Is it acceptable to you if your horse bucks under saddle?

[ellebeaux]

My friend and I had this discussion yesterday and we are disagreeing.

I say no way is it acceptable for a horse under saddle to buck. My opinion is, when I ride, the horse is supposed to be submissive to my requests and bucking is not on the list! If my horse is feeling hot or I'm feeling less than strong, I lunge him first to "get the bucks out".

My friend says bucking is a sign of happiness in her horse. Her horse gets really excited about jumping and tends to buck after jumps. When the mare does this, my friend pets her and says she's glad to see her horse so happy about jumping. I say she is reaffirming a bad habit in her horse (that she is selling in two months, BTW).

What do you think?

[Party Rose]

I know you'll get a lot of response, so I will be short.

You are correct.

Your friends horse may need a Chiropractic adjustment or the saddle may not be a good fit.

I've put my two cents in. You'll get lots more.

[ExJumper]

So you say that it isn't acceptable to you if your horse bucks under saddle. So what do you do it if DOES buck, whether you think it is acceptable or not? Sell it? Put it down?

I mean, of course, no one WANTS their horse to buck under saddle, whether or not I attempted to get the bucks out on the line first. If my horse is up or the weather got cold or he hasn't been outside in a few days due to weather, I will put him on the line to see if he's going to buck. But I certainly don't think that if he bucks on the line that he is never going to buck under saddle!

So sometimes it happens. I would rather a horse buck than rear, for example. I would also rather it buck than bolt. And there are many levels of buck. My old jumper crow-hopped quite frequently. My hunter would crow-hop when he was feeling sulky and I legged him up aggressively.

Acceptable? What does that even mean? I don't WANT it, I don't ASK for it, but I realize that once in a while it's going to happen. And so I ride through it and get on with my life. I certainly wouldn't praise my horse for bucking, but I'm not going to freak out about it, either. If a horse bucks, you leg it forward and continue with whatever you were going to do in the first place.

[Cherry]

Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.

[goeslikestink]

depends-- horses do buck due to pain ie teeth or tack which is common or bad back
some horse that have hock issue will also buck giving a false illusion its the back when in truth it can be hocks or spavins etc
or horses can buck due to food intake another common one, as the horse has excess engery
many reasons for why a horse bucks but some also buck in excitement as enjoyment of doing something which can be when jumping
look at john whittaker and ryans son horse wasnt disobediant in fact was a world class show jumper
i have a horse ie gracie that bucks after a jump sometimes as she enjoys her work
its a one off and we know it happens
or horse buck becuase they have been spooked by something
or bad trainer with bad manners ie hevey in hands or kicky a lot whippy snapper type
or horses buck becuase your to heavy in the hand or hand set
so mostly when they buck its normally to do with feed, pain or tack or rider, spook, training
or excitment

in some cases its not a disobediant factor- as the horse like ryans son was doing his job
so it can be acceptable in certian circumstances

[GoForAGallop]

Hmmm....well, I'll laugh about a little happy buck, but it's still naughty and he gets a pop on the rump with a crop or a nudge with my heels. But ultimately, no, bucking isn't really acceptable.


However, running like an out of control lunatic on the lunge line isn't appropriate either. Lunging is not to "get the sillies out"....it's for proper work. Turnout is for getting the sillies out. Anytime my horse is around me, whether it's leading/under saddle/on the lunge line, he is expected to behave.

So as ridiculous as you think your friend is for allowing bucking under saddle....I think you're just as ridiculous for allowing it on the lunge line.

[joharavhf]

Bucking is not acceptable. But it's better than rearing.

My horses only buck when I get "aggressive" with my crop when they have tuned me out.....This just tells me that I need to do a better job preparing them for the change so I don't have to go after them with the crop.....but no one is perfect. If this buck happens I YELL at them to cut it out, but I don't hit again or kick at them because that's what elicited the buck in the first place. That said, this happens MAYBE once a month, if that!

[Bluey]

When I was learning to start horses under saddle, if one acted up we were called to task as not having prepared the situation right, the horse overreacting or confused.
IT WAS OUR FAULT.

That a horse bucks is a sign of poor training or something seriously bothering the horse physically or both.
Bucking is a lack of forward motion and that may cost you time if nothing else.

I would say the horse bucks after jumps not out of joy, but because it seems to be what the rider wants, as she is praising him for it, or maybe because it has some SI issues, that eventually may show up as Hunter's Bump.

Bucking is something that in itself can cause a horse to throw something out in it's back, so why promote it?

I always wonder at those new clinicians that show people how to start horses under saddle, spend all that good work getting them used to a saddle and then, to everyones hooplas, turn them loose "to get used to the saddle" and laugh when the horse tries to buck the saddle off.:mad:
Then they have to spend time teaching the horse that no, they didn't mean a saddle on their backs means they are now free to let'r rip.:rolleyes:

If you want a rodeo bucking horse, yes, but not for everything else we do with horses, for that we want sensible, calm horses, not buckers.:eek:

Bucking or kicking up after a jump, in many jumpers I have seen, is generally a sign of a stressed or sore horse.
You won't see many of those horses, if they keep that up, showing much longer than a few sessions at best.

[goeslikestink]

goforagallop i call them happy bucks to haha are they on something haha who knows haha
i only know we are hahaha ie on the horse haha

[Foxtrot's]

...she didn't say she thought her friend was 'ridiculous', just expressed a differing opinion.
Differences of opinion are very acceptable on COTH, name-calling not so much.

FWIIW: I don't like a horse to buck - you never know when someone less experienced will be wanting to ride that horse and could have an accident. I also prefer them not to buck on the lunge, but there are scenarios where there is little turnout that it is necessary.
They can hurt themselves worse if let loose in an arena.

[GoForAGallop]

...she didn't say she thought her friend was 'ridiculous', just expressed a differing opinion.
Differences of opinion are very acceptable on COTH, name-calling not so much.



I don't see anything about my post that suggests name-calling. I didn't call her stupid/idiotic/anything like that. But it's clear from her post that she thinks her friend is silly for allowing the horse to buck under saddle....I think it's silly that she allows HER horse to buck on the lunge line.

Like you said...differences of opinion. ;)

[BumbleBee]

Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.


Not entirely true. Any horse that frequently bucks when playing at liberty is quite likely to buck under saddle if not taught it shouldn't.

My gelding is a very playful horse he quite frequently can be found running a muck out in the field bucking, rearing acting a fool.

When being ridden on occasion he will realize we are doing something fun generally in the same place on our hacks where we come out of the small field into a huge one he will pick up a canter and throw a few bucks.

All I have to do is say NO to get him to stop but he does it in fun not any other reason.

I don't worry about these bucks they are in fun, as long as they stop when I say NO he can have his 1-2 bucks when he feels the need to kick up his heels and celebrate.:yes:

[BumbleBee]

Bucking or kicking up after a jump, in many jumpers I have seen, is generally a sign of a stressed or sore horse.
You won't see many of those horses, if they keep that up, showing much longer than a few sessions at best.

