I have this Appaloosa gelding at home and i love to ride him, he will respond to every cue below the canter the right way even if he doesn't want to or is irritated.  I have just one problem when i ask him to canter he will buck or crow-hop.  The canter is the most used gaint of mine and i love his canter when he will do it for me without bucking. It is smooth and very rideable, but he sometimes he just doesn't want to or is lazy and wont canter. 

I love him soo much and i have tried a western bat but that makes him either buck one more time or i just can't get up the earge to do it.  He will canter if he is with a buddy and is chasing them like the game cat and mouse (where one person is the cat and one is the mouse and they walk/trot/canter away from the cat and the cat walk/trot/canters to catch the mouse if the cat passes the mouse the mouse is now that cat and the cat is now the mouse.)

How do i get him to stop bucking?

 

Outlaws_Girl

I had a gelding that bucked at the canter and when we canterd i would elavate his head so he couldent buck. and i canterd him more and more everyday and when he bucked i pushed him more untill he tierd then you start cantering more and he will calm down a bit. ( you can't teach a horse anything if he isent tierd)

I had almost the same thing happen to me. I bought a gelding that was great, except he hated to lope. He might do it if someone else was riding with us and he didn't want to be left behind when the other horse loped away. To even get him to break from a trot, I'd have to use a romel (spurs wouldn't even work.) At first, he'd pitch his rear end a little or kick out, but over time (weeks) he gradually began to crowhop which then evolved into all out bucking. In the beginning, I thought, 'well, he needs to know who's boss, so I have to keep him going and not let him get the best of me', and 'nothing that tons of miles and wet saddle blankets won't cure!'  Then I found articles online which suggested I needed to start lunging him and doing more ground work. I worked him faithfully daily, but instead of getting better, he got worse over time. I went through about 4 different saddles hoping to find one that fit better. I tried different pads, tried different bits (I even went back to using a plain old snaffle.) I took him to 2 different vets begging for help (neither could find anything wrong with him)- had him soundness checked, his legs x-rayed, his teeth checked, treated his joints with Adequan, treated him for ulcers, and tried every supplement known to man. I sent him to a trainer who eventually sent him home with a grudge and refuses to this day to even speak to me. He got to the point that he was bucking as soon as your backside hit the saddle. I was getting ready to start injecting his joints with steroids, when he bucked my husband off for the last time. I was given the dreaded ultimatum to 'get rid of that piece of $&*#.' To make a long story short, I cried for two weeks and drove everyone around me insane. I even called my vet to ask her about giving him 'behavior altering' drugs (which she insisted would NOT be a good thing for the horse or anyone who did anything with him.) A friend of mine got sick of seeing me crying and hanging on the horse's neck every day and suggested perhaps I should call an equine chiropractor. Frankly, I thought that was the STUPIDEST idea I had ever heard of...but I was desperate. I called the chiropractor and he came out to evaluate and adjust my horse. He wasn't interested in hearing me whine about how hard I'd tried to fix the horse or how rotten the horse was. He only wanted to see the horse move, know some of his history, and feel around on the horse. Then he made some adjustments and told me that the right hip was out and wasn't moving like it should, and the left shoulder was out, which was causing a diagonal pain that the horse was simply reacting badly to. The horse wasn't bad, he just couldn't tell me how much he was hurting day after day- and eventually, he sure spoke up. The bill was nothing compared to what the other treatments had been costing me, and I wished I'd tried that first. There hasn't been anymore bucking, kicking out, ear pinning, or tail wringing since I had him adjusted. However, I am still working with him to convince him that loping or picking up leads isn't going to be a painful event. Good luck with your horse. I have to commend you for caring enough to keep trying :-)

Shannon

Do you ever do groundwork with him? Does he buck going into a canter without a saddle/rider on his back? How old is he? Did he used to go nicely into a canter and has started doing this recently?

First, perhaps he's tired or in pain. It's possible your saddle doesn't fit, or he has an underlying soreness elsewhere in his body that cantering really makes it ouchy for him. If he's frequently grumpy about cantering, he's trying to tell you something's wrong.It could be tack, could be soundness, heck, he could need a chiropractor, but it's worth looking into.

If he's young, perhaps he's not ready to be pushed into a lot of cantering. Young skeletons don't need a lot of pounding , they need a lot of slow conditioning work, and you say you canter more than anything. Perhaps he's just getting overworked and resents it. Not all horses love to run all the time, in fact, they are quite lazy in a lot of ways.But, if he's young, he could just be tossing up his heels in good fun and rebellion, but this is fast becoming a very bad habit and I suggest getting some help from an experienced rider/trainer that can push the horse through this buck, or advise you to not focus on cantering for a while.

