you were injured.

I also think that you should let the BHS know. I don't know what the inspection involves these days, but the BHS inspector did watch one of my lessons when I worked at a BHS approved school, so it may be that this school is falling short in more than one respect. Is it an examination centre?

Instructors should take care of their students, it's not enough to be nice, nor should they call a student a 'wimp'. It's ok (desirable?) to push a student beyond what they think they're capable of sometimes, but not with insults in my view.
(Unless it's a familiarity thing and not meant, nor taken as meant.)

Sue Carnell
sue@eclipse.co.uk

[michal]

Give them a copy of John Lyons Article "Dont ride that buck" If you know a horse bucks get off and find out why...If it is not physical then there is a hole in his training and it certainly is not for a student to tolerate...You have every right to refuse a horse that bucks...I have been to the highest level of trainers and they refuse to ride a horse that bucks without working thru why from the ground first...You need your money back on that lesson...And a new trainer that is looking out for you, in my opinion.

[Outrider]

Now I am not an english rider, but it seems to me that if you are taking lessons from these folks, it is not your job to "ride the buck" out of their horses. You are paying for the training you receive and they should be providing you with a decent horse to do that training on. I would not accept riding that horse in the future unless they want to pay you to train the buck out of him. They work for you. You do not work for them. It is their responsibility to provide you with a horse you can learn on and not have to be distracted from your own learning by the horse's quirks. Stand up for your riding rights. Happy Trails!

[michal]

I think I like Outrider...he has a cowboy simple class about his comments...:)

[Outrider]

:) Thanks Michael. A " cowboy simple class...". I think I'll take that as a compliment! Happy Trails!

[michal]

Actually it is Michal -pronounced like Michelle or Mickelle either way...:)

And it was a compliment!:)

[Outrider]

A beautiful name and pronunciation! Thanks again for the compliment! :) Happy Trails!

[Emarmite]

hi all,

Just to let you all know, the horse that I complained about bucking has now been returned to is owner, and no longer in the school (yippee).

I did not like to ride him in the school, but wish him a long and happy life with his owner


Beverley