Anyone remember the Olympic jumper named Zucarlos. He was on the Canadian Olympic team for 8 years and I don't think he ever did a course without 2-3 bucks, generally more. He still won a $#!T load.

[Bluey]

Anyone remember the Olympic jumper named Zucarlos. He was on the Canadian Olympic team for 8 years and I don't think he ever did a course without 2-3 bucks, generally more. He still one a $#!T load.

For every example of a horse that could do well, even with bucking or kicking out while on course, there are many that didn't make it.;)

I have had the dubious pleasure of retraining many horses someone started and then was afraid of them, because they let them buck.
That is like letting them "nip a little" and expect them to know what is ok and when it is not ok to take a bite of you or someone else.
I know a lady that ended up in the hospital from their stallion that "only nipped a little", until he took a big bite.:eek:

Yes, there will be a time here and there a horse may catch you by surprise and buck, but if you ride them carefully and well, that should not happen but rarely.

Better not to get in those situations where a horse will "just give a few bucks", because bucking is like dancing, the more a horse practices it, the better and more athletic they get at it.
I sure hope that your skills at riding bucking horses also advance right along with those of your horse to buck better and better.:D

[BumbleBee]

I sure hope that your skills at riding bucking horses also advance right along with those of your horse to buck better and better.:D

I am pretty lucky the ones he does under saddle are just little, heaven help me if he did the hand stand I often witness during turnout with me on his back.

With any other horse bucks get a good smack with the crop but Ebay doesn't have a mean bone in his body they aren't trying to get me off bucks, they are always either happy bucks or took a corner to tight need to rebalanced bucks.

[tkhawk]

Yes:lol::lol: Me and my mare have been through a whole bunch of stuff. We are great now-she is still fiery, but great and listens to you-all the bad stuff years past us. So a few months ago I was out riding and cantering up a hill and put her behind a horse that was having trouble cantering. Wide trail, so she wanted to go around and lead, but I said no and then I kind of let her speed up(we pass each other -so they are used to it) and then changed my mind and asked her to slow down and keep behind-she threw a buck -poed at me. I was more :mad::mad:-I thought we were through this c*%$. It caught me by surprise and we were doing a pretty clip,so yelled at her and let it go.
Next trail ride, I was holding her back on purpose to see if she would do it again-sure enough she was getting ready-caught her before and had a long "discussion" with her-and so far that has ended it.
But pretty sure if I did not nip it in the bud-one fine day, when she wants to have her way, instead of the usual ways of showing displeasure, she will have one big bucking fit..

[goeslikestink]

did you know that the height of a horses buck is the height he can jump haha

[Ruth0552]

I think Bucking is a perfectly normal part of horsey play. I have 3 horses: a 15 yo TB, a 30 yo Large Pony, and a 15 yo QH. All 3 buck (even the 30 yo!) when playing in the field. The QH does have tendencies to buck under saddle- when he hasn't been ridden, when the weather is cold, or when I am pissing him off by making him work. While it's not acceptable, it's also a behavior that he has had his entire life, and since he can be belligerant if I pick a fight with him, it's really better to just ignore the bucks and kick on. Honestly, sometimes it's the only way I know we have an engine and I won't be pushing a buick up a hill that day.

That being said, the TB is a bolter and he scares the crap out of me. And, a horse reared and flipped over on top of me 5 years ago causing serious back injury, so thanks I'll take the bucking.

You know, I think it's part personality too. My QH is a stubborn fiesty old man type. I don't think you can expect every single horse you ride to act exactly the same and be all submissive about it. Some horses just aren't that submissive, and you have to be careful. I think when my QH is working and he bucks, sometimes it's "I'm not doing that mom!" but sometimes it is also "WTF are you talking about???"

[yellowbritches]

There is certainly, at least in my opinion, a "wee, yahoo! this is fun! I feel great!" buck. Those I generally laugh off, give a good natured scold to the horse, and get them in front of my leg and focused back on work. I don't really make much fuss about them as I do feel that the occasional wee buck is ok. I don't like my horses to be androids with zero life, spirit, or personality. If they OCCASIONALLY feel the need to express themselves, that's ok.

However, if I get one inkling that it is more than a wee buck and/or they are trying to unload me, we get a little more serious. I ended up with Paco because he bucked, and BOY does he. He unloaded me once (before I figured out how to ride it out), and the second time he and I had a major come to Jesus. He has only bucked twice since then, once when he was in pain (and if they can really jump as high as they buck, he needs to be a Grand Prix horse. I swear to God we went straight up 20 feet and flew forward 30 feet in one buck :eek:), and once when I laid into him with my spurs (my bad, though he was so stuck behind my leg, but his response was overly dramatic...Paco doesn't just buck a little, he explodes). Both those times he was gotten after and reminded that bucking is a major big, bad no-no.

And I never think, now, when they buck after a fence, that they are having fun. I immediately wonder if their feet hurt. My dearly departed Reilly would buck occasionally after fences (usually after big oxers, getting a flyer, or after a complicated gymnastic) and would occasionally buck into his changes. Always thought he was having fun or saying "OO! That was hard and I used muscles I haven't used before!". Turns out it was the only clue he ever gave us that he had horrible navicular. Only clue, that is, until he went three legged lame finally and stayed that way until we put him down six weeks later. :cry::no: So, when they buck for THAT reason, I immediately think pain (also have a laundry list of other things- canter departs, etc- that I know now for other ailments).

So, in the grand scheme of things it really, really depends. But I way rather have a bucker than a rearer.

[Foxtrot's]

My daughter groomed for Zucarlos. He was not a ride for just anybody!! Neither was he one for just anybody to enter his stall. :D

[wendy]

I think in general bucking is a major evasion by a horse, almost as bad as balking/rearing, and shouldn't be tolerated; but there are these occasional "super happy baby bucks" horses do that are simple expressions of joy that occur that riders should be sort of? pleased their horse is having such a good time.

[Huntertwo]

Timely topic as this just happened to me yesterday.

Due to the snow and lousy footing in the arena, I haven't been able to free longe my mare. Even though she has a decent sized paddock area, she still needs to run loose in the arena at least 2 a week to let off steam.

Yesterday was the first time I rode in a few weeks and it was limited to a 2 acre field in front of our barn.

Yes, she threw in a couple of bucks, mostly while standing still..:confused:, but it was not due to being a nasty pony. It was just pent up energy. I growled a bit and we continued to work and she settled down after about 15 minutes.

If it was a nasty "I want you off my back, because I'm a #itch" kind of buck, then YES I certainly give her a good spanking.

[Huntertwo]

Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.

Geez, if that were true I'd have put my sweet wonderfully tempered, brave, honest, POA trail riding mare down years ago..;)

[Ted the Peep 'Ho]

It depends on the kind of buck.

Happy bucks - well, maybe not, unless your rider is the kind of person who likes that. A lot of eventers and people who hunt like that. Generally, dressage people do not. But sometimes, well, sometimes you just land a jump and it feels so good, or you're just feeling good and you want to run, and a happy buck is kind of a gallop in place.

