The Horse Forum banner
Status
Not open for further replies.

Bucking in a Lope

4K views 14 replies 9 participants last post by  Little Red 
#1 ·
So my horse, Reggie (in my photos), has a problem with bucking in the lope. The weird thing is, he only bucks in an arena. He rides wonderfully out on roads and trails and even bareback! But, the second he steps foot into our arena, he wants to go-go-go and throw in a little buck when he does. It is very strange. At first I thought he just needed new tack. But I can assure you that we have everything properly fitted and this is purely a behavioral issue.

Any pointers? :)
 
#2 ·
He might be sore and stiff somewhere, but it might show only in an arena because of tighter turns. Has his back been checked by a professional? Is he being worked on suppleness and relaxation at the walk and trot before loping? It's quite often that a stiff horse will lope happily on trails, but refuse working in an arena. Loping in circles and turns correctly is actually hard work, especially, if the rider isn't perfectly balanced.
 
#3 ·
He has been checked and even adjusted in the past. He gets lots of walking around the arena and some trotting. (I give a couple lessons on him.) I know he's not tired, either, because he gets many, MANY hours of stall-time and shade and food and water between my lesson time and my personal riding time. He really doesn't like just walking or even trotting in the arena. The second he gets in there, he really just wants to get straight into the lope. He's a very strong horse, so sometimes it is a little difficult to hold him back. But, most times I can do it. I wonder if he may have some sort of anxiety about being in the arena? And maybe I can bring out a psychiatric specialist from UGA to work with him or something. I have had to do that before with another horse of mine for differing circumstances.
 
#4 ·
many, MANY hours of stall-time
That actually might be connected. Horses need freedom of movement for their bodies to be healthy and flexible. Many, many hours of stall-time is NOT a good thing - many, MANY hours of large pasture with herd time would be much better.

Wanting to get straight into lope can also be connected with stiffness, in some cases - mild lameness, as loping is easier than trotting. If not that, then a horse who is stabled most of the time is bound to get hyperactive in the arena.

For how long exactly is he stalled daily? It would also really help if you could show the problem in a video. Otherwise it's just wild guesses.
 
#7 ·
That actually might be connected. Horses need freedom of movement for their bodies to be healthy and flexible. Many, many hours of stall-time is NOT a good thing - many, MANY hours of large pasture with herd time would be much better.

Wanting to get straight into lope can also be connected with stiffness, in some cases - mild lameness, as loping is easier than trotting. If not that, then a horse who is stabled most of the time is bound to get hyperactive in the arena.

For how long exactly is he stalled daily? It would also really help if you could show the problem in a video. Otherwise it's just wild guesses.
I know it would be best for me to keep him in the pasture during relaxation periods, but it is not an option for us. :? I am an instructor during the summer and he is only allowed to do what the rest of the horses must do during the program (which I do not put together). If it were up to me, all of the horses would be put out to pasture during their rest periods. What does stink about it, though, is that we live in Georgia. I don't know if you've ever been to Georgia, but in the summer time the heat can be UNBEARABLE! Absolutely wretched! So, at times I do think it is best that they are in stalls with fans, clean water, food, and hay. It's a good time for them to chill out and keep cool during their rest periods. He is stalled from about 8 AM to 8 PM. But, he gets out to ride four about 4 of those hours and I take him out to graze alone for about 1 1/2 - 2 of the rest of those hours. I can't upload a video yet, but I will when I have the opportunity after next week.
 
#5 ·
I would guess that it is completely behavioral. This behavior has caused riders to pull him up so he decided it is a behavior that has a 'pay-off' for him. If it had a 'real' cause, he would be the same out on the trail.

You say he does this with lesson riders. Does he also do it with you? They can get pretty smart about who and where they can get by with something. Someone that can ride him through it is going to have to spank his butt in the arena and continue loping until he settle down and lopes right. THEN, stop after a couple of nice rounds, stand still for a while, dismount on the far side of the arena and lead him out.

When you ride on the trails and in the pasture, I would also go to the arena and take a few nice laps at the lope just before quitting. Then, do the same as above. Make the arena a 'nice' place to go and the place you always end your ride. Doing this, will prevent or stop most 'arena sour' behavior.
 
#8 ·
I definitely thought it was behavioral, as well. It makes sense that stiffness may be an issue simply because he is in a stall a lot and the area does have tighter turns. BUT, I do just as tight of turns on him out on trails as I would in the arena and he's always just dandy. He doesn't lag behind or have problems going up and down hills. I certainly gathered it to be behavioral. I am going to work on this with your input because I've actually read about this "making the arena the nice place" method before in books I've obtained from my library. I really liked the idea because many horses find the arena to be a redundant, work-heavy place for them and it, in turn, leads to them acting up. I definitely intend to take your advice! Thanks! :)
 
#6 ·
I agree behavior.

I would start by working him out on the trail and getting him thinking and bit worn out. Then ride him in the arena, encourage him to walk and relax on a loose rein and just let him go where he wants to go. Initially he probably will want to race around because that is what he is used to, when he does tell him thank you for communicating that you need to move your feet faster. Let him lope around but keep him busy do lots of circles, serpentines, changes in direction, rollbacks on the fence, transitions, shoulder in/shoulder out, lead changes make him work. If he goes to buck pull his nose around to your boot and yield his hind end with hustle, then go back to work. When he is needing air let him walk on a loose rein. If he gets antsy go back to work. Let him figure out that walking on a loose rein is the easy thing dragging you around and trying to run is the hard thing. I would also give him the opportunity to stop and rest in the middle of the arena. Let him figure out that the arena can be a good place.
 
#9 ·
I love your advice as well. As I said in my quoted reply to Cherie, I definitely thought it was behavioral from the start. He is just a very sassy young man, haha. Anyways, I really like your method and I am certainly going to test it out as well! Thank you so much! :D
 
#10 ·
Abby,

I just cringe when I look at that photo of you hanging over your avatar horse's neck. I am imagining what would happen to you , your shoulder or you jaw or nose, if he threw up his head suddenly.

I once had my arm well over Z's neck , with my shoulder kind of over it too. something spooked him, he threw up his 100 lb head and nearly tore my shoulder out of the socket. if my head had been over his neck, it would have broken my jaw and/or teeth, too.
 
#12 ·
Oh, and if he is a stubborn one, don't despair! Call me masochistic but I love horses like that. Once they learn something, they l.e.a.r.n. it! Kinda a double-edged sword, but when you can get on after a month off and pick up right where you left off, it's pretty darn nice. :D
 
#14 ·
When he bucks what do you do? Do you stop? If you do, you have taught him that when he bucks he gets out of work! If it's little crow hops, push and make him go faster. Let him know that will not work anymore. If he doing the bronco bucks, lounge him at a lope for a good while then get back on him and try again.
 
#15 ·
my horse used to buck at the lope too. I had never fallen off until that one good buck and I went right over her head and into the arena fence. She stepped on my leg too! I got up, dusted myself off, got back on, and showed that horse whos boss! And by golly shes never bucked or reared sense! Maybe try making the arena a fun place not just a place to work. I let my horse loose in the arena every now and then and play with her. I let her run around and jump over very small jumps without forcing her. You could try that.
 
Status
Not open for further replies.
You have insufficient privileges to reply here.
Top