Bucked off in Canter - Ouch!

[Crazy Mare]

My riding lesson yesterday went really well - that is until my horse bucked while we were cantering and I fell :eek:

I'm a little bit sore but I'm ok, I just don't know why it happened and I wish I did so that I can try to avoid a repeat of the situation.

I'm confused as my RI said that she thought I was riding really well, but at the same time the horse that I ride isn't normally known for bucking and throwing people off and is forward going yet sensible.

What kind of things make horses buck? Was it definatley something I did wrong?

Any help/advice appreiciated (Sorry if this seems like a silly question)

Xx

[C.J_Sox]

well try not to be too worried about it... and also don't blame your self
it could have been anything.. the hosre could have been spooked or just got a little over exited.
if it was something you did then your RI would have pointed that out to yu so that you could learn from your mistake. try not to worry about it i know falling hurts but the more you fall off the easier it gets... thats what ive found anyway! there has been no time where ive fallen off and not got back on.. mkae sure you do that, it will keep your confidence!
hope that i have helped!:)
-x-

[Purple Hugs]

Have no advice on the bucking reason, but do wish you well.. I know it's hard to gather yourself up and get back on after a fall.. let alone a buck! :eek:

Glad you are ok from it all.

[~*sugarlump*~]

ouch! a pony at my rs always does that when starting or finishing canter, and its usually small girls that ride her (there are virtually no boys at my rs)

[Crazy Mare]

Aww, thank you all.

I did get back on and have a trot round for the rest of my lesson but I missed my next one as I had a very sore neck (normally have two per week).

I'm looking forward to the weekend now when I can ride again. And at least I know it doesn't have to be anything I did wrong too:)

Thanks for your support

Xxx

[Pinto mad!]

Trust me i know. my 1st 2 horses were nags. my 1st pony she was a darling buckd me off like every time i rode her!! she was awesome but it sure did hurt! my 2nd was another darling was a sweetheart but at 1st he bucked me off to. my trainer thought he was gonna be an FEI pony but couldnt do some things anymore and got to small and confused. when he was sore,tired hungary or confused ( or just mad) hed buck me off.well thats all i have to say good luck:D

[MI Horsey]

It's almost spring.All the horses at my barn are somewhat insane right now . Glad you're ok:)

[Bay Mare]

She could be a bit ouchie in her back, she could be coming into season and a bit sensitive, it could be the weather, the moon .... it doesn't have to be something that you did.

I'm glad that you're ok and to be honest there are times when you just can't stay on! It's ok saying "sit back", "do this", "do that" but when things happen that quickly it's often too late to take evading action (remembering when I came off over a jump and my RI was yelling "sit back, sit back" ... dunno how I was supposed to do that as my heels were above my head at that point ;) ).

Working on your basic position, balance and stability will help you in the long run (including lessons on the lunge, riding without stirrups and bareback if you're allowed) but there isn't a guaranteed method of staying on unfortunately :(

[vimto92]

I cant help so stop reading now if you wish!;)

I hope you feel less sore soon.:( I'd hate to get bucked.....never been and never hope to!:eek: :o :)

[horsemadmandy]

Hi
I have found that after bucks and stuff I found myself re-living the whole thing time and time again and I took it personally however I now feel very differently about this and my only advice would be do not take it personally get over the aches and pains and do not let it knock your confidence. If you really want to ride this horse then do but could you ride another first lesson back If you wanted too. Personally I am a scaredy adult rider who just wants a quiet life:) :) :o

[Pandora]

Hi
Don't let this little hiccup spoil it. I'm sure there was a perfectly good reason for your horse bucking. It's just that there is only the horse who could tell you.!! My horse turned into a bucking bronco in canter one day, head between her knees and spinning round at the same time. I very ungracefully came off, landed on my head, damaged my back and was knocked out. I blamed myself for the accident for a long time. My lack of experience, lackn of fitness too overweight etc...... It actually turned out that she had a problem with her back. In the months which followed she actually did the same thing to 4 or 5 other smaller and more experienced riders than me.!
Sadly this has had a great effect on my confidence and after a year or so I am just feeling brave enough to ride again.! Horses are so unpredictable, it's the risk we all take. But I'm so glad this little fall hasn't put you off. Just keep at it and enjoy !:)

[Crazy Mare]

Thank u all so much for all of your replies.

Because I'm a pretty novice rider I kind of assumed that I must have been doing something wrong and upset my school horse in some way. It's good to know that there are many things that may have caused him to buck, although I hope he doesn't have a poorly back.

Working on your basic position, balance and stability will help you in the long run (including lessons on the lunge, riding without stirrups and bareback if you're allowed) but there isn't a guaranteed method of staying on unfortunately

Thanks Bay Mare.

I had a lunge lesson on Monday, without a bridle and everything! It went really well in walk and trot but I bottled it at the thought of trying a canter :o I also did 10 minutes without stirrups in my lesson yesterday and my RI said that my sitting trot was better than ever:)

Back to cantering next week, I'll let you all know how it goes.

CM x

[chikakane]

Hi Crazy Mare

Had very similar experience last week in group lesson. Managed to stay on in spite of lost stirrups, my instructor said normally reliable cob's rear end was a foot away from the back of my head. No idea whether it was just exuberance or frustration on his part - the horses get no turn out in our yard and are particularly mad during the winter. Am also terrified about next lesson and wondering if it was just me. I went straight back to old bad habits, poor Trigger, I tightened reins like mad 'cause I was certain my neck would break if I fell. Good on you for going back and taking lunge lesson. I haven't fallen since returning to riding and am not looking forward to that day. If it's any consolation, my instructor (fantastic woman) has fallen three times this year and she's a very talented horse woman. I think it's about learning how to fall...

