[bdrcol22]

I will have my saddle checked. It is a nice medium tree peossa, well balanced and in excellent condition. This was the first time my saddle has been on him, and the bucking at the canter is a long time issue with his owner. So, I will have my saddle checked, as I want to make sure that he is comfortable, but due to previous history is what makes me think it is a training issue.

[Reitpferde]

Originally Posted by bdrcol22

I will have my saddle checked. It is a nice medium tree peossa, well balanced and in excellent condition. This was the first time my saddle has been on him, and the bucking at the canter is a long time issue with his owner. So, I will have my saddle checked, as I want to make sure that he is comfortable, but due to previous history is what makes me think it is a training issue.

The panels of the Pessoa are nice. I ended up buying one for my horse for that reason. Hopefully, it'll work out. The advice you have gotten hear gives you lots to work with.

[Equus08]

I have definitely seen this problem before and experienced it first hand. It doesn't sound to me like the saddle is the main issue. Of course checking the saddle is something to make sure of, but these just sound like little tantrums.

You said that he used to do it with his old rider - she would fall off, and he wouldn't have to work. This is classic!! Horses are smart. If they can find a way that allows them to not work, they will most definitely continue it. He's not trying to hurt you. He's just been taught that bucking is rewarded (with a break).

What you need to do is eliminate this reward. Try to look for any signs of resistance... things like putting his ears back, throwing his head, etc. Whether he warns you or not, make sure you sit back. As soon as you see any warning signs, or immediately when he starts bucking, pull him into a small circle. When I say small, I mean really small - probably about as small as you can get it. He'll might slow down to a trot or even a walk but thats ok, just stay in the circle until he calms down. He can't do very much in a circle that small. And it makes him uncomfortable (a consequince he will associate with bucking) without hurting him or turning him sour. Another trick you could try is keeping his head up/pulling his head up when he starts to buck. Horses can't buck very high when they're head is up, they just physically can't. This would help you keep him under control and stay on, which wouldn't be the response he was hoping for.

[Dancers Mom]

My OTTB does this when she sees a big hill and wants to canter up it. She gets really excited and basically only does this at these times. She has a huge buck so I cannot allow this. If she does I give her a smack, pull her in a circle and she goes back down to the beginning whether it is five feet or half way and we start over and then she walks up the hill. It took about 4 or five times one time but now I think she thinks about it and waits for me to que the canter or trot and she takes what she can get.

[pippy]

All the advice sounds good and sound - my horse had the same issue - except his was to buck after every single jump his old owner let him get away with it, and she made it worse as she would sit back to stay on and slip the reins so his hind end would hit the ground and he would take off, not bolt but not leave the jump calmly so basically taking off was his reward for 3-4 strides until she got him back. 1 year later, i haven't had any bucking sor 3-4 months, so it does take time for horses to unlearn behaviour they have been rewarded for ( i will however add, that in competition i had to let it go when he bucked so took longer to teach him not to).
Anyway what i did was bridge my reins and jump like that so they couldn't get long and i would go over his head if it went down to far and if he bucked he got the really little circle (2 circles only) and then we went into canter again and cantered little cirlces - this won't be idea for your horse cantering little circles, but what i'm getting at is don't not canter because of the bucking, circle when he buckes then canter on again - he will learn really fast that bucking isn't a very good idea.
The other way to approach it could be canter two strides and trot again - praise heaps, ask for 3 strides canter, go back to trot praise heaps (provided there isn't any bucking lol) and so on.
Either way - take the advice from everyone for what suits you - i just wouldn't avoid the canter because of the buck get your gears on and hang on lol back protector etc
Oh and lunge him to to see his reaction, try one with saddle on, and saddle off curious to see what he does there. let us know.

[bdrcol22]

I am going out early tomorrow to ride again, and I think I am going to try to lunge him too. I was doing small amounts of cantering (5-6 strides) and then down transition and then praise the heck out of him when he did not buck.
My instructors have always said that I have "stickability" and his bucks, though big, did not really worry me much. But I am older now, and I would rather not hit the dirt. I think with work, he will be pretty good. I am hoping to train him up for hunters, but I will have to see. I figure work with him for 6 months and see where he is. I will get pictures up soon. He is a 16.1 QH, but he is a palamino so that can make it rough in hunters

Thanks for all the great advice, and if anyone has any additional thoughts, let it rip!

[JBandRio]

Originally Posted by bdrcol22

He is a 16.1 QH, but he is a palamino so that can make it rough in hunters

Don't think like that! There are more and more "colored" Hunters these days, almost to the point where people don't go "eww, look at that cow horse" If this guy has the look, people will go "Ohhhhh, what a cool looking horse!"

[bdrcol22]

Originally Posted by JBandRio

Don't think like that! There are more and more "colored" Hunters these days, almost to the point where people don't go "eww, look at that cow horse" If this guy has the look, people will go "Ohhhhh, what a cool looking horse!"

I am hoping that things will work out like that.. On the flat he has the nice forward hunter movement.. Not a cow pony. He has not been started over fences yet, but once we have ou flat issues taken care of, I will cross that bridge! I am hoping that he jumps good... I will try to get some free jumping done eventually...

[bdrcol22]

Rode Jack again today, an it was a much better expereience. I started warming him up and working with LOTS of transitions and circles. Mostly halt/walk, halt/trot, walk/halt, trot/halt, etc. The circles varied in size, but worked on his attention and bending. Once I started to work on a bit of cantering I would pick it up from a halt or walk, and then only do between 5-7 strides down a long end at first, as he gets fussy in the corners. We only had one little buck, and I did this about 6 times. I then worked and moving him through a corner, and he was much better balanced and much happier. NO BUCKING!!! I quit after 2-3 times of that, as he was getting tired, and I wanted to end on a good note. I know that he may be just awful tomorrow, but I think that we are well on our way.. Slow but sure!

[imjustjoking22]

Good for you that things are going better!

One thing you might try that worked with my guy if this becomes an issue again- every time he would buck I would pull him back into a walk, and then ask for the canter again, as quietly and calmly as I could. There are more immediate ways of dealing with bucking at the canter (according to my trainer) but they require someone who is very strong and has a good position, and I am not 100% yet. My horse hasn't bucked in the canter since I did that one day (besides during lead changes).