 Also, it could be your riding. If you ride only sporadically, your horse may be in a state of muscle soreness as he doesn't have time to recover from one ride to another. And you say you mostly canter. Cantering is tiring work and horses are not machines. They have to be conditioned to run for long, and riding once a week for 2 hours is not going to get your horse fit. It exhausts them and makes them resent being ridden. Try some nice relaxing walk/trot riding during the week as well,  and let your horse enjoy the ride as well. If you can only enjoy the run, perhaps you should get a motorcycle or 4 wheeler instead-it won't mind non-stop fast.I'm not saying don't ever run your horse, but I think he's trying to tell you something with is little protest and it could escalate into more dangerous behavior elsewhere in his handling-such as biting, kicking, rearing, etc.

Lastly, it could be the WAY you ride. Your posture could be making him sore, or at least difficult for him to go into a canter if you shift your weight the wrong way, hang on the reins for balance, etc.  Have someone watch (after you are sure it's not a tack, soundness, overwork or untrained horse issue) and help you with your skills. Remember, your horse most likely doesn't mind going for a good run now and then, but walking and trotting are work as well and condition him for the running you want to do.Excessive running sets your horse up for going lame, as well, there are a lot of factors in this.

I'm not trying to say you are a bad horse owner or rider, just that many times when a problem occurs, there's something the horse is trying to tell you and it's your responsiblity to check it out and make the necessary changes, or find someone else who can make those changes and help you to see what they need to be. Slow down, enjoy your horse and get someone knowledgable to help you in person. I think you need more than internet guidance.

 

 You have had some good advice. I just had to say how strongly I disagree with this statement <<<< ( you can't teach a horse anything if he isent tierd)>>>>>>

I hate this attitude with horses and have retrained many a sour nasty horse after they received this treatment. I want a willing, relaxed calm horse that will go anywhere safely and trust me. I horse that responds only when exhausted is not what I want or more importantly what I want my daughter or any child on. I want a willing horse not a horse too exhausted to care. 

When my horses are in shape am I suppost to lunge them 50 miles worth ust to be able to train them? I want a relaxed responsive enjoyable ride at the start of a 50 mile race not only at the end.

My horse used to do the exactly same thing. When I first got him, he always bucked when I asked him to canter, so my trainer, who is also an equine chiropracter, checked him out and adjusted his shoulder and hip, which really helped. I also had to change saddles (3 times!), because they weren't fitting him right. Another thing you could check is his leads. Sometimes my horse has trouble getting on the correct lead and does a little buck to fix his back legs (he tends to cross-canter sometimes).

 It sounds like it could be a stifle problem.  The horse I ride had a locking patella as a young colt and this can cause the characteristic crow-hop or bucking when asked to canter.  Question? Would he rather trot really fast rather than canter? That can be another clue.  I have a website you could visit that has video of similar situations that may look familiar.  A specialized exercise program including stifle exercises from Practical Horseman has virtually cured him.  Last summer, if you would try to force the canter (crop etc.) he'd buck.  Now he moves nicely off the leg, if only for short periods of beautiful canter before he tires.

BuckskinPaint:

 I have a website you could visit that has video of similar situations that may look familiar.  A specialized exercise program including stifle exercises from Practical Horseman has virtually cured him. 

 

Buckskin Paint,

Could you please post the website you were talking about (and the one with the exercises, if its a different one...) While my horse isn't bucking as soon as I mount up anymore, he does still have this clumsy looking 'fumble' that he does in order 'break' over from a trot to a lope (there's no nice transition there.) I always asumed that he just needed time to be convinced that it wouldn't be painful to pick up a lead or lope after he was adjusted. Perhaps there IS another issue aside from his hip and shoulder having been out of whack.  

Sure... the web site is   www.horseproblems.com.au  . Its a great site w/ lots of info.  as for the exercises, they were in a mag. I'll look up the issue date 4U.  If U can't get a hold of it, I could probably scan the article and email it to you if thats ok.  Ill get on that ASAP

BuckskinPaint:

Sure... the web site is   www.horseproblems.com.au  . Its a great site w/ lots of info.  as for the exercises, they were in a mag. I'll look up the issue date 4U.  If U can't get a hold of it, I could probably scan the article and email it to you if thats ok.  Ill get on that ASAP

Thanks. I looked on the site, and it kinda knocked the wind out of my sails. The videos which show what's going on fit my horse to a 't'. I had the highest of hopes that the chiropractic adjustment had cured him (although It was an amazing help), and the rest was just working with him to assure him it wouldn't hurt. *SIGH*

(Sorry, I accidentally hit post before I was ready...so I'm just clicking edit to finish my train of thought...)