Bucks because you hurt - YES. Because we are TRYING TO TELL YOU SOMETHING. We can't yell at you in your human language, so we have to speak up in Equus.

[PNWjumper]

Ditto to what yellowbritches said. When and where the horse buck are as much of a clue to why they're doing it as anything. There are definitely "wee that was fun!" bucks, "I'm in pain" bucks, and "I'm going to KILL YOU" bucks. How I respond totally depends on the situation and the horse.

I had a horse I showed at the GP level for several years. He bucked after every good round we ever had. Never between fences, never while he was needed to "do his job," only after we crossed the timers and then typically he'd buck his way out of the ring (but ONLY if we went clean). He was chiropracted regularly and certainly not hurting or in need of an adjustment (which manifested itself in other ways with him). He was a quirky guy and kind of an ass (okay, "kinda" is a bit of an understatement :lol:), but that was his thing, and I enjoyed it. I certainly never got after him for it. Who knows, he was smart as anything and he may have just figured out that I wasn't going to get after him moments after a brilliant round (bucking didn't fly any other time). That being said, I also didn't reward him for it.

A horse doing a "try to get the rider OFF" buck is a different story. I have a zero tolerance policy for mine when they buck as an evasion or in a way that's aimed at unseating me. But I don't mind the occasional hop after a particlarly big jumping effort (I still reprimand, but not as seriously).

So I guess the bottom line is that it depends on the horse and the situation. I don't think your friend is necessarily wrong in thinking that her horse is bucking out of enjoyment (more likely not, as many others have answered), but I do think she's wrong in how she deals with it. When my horses buck after a jump I either reprimand or ignore it if I have to get my balance back and miss the opportunity to make it a lesson to the horse. I agree that petting a horse after bucking sends the wrong message, and DEFINITELY in a horse that's going to be up for sale.

[SkippinwithPippin]

I do not think it is "acceptable" as it shows defiance, not necessarily happiness. Bucking in the pasture while playing may show happiness..bucking under saddle may be pain. I had the same problem with my horse. He was bucking under saddle at the canter. Not violent, but enough to cause concern. I had the vet do a lameness test and he tested positive on both hind legs. We did x-rays and the proof was in the picture...he had osteoarthritis in both hocks. He is now on Naproxen five days a week to minimize the inflimation and will be getting hock injections soon. He is a much happier horse...no more bucking.

[jetsmom]

Depends on the reason for the buck. Jet will occasionally buck if he's feeling good, or if he jumps really big over something. If I miss a distance horribly, and he has to bail me out, I pay for it when we land...he'll launch himself into the air and do several bucks in a row. Fortunately, he stays straight when he does that so it's pretty easy to sit up and get him back.

I don't mind the feel good bucks. Now if a horse bucks as an evasion, as in, you ask him to go forward, and they get pissy and buck, or if they are trying to get you off, that's different.

[bridgetah1]

For every example of a horse that could do well, even with bucking or kicking out while on course, there are many that didn't make it.;)

I have had the dubious pleasure of retraining many horses someone started and then was afraid of them, because they let them buck.
That is like letting them "nip a little" and expect them to know what is ok and when it is not ok to take a bite of you or someone else.
I know a lady that ended up in the hospital from their stallion that "only nipped a little", until he took a big bite.:eek:

Yes, there will be a time here and there a horse may catch you by surprise and buck, but if you ride them carefully and well, that should not happen but rarely.

Better not to get in those situations where a horse will "just give a few bucks", because bucking is like dancing, the more a horse practices it, the better and more athletic they get at it.
I sure hope that your skills at riding bucking horses also advance right along with those of your horse to buck better and better.:D

Good post.

I consider it unacceptable and dangerous behavior. When I was young (teenager), I had a horse that bucked often. I didn't know how to correct it, and just rode it out. That was 40 years ago - I'm much too old for that sort of thing now.

Bucking can be corrected.

My filly started off bucking, but it was corrected, in part-by shortening the distance between the trot and the canter and, in part, by a trainer (Jerry Tindell), roping her around the flanks and lunging her. She bucked at bit at that time, but stopped, and continued lunging w/o incident. There is more to it than that, and it's not something to do w/o the help of a good trainer, but can be corrected.

[Bluey]

A horse does really not, as someone said, become an automaton because it is not permitted to stall and go to bucking with you, no matter what reason or none they have.

I would say that, just as people are not supposed to swear and hit others just because they feel like it or are mad at them, horses when handled or ridden are not supposed to buck, rear, kick, bite or any other such behaviors that can be dangerous for the people involved.

It is called having learned good manners.:cool:

Self restrain is what being educated in social manners is.
People and horses can express themselves without needing to act up, if we listen to them.:yes:

[nightsong]

I had a mare that lovedlovedLOVED to jump. Sometimes, after a line, she would buck. I was never in danger of being even unbalanced, and would laugh out loud. a horse that's having FUN is the ULTIMATE, for ME.

[Serah]

Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.

Come on!!!! Seriously??!?!?!?! I must have a lot of unhappy, unhealthy, poorly fed horses on our property because our horses love to frolic and play in turnout...

[yellowbritches]

I would say that, just as people are not supposed to swear and hit others just because they feel like it or are mad at them, horses when handled or ridden are not supposed to buck, rear, kick, bite or any other such behaviors that can be dangerous for the people involved.
I don't consider the OCCASIONAL wee buck on the same level as swearing or hitting somebody, but more like a big, loud, obnoxious laugh or "Woohoo!!" when something very funny or cool happens. ;) Like the obnoxious guy I sat next to in a bar in Chicago...he was very animated and excited over the basketball game he was watching. It was kinda funny (because he was making an ass of himself), but also obnoxious, but I wasn't about to call him out on it. That's pretty much how I look at a wee buck. Now, if he was sitting there and calling me names and trying to punch me, then we'd have an issue...that's how I look at an aggressive, mean buck.

And when I say OCCASIONAL, I mean once in a blue moon kinda occasional, not once a week, or once month, and definitely not once a day. The horses that have done this to me on occasion have never turned into nasty buckers...most have grown out of it as they've matured. Also, when I say wee bucks they are both "weeeee!!!" and wee, as in, not very big, crow hoppy type things, not bronc bucks (coughcough, Paco).

[Bluey]

Come on!!!! Seriously??!?!?!?! I must have a lot of unhappy, unhealthy, poorly fed horses on our property because our horses love to frolic and play in turnout...

Horses on their own time is different than when around people or at work.
Different rules apply when horses play with horses or people.
People can be injured by horse play.:(

[Creaghgal]

I love when my boy throws a good buck! He’s fluid & athletic and I find him easy to sit. It’s only one buck now and then, which tells me that I have my horse feeling well in himself and happy to be out and about enjoying his life.

[ExJumper]

I love when my boy throws a good buck! He’s fluid & athletic and I find him easy to sit. It’s only one buck now and then, which tells me that I have my horse feeling well in himself and happy to be out and about enjoying his life.

