Why is my horse bucking?

Bucking is a common horse issue and can be dangerous as well as frustrating. Read further to dig deeper into this problem, hopefully, you’ll reach the root of your problem!

“Bucking is a movement performed by a horse which the animal lowers its head and raises its hindquarters into the air, usually while kicking out with the hind legs. If powerful, it may unseat the rider enough to fall off.”  ~Wikipedia~

Here are a list containing
possible reasons your horse is bucking:

1. Excess Energy:

Bucking may result when your horse has too much energy or are excited; when they are happy or are playing. To fix, simply turn him out on pasture more regular, lunge him 5 minutes before you climb on, or decrease his feed ration. Most horses, ridden once or twice a week, normally don’t need grain feed, and will only need good quality pasture or hay to maintain body weight. Hard keepers, though, may need some extra feed.
To fix, simply turn him out on pasture more regular, lunge him 5 minutes before you climb on, or decrease his feed ration. Most horses, ridden once or twice a week, normally don’t need grain feed, and will only need good quality pasture or hay to maintain body weight. Hard keepers, though, may need some extra feed.

2. Back Pain

Poor fitting saddles can be a big factor. If your saddle is pinching or concentrated on a certain point, that area can become very sensitive and sore, resulting in the horse bucking, trying to release the pressure in that area.
To fix, get a saddle- fitter to make sure your saddle is nice and comfy. There are also a lot of youtube videos on this topic. A vet should also check your horse’s back to ensure that it’s not another underlying problem. Also, make sure your saddle pad is clean, and that the girth is not too tight – you should be able to slide your hand between the girth and his belly.

3. Other Kinds Of Pain and Discomforts

Hoof pain, leg pain, tooth pain, or ill-fitted bits can also cause your horse to buck. Also, horses normally buck when a horse-fly bite them!
To fix, make sure your horse’s bit fits well, and that there is no sharp edges or scratches on the bit. You could also ride with lighter hands and try using a softer bit. If the problem still persists, you should call the vet to make sure he’s not hurting somewhere.

4. Behavioral Problems

Green horses will probably buck the first few times when you mount if the groundwork foundation is not yet solid. Also, some horses will learn that he gets a release of pressure every time he bucks. It could also be due to disobedience to the rider’s aids. This could be because of poor riding or unclear aids on the rider’s part, or the horse could just simply be disobedient.
To fix, horses with behavioral problems normally need an experienced horseman/woman to correct this issue. You can, though, prevent this problem by not giving him a chance to buck. So, every time you see a buck coming, flex his head, disengaging his hindquarters. You can also make small circles until he settles down. A proper groundwork foundation could also establish more trust and respect, resulting in a calmer mount. But, if your safety is in danger, better let a professional horse trainer do the job.

5. Fear

Horses are prey animals by nature, and even a very well-trained horse could sometimes go into his natural ‘fight or flight’ mode…which sometimes include bucking.
To fix, first, make sure your horse is not afraid of you, and feel safe with you. Then start desensitizing him to all kinds of objects, including cars, plastic bags, sudden noises, dogs, cattle, flying objects. You can even desensitize them to big rocks, gaps and cliffs…for example, my horse is VERY afraid of holes and big grey rocks on the road!
Hope this list helped you to understand your horse better! For creating a better groundwork foundation, check this book out! Tell us your bucking experiences in the comments below!

LUCK TO ME IS LOTS OF DETERMINATION, HARD WORK, FAITH IN MYSELF, AND IN GOD. ~ Lane Frost