Best wishes

Mel

[Crazy Mare]

Hi Mel,

No idea whether it was just exuberance or frustration on his part - the horses get no turn out in our yard and are particularly mad during the winter.

Now there's an interesting thought. There is turn out at my yard but the horse I normally ride lives in. He's jumped the gate and ended up on the road a few too many times apparently:rolleyes:

He had been "out of action" with a respiritory infection for a week or so before he bucked me off. Perhaps he was just excited to be out again!?

Good luck with your next lesson. I'm sure it isn't anything you did - I'm amazed at the number of different reasons why a horse may buck that I've found out about in this post.

Hey, and well done you for staying on :D

[Rojeth]

Was it at St Leonards? who was it, so i dont ride them next time.

I was on minky last week and he was being a lazy s**, wasnt working in outline and put in a buck or two when i asked for the canter.

quite a few of the horses there buck - saracen does all the time, and teddy's put in a couple before.

[carrimclaren]

Hi
Sounds like he just felt a little bit excited and put in a bit of a whoopee. Don't feel bad about falling off, it's a hard thing to do sitting a buck especially when you're not expecting it.
If it makes you feel better i got bucked off on thursday :rolleyes: Just about to canter up a hill and my mare tried to kick out at the mare next to her. Managed to sit it but she just decided to put another buck in. Cue me face down in mud and one horse heading off over the fields. Luckily she stopped but she'd scared the hell out of herself, stupid monkey:) Got back on and made her go up the hill. She tried it again but luckily i expected it this time. Rode her up there the next day as well.

I hadn't fallen off for about 7 months so i was due for a reality check :p Don't worry and don't be scared of doing a little bit of canter. Maybe he could be lunged in a little bit of canter before you get on? Let him get rid of some steam first.

[vince42]

Maybe he could be lunged in a little bit of canter before you get on? Let him get rid of some steam first.

I think that's a large part of why I got bucked off three weeks ago. He was a big powerful boy who loves to go FAST - and I wasn't for letting him. He put up with it for a while and then decided he'd had enough:( Whilst I got straight back on, I later realised I'd actually damaged my back quite badly so hadn't ridden till tonight. Good lesson though, first time cantering without stirrups (deliberately that is:o ) definetely easier than sitting trot without stirrups.

Another school horse quite often puts a small buck in when going into canter but it's more just natural exuberance on his part than anything else.

In the end you can learn as many techniques for staying on as you like, and all help, but horse and world will throw up something you won't expect so coming off occasionally happens. Learning how to fall is good but I've also bought a body protector ;)

Vince

[Jimjam]

No advice but hope you not too battered and bruised! :o

[carrimclaren]

In the end you can learn as many techniques for staying on as you like, and all help, but horse and world will throw up something you won't expect so coming off occasionally happens. Learning how to fall is good but I've also bought a body protector ;)

Vince

This made me chuckle as it's so true. :) We always say down our yard that sometimes a little reminder is a good thing. We all get a bit cocky, a bit slouchy and i find that the odd (not too often though) reminder is good as i get a too relaxed and stop riding as well as i could. I think my face is a picture though as by the sounds of it i always get up with a puzzled look on my face as if i can't understand quite exactly how i got down there :p Then i'm far too bad mannered and turn the air blue :o

[Crazy Mare]

Was it at St Leonards? who was it, so i dont ride them next time.

Hi Rojeth

No, it wasn't at St Leonards so you don't need to worry about who you will ride next lesson.

Don't worry too much about your lesson on Minky. I think most school horses have their lazy moments :rolleyes:

CM x

[Crazy Mare]

Originally posted by carrimclaren

I think my face is a picture though as by the sounds of it i always get up with a puzzled look on my face as if i can't understand quite exactly how i got down there

My horse was confused too. He stood there looking as if to say "what you doing down there?" :rolleyes:

Originally Posted by vince42

In the end you can learn as many techniques for staying on as you like, and all help, but horse and world will throw up something you won't expect so coming off occasionally happens. Learning how to fall is good but I've also bought a body protector

Vince

True. And don't they say that you have to fall off at least 7 times to become a good rider ? :eek:

[Est]

And don't they say that you have to fall off at least 7 times to become a good rider ? :eek:
LOL :D Whoever said that was LYING! Or I'd be ready to go round Badminton :p

[Crazy Mare]

Originally posted by carrimclaren

Maybe he could be lunged in a little bit of canter before you get on? Let him get rid of some steam first

I wish!

Since I came off I've been riding a different horse.Not because I don't want to ride him anymore, I've just been given a different horse to ride to balance the work between the horses.

I've now got a different problem - she's not as forward going and I can't get her to canter at all :o :o :o

My RI thinks that this is because she is on the lazy side anyway and I don't have enough confidence when I ask her to canter to convince her to go for it.

Oh dear :(

CM x

[DITZ]

Yep! Complete rubbish! That theory then would assume that once you've fallen off 7 times you'll never fall off again.

Assume that if you ride horses you will fall off every now and again and dont fret about it. 90% of the time you dont hurt yourself it just bruises your ego. And you know that if you get to the point where you arent falling off anymore then you've probably stopped challenging your riding skills.;)