Careful! That means he is at death's door! If I were you I'd start digging the hole right now...

;)

:sigh:

Sheesh...

[Party Rose]

Originally Posted by Cherry http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/images/buttons/viewpost.gif (http://www.chronicleforums.com/Forum/showthread.php?p=3757626#post3757626)
Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.
I'm thinking that you meant to say laid down, as on it's side, on the footing, a very typical cowboy practice.

[Cherry]

Party Rose, I meant euthanized!

Look, there's a big difference between a horse bucking in the pasture and one bucking when ridden.

My mare acted like a maniac when put out on pasture--ran and bucked and reared! She may have even wanted to buck a time or two when being ridden but I was proactive and it never came to fruition. I would never put up with a horse that wanted to buck on a continual basis under saddle.

What parent wants to put their child on a horse that would continually challenge the kid and possibly put the child in the hospital? The horse may get passed around but chances are that it will end up being put down or sent to a sale where it will end up at slaughter because no one bothered to check to see if the bucking was a physical problem or a training problem. And sometimes it is, as Bluey said, a learned behavior--maybe it gets them out of work temporarily. Horses really are not as dumb as they appear! ;)

There are far too many horses whose bad behavior is tolerated because the owners don't realize it is not acceptable. I don't find rearing acceptable either.

[Touchstone Farm]

Well good thing Cherry doesn't own my GP dressage mare. (Originally Posted by Cherry:
"Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.")

When Sally is feeling good and a little "up," sometimes the first canter depart she throws in a buck and a head shake. I just laugh and we go to work. She isn't trying to get rid of me, she isn't dangerous and, god forbid, she should never be put down. That would be absolutely ridiculous! I know the difference between bucks and when she does this in no way does it mean she is not happy, healthy or property fed. Wowza, what a generality!

[downthecenterlinetheycome]

Depends on the horse, quite honestly. I rode 4 rank, seldom used, green, nasty, clever SMALL ponies (I'm 5ft and 70lbs, and they were maybe 11-12.2hh, maybe smaller) while I was in Kauai for an extended amount of time. No one was small enough to ride them but me, so they weren't ridden for god-knows-how-long, but when I got on them, I expected them to buck. (Literally, WHEN AND WHILE I got on them, LOL!) I expected them to be cranky. I always rode them bareback (no saddles small enough), but I had no problems sitting their bucks, and just continued on with training them. One was a real rodeo bucker and sometimes nap/rearer - he would scrape kids off on fences, buck everyone off, etc, the others bucked, but were more for bolting. I got to know what to expect for each horse. I would prefer a pony to buck than to rear. When they bucked, I just sat it, cuffed em with my leg, drove them forward, and got on with it. I picked my battles.

With my young anglo gelding on the other hand, if he bucks, I make him work his ass off. He is young and ridden often and not set in his ways and has no excuse. And he can occasionally be ridden by other people. My problem with his the arab teleport and spook gallop bolt, and he rarely offers a buck.

I certainly do not reward bucking, but my reaction depending on the horse varies. With my gelding I would make it a big deal and make sure he would never do it again, with the ponies, it's business as usual, I'll reprimand them but not micromanage, as I have more serious problems. :P

As for bucking on the lunge... My gelding tends to pull away when I lunge him and try to rip it out of my hands. He cannot do wild-crazy bucks that end up affecting ME on the other end of the line, but if he wants to crowhop while staying straight and not pulling on me, when the weather's cold and he's fresh, that's just fine.

[Hazelnut]

Bucking is not acceptable. But it's better than rearing.



Amen that!

[tkhawk]

Well there are horses that do a Woo-Hoo buck at start of canter-if they have a lot of energy. I won't put up with it, but if an owner is comfortable with it that is fine.
Mine has one of those personalities, where you give an inch she takes a mile. But her buck running up hill, caught me by surprise -I really did not expect one-she is not green. But one little refresher and she is ok. Just her form of protest when I kept changing my mind, she got revved up for a gallop to pass the other horse and I changed my mind again -she listened to me and kept at the speed I wanted-threw in a buck to express her anger. Since, I missed and knowing her, waited for the next time , fixed it and she is fine. She is free to express her opinions-just not in a way that will hurt me.Certain things I have a solid line-no way.

Now that is different than one in pain. A horse in pain will show signs long before bucking-that is more a last resort, if all other signals have been ignored. There is no need for correction here-figure out the reason and give some time and some time for the horse to get through the anticipation of pain-should work.

Although in today's world, training is simply too expensive. The amt of money I am putting to train my mustang to get him to be green broke, I can easily get a dead broke papered ranch horse or even a fully trained gaited horse that had done everything . It is just not feasible for the lower end horses-unless you are doing it for purely personal reasons..

[Donella]

Doesnt bother me if it is not habit. If the horse is feelin good, lets out a little crow hop or buck and carries on, whatever. Bucking is natural for horses..sometimes it is going to show up under saddle when the horse is feeling exuberant. If that really is too much for you, perhaps choose another sport or don't ride anything under 20 yrs old.

Plenty of horses will buck because they are super fit, enjoying themselves ect and just get feeling good...ie the horses who throw one in after a line of jumps ect. Whats the big deal?

If the horse is bucking as a way to get out of work, ok, that is different. Then the response depends on many factors, what kind of buck, how often , type and training level of horse. Is horse sound, ect ect?

[veebug22]

Constant self-restraint is a nice ideal for a horse, but anyone that has ever ridden a lot of different, athletic horses knows that certain horses are never going to be completely dependable or well-mannered, no matter how well trained they are. And I really don't think you can ever completely train bucking out of a chronic bucker. You just try to avoid it and nip the warning signs. I don't mind the occasional fresh, feel-good buck. I certainly don't positively reinforce it, but I don't punish it, I just keep them working. I have cracked a smile or laughed when it's a particularly funny situation, because sometimes, it is! You can tell when it doesn't have aggressive undertones. I've ridden a number of horses that threw feel-good bucks but not nasty bucks. On the flip side, I do not like "screw you, get off my back" or whiny "I don't want to!" bucks. Which in my mind are somewhat different from each other. There's the buck that reveals a bratty, I-don't-want-to attitude, and then there is the buck that is genuinely a horse doing everything within its power to get you OFF (this is the head between the knees, feet up in the air bronc buck). These two I'm sure none of us condone or like, and while I think the behavior can be modified and improved, a horse that has this tendency is always going to be willing to go there, even if they know there will be consequences. Usually they're so hot by that point that they don't care much about the consequences, and "spanking" rarely seems to work - just makes the mad and hot ones madder and hotter, and I think there are better ways to deal with it. I know a lot of people think feel-good bucks are a "warning sign", but in my experience they usually don't suddenly become nasty ones, nor do horses that throw feel-good ones automatically become prone to nasty bucking.