Outlaws Girl, you started a VERY interesting thread. According to that website, this is a really common occurence, yet is rarely diagnosed. WHY??? I DID have my horse's stifles x-rayed (I guess the 'locking up' action wouldn't show up in an x-ray?) Is there any way any of you can also post videos of what your horses are doing? I'm really curious to see this, now.

Buckskin Paint, after using these exercises for your horse, is he considerably better?  

I'm posting a video of my horse moving (albeit, a rather lengthy one...), so you can see he's doing the same thing as the other videos; tail cranking, sideways moving, unable to turn in one direction, avoiding his right lead, would rather trot really fast than have to lope, fumbles around (and has actually fallen down) if he needs to turn tight circles to the left, pitches his rear end up when asked to canter, or kicking out while cantering (now, he's not 'bucking' in the video- no, when he decides to buck, it's unmistakeable that you are about to learn to fly.) If any of you don't mind, I'd love to know how things turn out with your horses.

After waiting for what seems an eternity for the crummy video to load, I'll just finish this post and will follow up with a link when it's done... 

Shannon7,  I'm sorry it's taking so long to get U the exercises.  I ride @ a boarding stable and think I loaned the mag out.  I have requested info from the publisher to obtain a new copy and will forward the info ASAP.  I just dont to guess about some of the details of the program that Im not absolutely sure of. ( spacing &height of cavaletti, etc).  For now, however, a-lot of straight-line trotting on a level surface will begin to help.  Just make sure your horse MOVES.  Your job will be to keep him from flopping on his forehand.  This will ensure he's using that butt.  I have also found sucess just using the walk.  I had to use a crop at first... Sparingly, until he got the hang of stepping under himself.  I had to use a really driving seat and quite a bit of leg, but now we both are nearing "buns of steel" (an added benefit).   As for Ice...because of the strengthening program,  the last ride I had on him (B4 my fall), was AMAZING!  He Moved out w/t, only barely touched 2 cavaletti on the grid, and took BOTH leads first try w/o much effort.  Like I said B4, though he still isn't cantering long distances as he is still gaining strength, he is, however, willing and balanced.  His owner even told me last time we spoke that he was free jumping a bit & loving it!    Just remember to be patient,  Ice was only w/t and exercises for a few months B4 even moving to the canter.  Stifles develop slowly and need time to strengthen.  It'll all be worth it though when you finally get to feel your horses willingness come back for even a few great canter strides.

SSL B.P.

 

sounds like a saddle issue, like something is pinching him

otherwise just move him forward, horses camp rear buck etc if they are moving forward

btw thats the embed, not a link.

Edited to add I sure wish you had left the video of the horse up. Rather then killing the messenger it would have been nice to let others voice their ideas.

I watched the video..........

Extremely unhappy tense horse. His tail never stops swishing and it is not until the end of the ride that there is any relaxation at all and it is not much. I would never ask such a tense unhappy horse to cancer, of course it will buck. Horrid high head and hollowed out back.

At not time does the horse canter on the correct lead. Very unbalanced looking in movement.

Hitting a horse that is unbalanced to force it to turn faster does not teach reining or balnce, it just adds to the horses frustration.

Either this horse is in pain causing the high head and unbalance or the saddle fis terribly or the rider has rough hands or a combination of all these. As fat and out of shape as the horse is it might be hard to get a good saddle fit.

Sorry, I guess I should have been more clear about when the video was taken- BEFORE I had a chiropractor adjust him. As I already stated, yes, absolutely- he was in extreme pain (did you read my original response to Outlaws question?) My video was posted to compare to the ones on the site which was listed to discuss the possibility of a locking patella. As I also stated previously, he hasn't been bucking, tail cranking, pinning ears, etc...after his adjustment, although he's not completely normal by any means. As for being so 'fat and and out shape', I thank you for your opinion. Two vets, an equine chiropractor, and my farrier have all commented on what a good looking horse he is- he's heavy muscled (one even asked to be remembered should I decide to sell him.) I promise if I ever decide to give up on my baby, I won't contact you in hopes of making a sell. Have a nice evening.