[daisykristy]

Is it a given a horse will buck/crowhop at a canter when being ridden for the first time? Why do they buck? Is it just a weird sensation or is it what they would normally do in the pasture when running around?

Bad fitting saddle? Just plain orneryness? Why doesn't this come out during the trot?

I'd like to hear what people's thoughts are on this!

[RyaneC]

i dont know if this is true, but just my speculation.

with the trot being a two beat gait, one front foot is always off the ground.

the canter being a three-beat gait, the front feet are sometimes on the ground at the same time. this probably makes it a lot easier to plant those front feet for a buck, vs. trying to plant both front feet when one of them is off the ground in a trot.

like i said, i'm not sure and by means am no authority. just guessing.

[LindaMM]

Originally Posted by daisykristy

Is it a given a horse will buck/crowhop at a canter when being ridden for the first time? Why do they buck? Is it just a weird sensation or is it what they would normally do in the pasture when running around?

Bad fitting saddle? Just plain orneryness? Why doesn't this come out during the trot?

I'd like to hear what people's thoughts are on this!

First.... are you talking about actually the FIRST ride? Or just the first Canter Ride?

If you are cantering on the FIRST ride.... big no-no IMHO. The horse needs to learn how to balance himself with the added weight of the rider. It should be many rides later before canter work is introduced.

Having said that... no, it is not a "given" that they will buck.

[Zanerkin177]

if you rule out pain or something along those lines. I'd say the horse is just being disrespectful. I remember when I cantered one of my past 3yr old's she kicked out a little bit and I popped her on the butt and she never did it again.

[daisykristy]

Good point, I wasn't very clear. I meant they've been in the process of training and they got to the point where you canter them. I've heard they frequently attempt a buck or crowhop here.

I forgot to add that to the poll Ryanec - and I'm not sure how to edit it. that's a valid point.

[canadiancharlie]

Originally Posted by lindammorris

First.... are you talking about actually the FIRST ride? Or just the first Canter Ride?

If you are cantering on the FIRST ride.... big no-no IMHO. The horse needs to learn how to balance himself with the added weight of the rider. It should be many rides later before canter work is introduced.

Having said that... no, it is not a "given" that they will buck.

I agree a horse shouldn't me intentionally cantering on the first ride.
I think that it takes alot of balance and coordination for a horse to learn to canter so if it gets thrown off balance by the weight of a rider on the first ride they may buck. Even horses who are ridden often get off balance at the canter, the gelding I ride does that often because he's still learning how to go about things with a rider on his back. You just take him back to a trot or a walk and try again.

[JBandRio]

I couldn't vote because it can be any combination of your choices.

Some horses are never really "trained". They can just throw in a buck once a year just because.

Poor fitting saddles and conflicting rider aids are the most common though.

Various physical pain issues are not uncommon.

[jmjarabians]

My horse often throws little bucks or crow hops when asked to canter. He's been vetted, seen by the Chrio and nothing is wrong with him. We just boiled it down to that's he's excited to go!

But he's older and fully trained so he's way different from a young horse. I would think a young horse that hasn't had too many rides would possibly buck because it's a whole new sensation cantering with a rider. He may get scared because there is this odd weight following him around and he can't really see what it is. I think that when training a young horse it's important to have the canter under saddle on the lunge WELL established before you even try to ride him while cantering. We've always used the biggest heaviest western saddle to get them used to weight. Once they are going smoothing on the lunge with the saddle and you've mastered all the gaits on the lunge THEN is the time to try to ride, and then baby steps is key! Don't move on to canter until your horse can perform all manouvers at a walk and trot.

Teaching a young horse to ground drive before riding is not a bad idea either as it teaches them to work off of a bridle and steering commands. Very benficial ground work before you ever climb on.

IMHO

J

[katydid]

Originally Posted by daisykristy

Is it a given a horse will buck/crowhop at a canter when being ridden for the first time? Why do they buck? Is it just a weird sensation or is it what they would normally do in the pasture when running around?

Mine did not. I have her first u/s canter on video

here

[not me riding].

She is not much of a bucker, period, though -- even at liberty, she doesn't buck *that* much. She had also done a lot of lunging/ground driving and then been started pretty methodically under saddle, and I think was fairly balanced naturally.

She has tried once or twice under saddle since then, but it hasn't gotten her anything except harder work, so she doesn't really try very much.

[daisykristy]

Cool video!! What a beautiful sweetie you have.