[Linny]

There are so many degrees of "buck" that the question is almost impossible. There's the horse that's feeling good and gives you a very exuberant lead change and then theres the one that suddenly just goes rodeo on you.
I used to ride an older (early 20's) horse who when he was feeling good and just got down the line leaving out a step, he's give you a "buckswap" at the end. He wasn't trying to get me off, he was saying "see, I still got it!" After he did it once or twice, he'd put the act away. We never saw cause to change is behavior as it was harmless.
OTOH, a horse that really bucks or goes into rodeo mode is not acceptable, especially if it's sudden and uncalled for. I certainly don't think that a horse should get pats after he does this as its reinforcing the behavior.
Pretty much every horse will buck under saddle from time to time, maybe feeling good, maybe feeling bad. An occassional bit of playfulness, though not to be rewarded (and thus encouraged) might not deserve punishment. If a horse suddenly starts bucking, it's time to look for a physical cause. A chronic bucker may be OK for certain pros (or very good ammys) who can handle it but for "most of us" bucking should certainly be discouraged, not encouraged.

[2ndyrgal]

I've never ever lunged a horse to "get the bucks out. Not a young horse, not an OTTB, not bad scary nut jobs, never. There are really only three kinds of bucks anyway, the "I don't wanna!!" buck, goes away if you ride it forward vigorously, usually. The "You are ten seconds from death if I get you off" buck. Next, and on to the stockmen (this is usually a horse that someone has brain fried, but the time it got to me). And lastly the James Brown "I feel Good!" buck, which even in the middle of a show jumping round, just causes me to laugh out loud, and is not accompanied by any punishment. Stand on your hind legs ANYWHERE however, and I will make you think I'm going to take your head off your neck.
It does depend on where and why, but basically if I'm gonig forward, I win. Lunging a bucking, out of control horse causes more problems than it cures. Sometimes if a horse is fresh, I'll just canter a bit first and get the yah yah's out.

[Bluey]

I can still hear the assistent trainer, as we were mounting up on a group of TB colts on their first few rides, to go for a trot thru the woods in Southern Pines, NC: "Easy there, don't let him do that!" right before the colt bucked the older exercise rider off, by first rearing and then taking two bucking jumps.
The rider really just stepped off the colt and still kept the reins and got right back on the wiggly colt.
Didn't happened again.:)

Few horses are as fit and on the muscle as race horses, especially the young ones.
They are as prone as any other horse out there to try to act up and buck, but it is frowned upon, as it is not easy to keep replacing injured exercise riders, have missed races by acting up and put others at risk with a loose horse.

If we can keep those kinds of horses from bucking or otherwise acting up, other than jigging around a little to let off steam here and there, surely other, less tightly wound horses can be controlled even better?:yes:

[arktos19]

I am down with the "no bucking" brigade.... :cool:

I am probably too old to be tackling OTTB's but that is what I grew up riding - and what I can afford - so I tend to be pretty strict with them. I have one of my own plus those I ride for the interscholastic polo team I help coach. When a buck is "offered" I make some sort of corrective action usually pulling them up with some force and giving a smack on the butt and a harsh verbal "bad horse!" ;)

[Ambrey]

Seems like bucks are like baby cries- they can mean 100 different things!

My big guy used to buck when he spooked (someone here described it very well on an old thread- it was like he was telling whatever monster he was spooking at "here, eat this instead!"). Nasty stuff, that.

He doesn't do that anymore (thank you, trainer!) but he does still sometimes give a small buck at a canter depart if he's not warmed up well. It's just a totally different thing, more like a "whee!" than a "get this thing off my back!"

[summerhorse]

No it is not acceptable and I don't care if it is Barbaro himself! So you either find out if something is causing it and if not, train them out of it if you can, if you can't (and enjoy living) try to find someone who can!

That being said my horse bucks like a demon (at selected times) at a canter. She learned long ago that she can shed a rider at will (she's GOOD!) and sadly I have done nothing to change that impression! =) The last couple of years she's been lame anyway so it hasn't been much of an issue.

[copper1]

In a perfect world, no horse would buck or rear or bite but perfect it is not. Bucking as a vice is totally unacceptable and needs to be corrected, bucking from pain needs to be corrected. Bucking for feelng good is something you chuckle at and keep the horse moving forward. No matter how well you start a youngster under saddle, many are going to react to the saddle and girth with bucking. Bucking is a defensive mechanism that would dislodge a predator so well with in the norm. Most babies will have a few bucks at first but the smart ones quickly give it up. I do not punish that bucking, just keep them moving forward until they settle. I will punish if the bucking becomes kicking out at me though!

[Bluey]

In a perfect world, no horse would buck or rear or bite but perfect it is not. Bucking as a vice is totally unacceptable and needs to be corrected, bucking from pain needs to be corrected. Bucking for feelng good is something you chuckle at and keep the horse moving forward. No matter how well you start a youngster under saddle, many are going to react to the saddle and girth with bucking. Bucking is a defensive mechanism that would dislodge a predator so well with in the norm. Most babies will have a few bucks at first but the smart ones quickly give it up. I do not punish that bucking, just keep them moving forward until they settle. I will punish if the bucking becomes kicking out at me though!

I agree with most of that, except that many horses will buck when started.
We started many horses and very few bucked, because we were careful to do everything in a way that kept them from it.

Now, some of them, later, if something set them off, may have tried to buck.
That is when our skills came into play to keep them from it and most times we could avoid it, some times not.
Definitely not something you want a riding horse to get good at, I agree.

I have a video of a fellow starting this two fillies and he works with them for a while and saddles them and then turns them loose to buck, with music and extra sound effects in the video on how much fun it was that one bucked around.
That is what I don't like, in an instructional video, unprofessional of anyone to hoop and holler and have fun because a horse you are starting is bucking.:eek:
That gives the wrong impression and teaches others that bucking is who-ho-ho so much fun.

Most horses get over that right off, but some pay later when some of them get hard to handle because of that bucking they learned when started.

I admit that I too thought as a young one that when a horse bucked it was fun, until I learned to start colts properly by a strict trainer, that would not put up with any nonsense and made us do things right, one of them preparing the horses properly, so they didn't learn that bucking was part of the program.

[Deuce]

I agree with Bluey! Very few horses I've started under saddle have bucked... but before they're started under saddle they get a few weeks of ground work (primarily long lining. Learning to give to the bit, turn, and most importantly WHOA). There are always exceptions, but it is, in my experience, very rare for a properly started colt to buck its first time under saddle.

I had a horse who would buck EVERY time I left the ring at a horse show. Complete with farting and an occasional squeal. Ears up and happy. They were pathetic little bucks which I think ANYONE could have stayed on easily. I never reprimanded him for it. It was funny and it was harmless. He did it EVERY time, I would have been concerned he wasn't feeling well if he didn't!

Very different from the "I am going to get you off and crush your skull you stupid human bitch" type bucking which I never approve of.

