Excitement Turning to a buck?

I've recently joined the mounted drill team that will be performing at one of the local rodeos later this year. The horse I'm using however turns from his typically very laid back personality on trail and on the lunge/undersaddle at his home stable to a horse who gets excited to be riding with other horses.

He's settled down a little bit at the last two practices but I'm wondering if giving him time to adjust is all he needs or if a little bit more of a correction should come into play. He's admitted been out of regular work for the last couple months.

Here's what happens/my response:
After a 30 minute trail ride to the arena when he's a dream to ride confidence/energy wise we start to warm up. Nice big long trot until the jitters of being around 7 other horses in a big arena going all over the place wears down. First couple canter departures he condenses himself up and I can feel the burst of energy coming so I typically ask him to walk/trot nicely before asking again. When a buck DOES occur I've always instinctively held firm on the reins to keep my horses head from driving downward for another buck. He will give nice departures after the first couple and there's never ear pinning etc.

The other time this happens is points in our pattern sometimes when we're playing "catch up" and trying to hurry towards the horse in front of us and he seems to feel left behind OR when we're next to another horse and I ask him to pick up the pace. So I'm thinking this is all excitement/needing to get used to regular work again?

I'll admit I'm self concious since another rider has been telling me to kick him forward when he bucks, which doesn't seem right to me. I don't want to start a bronc riding episode. She also says not to pull him back, like I've been doing to ask him to calm down. Half halts have been my friend but I'm second guessing myself now.
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When you feel a buck coming, you're right to keep the head up, but you want to go ahead and drive him forward at the same time.
This behavior is very common with horses that get excited when working around other horses (i.e. Like it's play time). Consistently correcting it and practice/experience/time makes it all better.

Subbing.....my percheron mare seems to get 'excited' and lift all fours off the ground like a rabbit.

Subbing because my horse got nervous about a rearing horse and bucked me off. I broke my rib and haven't ridden in 4 weeks.

Just wanted to say that I feel your pain. I got bucked off and broke my rib on New Year's Eve. Be careful if you get a cold or anything like that. I developed pneumonia because I couldn't breathe deeply enough to clear my lungs when I developed a common cold almost a month later!

See he's breaking my usual love for cantering with the bunny hops and it's a little embarrassing. I have a fear of failing (don't we all though?) and I don't want to let the behavior go on.

Anyone at least able to weigh in on kicking a bucking horse? Doesnt sound like the best route?
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Coughing, laughing and sneezing is VERY painful!

So, to answer the OP's question, I just read a Montey Roberts book entitled "From My Hands To Yours" and he said for a remedial bucking horse, the best solution is a buck stop. It's a gear thingy

Thanks but no thanks Monty....
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Again, it's not an all the time thing, it's when I ask him to move out around other horses. He's not biting, ear pinning, kicking out nada at the other horses just kinda bunny hopping/small bucks. A friend thinks his slight out of shapeness is a factor and just not being around this many horses often is making it exciting/a game almost. Sound viable?
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Is there a way for you to practice with other horses at a public arena to work him through it without the pressure of the crowd/teammates/scores?

He sounds like he doesn't quite understand it's "work" and not "play"

I rode a mare that did the same in the warmup pen because she wasn't sure what was going on lol.