[MsM]

I think most of us agree that you wouldnt pet/praise a horse for bucking of any sort (unless you were prepping him to be a rodeo bronc!). But what you would do varies depending upon your horse and situation.
Again, I think most would agree that drop-the-head-down full on bucking requires evaluation and (in absence of physical reason) correction. It is with the "backfire" type bucking that people seem to differ. I have had several horses who would give this kind of buck when excited or happy. I would growl at them and make sure to occupy them with my riding demands but I learned to do no more than that. IMO it is like a little kid saying "Oh Sh*t!" - not acceptable, you let them know, but dont make a huge deal. I have seen (and did it myself once) people get after a horse for a backfire buck and turn it into a huge fight that really only got both parties upset.
So for backfires, I generally either ignore or go with the mild rebuke (growl), or maybe slap with hand or crop, if repeated or too strong and then let it go. My horses havent made it a habit. As to horses bucking seriously? Mostly I avoid them! :winkgrin: If I found myself with a horse that I thought was bucking to get me off, (and didnt have a physical reason) I would get professional help and then sell it!

[tkhawk]

I know-a green horse is one thing, but here they take a horse that has apparantely never been saddled and do it in a ring full of horses and people!:eek:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gtWbMDZtjuw

[Woodland]

My friend and I had this discussion yesterday and we are disagreeing.

I say no way is it acceptable for a horse under saddle to buck. My opinion is, when I ride, the horse is supposed to be submissive to my requests and bucking is not on the list! If my horse is feeling hot or I'm feeling less than strong, I lunge him first to "get the bucks out".

My friend says bucking is a sign of happiness in her horse. Her horse gets really excited about jumping and tends to buck after jumps. When the mare does this, my friend pets her and says she's glad to see her horse so happy about jumping. I say she is reaffirming a bad habit in her horse (that she is selling in two months, BTW).What do you think?

It depends on why he is bucking. Sometimes when he is fresh, he bucks! Not to get me off, but because he feels good!

Now if my guy were one of my stodgy old schoolies it would not be acceptable. However he is an upper level show horse and entitled to being "fresh" at times.

Ah it's a cheap thrill for me - :lol:

[pj]

The last horse I started tended to show her opinion with balking rather than spooking, bolting, etc. She would "buck" if you really pressed her to do something..it went like this:
OK, I'm getting really pissed and in a minute I'm GOING to buck if you keep on....I mean it, you'd better HANG ON. OK, HERE IT COMES!!! We'd then get a foot high rear, then a ft. high lift off in the rear, then we'd do it all over again. :yes: It was kinda like riding a rocking horse. She's given up her "wild west days" and now is a model citizen but it was kinda fun and made me laugh. THAT is the only kind of buck I want to deal with these days and I've watched her in pasture bucking and she CAN buck but never did real bucks with me. My other horse is a whole different ball game. I don't know what that sucker does but you have no warning, you're just off. Thankfully he only does it when he's in yellow jackets or something like that.

[RubyLink]

I guess it would depend on the situation. One of the horses I ride at the barn I work at will buck the first time we canter when she goes back to work. She has the winter off and then goes back to work again in the spring. I don't get mad at her or anything because she is just a bit fresh. If she were to do this everytime we cantered or what not, then yeah, we would have a problem.

[kypeep]

Depends on the reason for the buck. If it's a horse actually trying to get me off, I'll make them understand pretty quick that it's not acceptable. On the other hand, if it's the "I'm happy doing this work" kind of buck, I don't mind it. I won't praise the horse for it, but I'll just ignore it. For example, our cutting horses that haven't worked a cow in awhile will be "cow fresh" and buck when they're first put on a cow. Nothing that's gonna toss you over their head, just something that tells you they're happy to see that cow in front of them. That's a good sign to me, means they enjoy their work.

[katarine]

I've started a decent # of colts and very few buck right from the start. They opt to try it out 2-3 weeks into being ridden. I think we often steal the first __ number of rides, there's too much to process so the horse gets by. Once they get accustomed to it all...then you need to keep your seat deep and hands ready.

I have a colt here now though that bucking is his thing. It's his go-to for I don't wanna ___ anymore. To deal with this I've roped his girth/midbelly/groin lightly, in a round pen, and let him buck himself out. When he quit, I let him quit and encouraged him w/ body language to whoa, air up, and trot off on slack on that belly rope. It only took 3 sessions- each lesser than the previous...til he'd trot and lope around and ignore my tugs on his girthline, or his mid tummy...I put less pressure on his groin when I had my rope down around his waist... as my goal wasn't to teach him to buck, but to teach him that he couldn't shed that pressure by bucking it off. Doing so has largely toned down his resorting to bucking...but yeah, it's there. It's going to be his thing to try when all the other horses get ridden away, and he's held back. Or he's asked to keep working, and he wants to quit. :winkgrin: his owners will be warned of this when he goes home. his name is Buck for a reason, I guess, more than just his color :lol:

so, anyway- bucking b/c it's a pretty, windy day and they are goosey? Pop that head up, laugh it off drive them forward- bucking out of anger or resentment or craptastic work ethic? Ugly thoughts on their part, and equally ugly thoughts on mine. I won't own a horse that bucks to be nasty, but I don't mind one that has a hump here and there out of woo hoo!!

[Guilherme]

My friend and I had this discussion yesterday and we are disagreeing.

I say no way is it acceptable for a horse under saddle to buck. My opinion is, when I ride, the horse is supposed to be submissive to my requests and bucking is not on the list! If my horse is feeling hot or I'm feeling less than strong, I lunge him first to "get the bucks out".

My friend says bucking is a sign of happiness in her horse. Her horse gets really excited about jumping and tends to buck after jumps. When the mare does this, my friend pets her and says she's glad to see her horse so happy about jumping. I say she is reaffirming a bad habit in her horse (that she is selling in two months, BTW).

What do you think?

You're absolutely correct.

Your friends viewpoint might change after she's been dropped on her head.

But, then, maybe not.

G.

[Ambrey]

Rather than asking whether it's acceptable, it seems like the question would be "what are you going to do about it?"

If my big guy bucks on canter transition, we go back and do the transition again. No come to Jesus moments or anything.

If my little guy bucks, I know I'm making him uncomfortable and I try to get up off of his back.

But there were many CTJ moments when my big guy was being cured of his desire to shed rider when he was fearful. And I was happy to report to the goggle eyed spectators at his "first turnout in a week" show that those particular antics are now restricted to liberty.

[merrygoround]

Hmmm....well, I'll laugh about a little happy buck, but it's still naughty and he gets a pop on the rump with a crop or a nudge with my heels. But ultimately, no, bucking isn't really acceptable.


However, running like an out of control lunatic on the lunge line isn't appropriate either. Lunging is not to "get the sillies out"....it's for proper work. Turnout is for getting the sillies out. Anytime my horse is around me, whether it's leading/under saddle/on the lunge line, he is expected to behave.

So as ridiculous as you think your friend is for allowing bucking under saddle....I think you're just as ridiculous for allowing it on the lunge line.

Hmmm! Did they say they were allowing it?

[Bluey]

You're absolutely correct.

Your friends viewpoint might change after she's been dropped on her head.

But, then, maybe not.

G.

:lol: :winkgrin:

[twofatponies]

With my older horse, she used to buck (small crow hops) if I didn't set her up right for a canter depart - I learned to ride on her years ago, so I used to mangle the canter transition pretty badly now and then, and her buck was a frustrated response to me kicking her too hard or holding her mouth while asking her to go... so in that scenario the buck was a clear sign to me that I had made a rider error, and I needed to settle back into a steady trot and try again.

My younger mare has bucked once - today! - when I gave her a little whack on the butt with a jacket I was carrying across the ring to hand to someone. Just a little kick out, not a big buck. My fault - I surprised her with something unexpected. She's never done it before, and I'll know better than to surprise her with a whack from an unfamiliar object again! Doh. In that scenario I just carried on riding and didn't punish or correct her for bucking, because it was my error.

Now if I had a horse that bucked "on purpose" or as a resistance or just out of fun, on a regular basis, I would come up with some way of intervening to prevent it or get a trainer to help me fix it, because I don't think it's okay for a horse to buck whenever it feels like it, or just for fun, or when spooking, or anything like that. Not on the lunge line either. Work is work. Play is play. I also wouldn't buy or keep a horse that tended to buck frequently or hard - I am too old for that sort of thing!

[slc2]

Not as long as I don't wind up eating dirt.

I do think that a horse that throws in a bunch of bucks after a jump probably is more of a show jumper and less of a hunter, and probably more of a professional's horse and less of an amateur's horse. But it also might mean that being ridden once every three weeks and spending the rest of his time in his stall seeing how much grain and alfalfa he can eat, isn't working too well for him, LOL.

I think that if a horse is constantly bucking because he's pissed off or being ridden incorrectly, or something hurts him, or he lacks in some basic quality of rideability, that's different, very different, from the occasional show of friskiness.

[Linny]

Dobby had a nasty buck and got me off twice. That said, he wasn't a "bucker." The first time was when he was new to the barn and I had ridden him about 4 or 5 times. I was using my saddle rather than my trainer's and I could feel something different about him but wasn't sure what. We jumped a small fence, after which we could go either right or left. Since he had a right drift, I decided to steer left and had looked that way on approach, used a left leading rein in air etc. He hit the ground, started right and I asked more firmly for left and he went rodeo on me. I stayed on for a few blasts but came off when he swerved hard to avoid the wall. Turned out my saddle was halfway around him and I suspect that the saddle wasn't fitting him well and it may have shifted when I asked, then demanded that he go left. (Turns out he's bucked off his owner while hunting due to saddle fit issues.)
Later at his first ever show, he got me off again. We were schooling and he was hopping nicely over jumps in the practice area. They called the warmup (which I skipped) and suddenly, Mr Herdbound was all alone in an unfamiliar place. He took a jump and lost it! (Turns out he'd bucked his owner off hunting when the first field took off on him!)

Once I learned what all his "triggers" were, and the signs of an issue we had no further problems. He does have a nasty buck though and it only takes one to get you.

As for playfulness in the field or even on the lunge, I say better there than under saddle. Horses are big animals that were condition to be fit and strong, yet choose to keep in boxes. Just like a dog that sometimes just runs rampant around the house or yard, a horse sometimes needs to run and buck and use those muscles. While the lunge is generally a training method therefore a horse should be in "full disipline" mode while lunging, it doesn't always happen. Horses are smart enough to figure out that if they are going to buck, the human would prefer that it happen on the tape rather than under saddle.

[J-Lu]

Well, this'll be an outlier opinion, but here goes.

My horse rarely bucks undersaddle in the ring. But she reliably bucks after a good gallop, which we do on our "fun days" (most days she's schooling and concentrating). She very much enjoys galloping and likes to sprint for a bit and then settle into a small line of bucks. I have no doubt that these are "happy bucks". SHe's done this her whole life. I don't discourage them because they're usually easy to ride and I know she's having fun. If she's particularly revved up, I can reliably prevent them/stop them. She's an extremely obedient horse so I don't mind letting her have some fun on "fun days".

My bad!
J.

[slc2]

Actually it just may mean you're a good trainer. I think horses can be a lot more expressive and joyful and enthusiastic about their work if allowed to do this. Too, a horse may be expected to perform for 17 - 20 years of his life, there has to be something fun in it for him to keep him doing it.

[billiebob]

Like others, I think it depends on the type of buck. Greenbean crowhops? I don't expect them per se but you have to be prepared for them nonetheless. Hissy fits? I hate those, and it normally becomes my way or the highway. In both cases I sit up and send them forward to get their mind on WORK. I choose not to ride the broncs (thanks to my boss who has never asked me to!). I would NEVER EVER praise a horse for bucking, but I would ignore it in some cases.

[VCT]

PJ doesn't buck, though he sure can. Seen him do some great ones out in the paddock AND I've seen him "pop" his back up and chuck one really good rider and unseat another very advanced rider. His feet never leave the ground, he just does this ejection button thing. And both times he looked perplexed afterwards. Anyways, that was back when he was super-green and he was a bit confused I think.

He has never bucked with me and there sure have been times when I've messed up while jumping, or he's real fresh, etc. I never lunge him. He's a good boy. He WILL put his head a bit below level and shake it around in the first canter if he's been on vacation for a while, or after a particularly fun jump or line. But thats it, and if he feels me tense up during his head shaking he stops immediately and gets back to being steady. I love him for obviously trying to take care of me.

My other horse, who is 4.5 years old is all business under saddle. Has never bucked in his life. He was started under saddle very lightly at 3.5 years old and has been in fairly light work on and off since then. He'll go into more serious work this spring but he's always good. Easiest horse in the barn to ride.

When I was younger I didn't mind bucking but generally did get after the horse for it, usually just by getting them super forward. I can still ride most bucks, but really, I'd rather not deal with that sort of behavior anymore.

[Chef Jade]

Happy, healthy, properly fed horses don't buck. If the horse bucks there is a reason for it. Find the reason, remove it and everyone benefits. Ignore the reason and it will continue until the horse generally needs to be put down.

Wow - That has to be the most ignorant thing I have read on COTH in a long time. :no:

[ljc]

My lovely 21-year-old retired TB hunter, who can buck like a maniac while being lunged, bucked under saddle last week for the first time in the nearly 15 years I've owned him. It was a cold morning, he had an extra day off between rides, and I put my leg on him with extra pressure as we passed the open gate. He put his head down between his legs and let out a pretty good sized buck. I was SO proud of him that he could still pull stuff like that! I pulled his head up and we continued cantering as if nothing had ever happened.

God love the oldsters who can still surprise us and make us laugh! I gave him extra carrots after the ride.

[LookinSouth]

I don't really believe in lunging to get out the bucks but turnout or free lunging instead. I agree with those that say the lunge line should be for working. If you want your horse to burn some excess energy free lunge and play games. That way the horse can differentiate between working on the lunge line and "play time".

I think there are many degrees of bucking some harmless some not. Under no circumstance should bucking be rewarded imo. I would never choose to ride a habitual bucker either, I leave them for the pros or the very brave ammies that still bounce.

My 17 year old usually only does little playful 1/2 bucks under saddle, they're really more like cow kicks. He always stops when I correct him verbally by saying "South!" in my angry mommy tone:lol:. But believe me the horse can really buck in turnout. God help me if he ever decides to buck like that when I'm on him!
He only does it if he hasn't been in work regularly and we are cantering. Like if he goes 4 or 5 days without being ridden due to crazy weather. There was one day this year after 5 days off ( and he is turned out 24/7) that he started hopping, jigging, snorting, throwing his head and getting just a wee bit too hot for my comfort in the open. We were hacking around the property. When I got off and was leading him in hand he was throwing in some good bucks too. This is extremely out of character for him.
I turned him out in a nice big grass paddock that has better footing than his own. Chased him around a bit and he galloped, bucked and jumped around at liberty for a good 10 minutes. Got on the next day and he was quiet as can be. If I had put him on a lunge line he would have been pissy and cranky. I believe it puts unneccessary stress on the joints if your not actually working the horse properly but rather just playing around. I agree with those that say bucking on a very regular basis is a problem and should definitely be discouraged.

[StockyCrosses]

My greenie does her little bucks and has thrown in some big ones, usually when she hasn't been ridden in a while. I believe that bucking on the longe line or under saddle is showing that the horse doesn't respect you. My mare is out 24/7 in a pasture with shelter and runs and bucks all the time. When I'm in the fencing, she calms down and shows me respect. I only longe if I need to reinforce my position in the 'herd', something that was taught by the cowboy that saddle trained her.

Usually if she bucks undersaddle, something is irritating her or I'm not giving clear enough signals and we stop for a minute. Now she just shakes her head to give me a heads up so I can slow down and evaluate what we're doing. If we're just trotting along on the trail and she bucks with no real reason, I reprimand her.

She has been checked by the vet and has had her saddles fitted. (Yes, I own 7 saddles for one horse. All different types so they can be switched when the time is needed so I don't cause pinching during training.)

[Tilly]

Well then, I guess Ruby needs to be put down.
She bucks when she is mad about something. It is her way of showing her refusal. Sometimes it comes up when I ask her for something simple, like a canter depart. She bucks hard, too. I've never come off of her because I can sit out bucks extremely well.
Since she's a stubborn little pony, you have to be careful about how you go about it. You have to calmly reprimand her [one sharp tap with the whip]. If she doesn't respond, or bucks again, she either gets another reprimand or ceaseless tapping until she responds correctly. If she's being a real cow I will smack her with the whip harder than usual, but that doesn't happen as often anymore. Sometimes we will be in the arena bucking and refusing to go forward for a long time before she gives in. The second she responds correctly, she is rewarded and we move on like nothing happened.
She is not in pain, all her tack fits correctly, and she is well cared for and happy. Bucking is her way of showing defiance, and since she's an opinionated little mare, there's not a whole lot I can do about it. She's a bucker, plain and simple. She'll never be completely cured of it. And I don't mind riding buckers at all, so we're a good match :lol:

I don't think bucking under saddle is proper, if they're being disobedient. If it's a happy, I'm-so-excited sort of bucking, it's different, and while it probably shouldn't be encouraged, some people tend to forget that a horse is still a living, breathing creature, not a machine. Ignore it and move on.
If it's an I-am-hurting sort of bucking, it should be taken very seriously and the problem should be found and removed, if at all possible.

I let her buck on the lunge line. I encourage it, in fact. She knows the difference between working on the lunge and playing. If I could free-lunge her, I would. She loves it and it is very good for her. Alas, I have no where to do so, aside from the small roundpen, which she doesn't like nearly as much and can't buck and play in as well.
I don't lunge her before I ride her, because it's not necessary. Some horses, IMO, do need to be lunged, whether it's to loosen up their back or to let them get a little excess energy/bucks out.

[Beverley]

Well, I've only ever had one that was a confirmed, buck as soon as you are in the saddle because he wanted you off, kind of bucker. He went on to a lovely career as a saddle bronc horse. He was an OTTB and who knows what had happened to him at the track, if I had had the time and could have worked him through it he'd have been a heckuva horse. But he like his rodeo career just fine.

I've got one who gives a playful crowhop from exuberance now and then. It's easier to ride than many horses' canters. I laugh and go on with life, it's kind of like disciplining a kindergartner while trying very hard to keep a straight face because the no-no has you rolling on the floor, inside.

If I get one who wants, for whatever reason, to develop the habit of bucking under saddle, I'll set them up for that buck, in the arena or on the trails, and when it comes they will be put in high gear for a good 15 minute or so hand gallop to gallop- with a few minutes extra after they say 'can we stop now?' They soon get the message that a buck is going to cost them a bit of extra sweat.

Generally though, when one 'suddenly' bucks a propos of nothing at all, I'll be looking for ill fitting tack or some other 'owie.'

[fleur de duc]

For my personal horse I do not thin kit is acceptable, although I have to expect it with him at the moment. He is green, and maturing to the point where his body is there, but his mind is still in baby stage. That combined with his personality and spookiness leaves me with some pretty nasty explosions at times. I ride them out and make him move out, NOW, at all costs. never does he get to stop b/c of one. But at the same time I do not discipline him for them. A quick smack or leg jab if nec. or he is not paying attention but then back to doing exactly what I was doing before he lost it. It is all about keeping the satus quo with him. he has to learn that no matter what he does we are still going to be doing what I am asking.

I would never praise him for bucking. Although I do think there is such a thing as a happy buck (like after jumping, assuming there is no pain issues, I have known some horses to throw a buck out of excitement. however, I do not think it is something to praise. My boy will buck if he is enjoying himself (e.g. .. if there are puddles in the ring and he splashes through them, I know to expect a "yippie! buck" after he throws in a few lead changes .. he also does that when he is enjoying himself) But by no means do I praise it.

[Lady Counselor]

Acceptable hehavior when working, no. Understandable behavior, sometimes. No matter how well we may train or ride, horses are living, sentient beings with a mind of their own.
And sometimes stuff happens.
It's part of horsemanship.

[asb_own_me]

Acceptable hehavior when working, no. Understandable behavior, sometimes.

The words I was looking for!

I took the OP's use of "acceptable" to mean "not appropriate". Her friend that praises bucks? Silly and perhaps bordering on dangerous. I do not think bucking, rearing, spooking, etc are appropriate under saddle, but they can and do happen. Do I ignore the behavior or worse yet, reward it? No way. But the action I take directly correlates with the severity of the behavior. Little hop? Little kick. A real buck? A real big whap on the ass with the whip, accompanied by a lot of leg. And my reaction also depends on the horse. My 13 y/o mare who's seen everything and really has no excuse? My reaction is harsher with her than with the 3 y/o I broke this summer. With both horses, my reaction is immediate.