I part loan an 11 year old mare, she is about 14.1/2ish hh. And is a cob. She is normally ridden on hacks/trail rides. But I ride her in the school once a week and hack her once a week so she's does both with me. She will walk and trot nicely, but as soon as you ask for canter she starts bucking, the more times you ask the worse she bucks. I tried giving her a tap with a schooling whip when she bucks but she just bucks more. She hasn't got me off yet but it's like a battle and I still haven't got her to canter? Her owner doesn't school her but said I could and she hasn't even be able to canter her. The last time she canter was in an open field when another horse in front was cantering, I've tried sitting through the bucks and kicking her on but she doesn't give up and gets worse.
How can I stop her bucking and get her into canter?
Hmm, she sounds stubborn. Lol. I'm sorry to say it but I think I'd have to keep wacking her with the crop serious until she cantered. She'll probably get more serious about the bucking too until she actually moves forward, so it really depends on if you think you can ride her or not. Then I'd stop pressure as she loped along, letting her break for a minute and asking again to lope until she just does it. I'm sorry that's not easy so maybe someone else will say something else.
Something that might help is lunging her in the round pen. Will she canter when you are lunging her? If so, make it a good thing for her when she does. If she won't canter because she is acting stubborn then teaching her that cantering is a good thing should help. you will get her atention and will be reminding her that you are boss. When you tell your horse to stop and release presure by backing up, your mare should stop and face you immediately. That is usually a good singn that your horse is paying attention to you. I don't know if she already does that with you or not. If so, That is great! After you do that, then get on her and try to canter. If she repects you on the ground then she will learn to respect you when you are on her back. When attemting to canter her, she will probly still buck, but if you can do it till she stops, then reward her. If she is acting no diffrent, then try cantering bareback. It could be the sadle pinching her. If you have done all that, an there is still no inprovment, then have a vet check her out.
Hope this helped!
I'd also see what she's like on the lunge to canter and get her saddle checked and her feet because that can impact how a horse wants to move up through the paces
If she's unfit it could just be that she's being stubborn because she doesn't feel up to the work - cobs need more fittening work than a typical horse or pony
She won't be lunged. She just tears and "throws" her self onto the floor. It got dangerous. She would of end up hurting herself or the person lungeing. She won't even do it in a round pen.
Personally, I would not even be riding this horse if this is her "norm" on the lunge line. It may be attitude, it may be a physical inability/difficulty but either way, a horse that can't mind on the ground most likely won't mind under saddle either and that is just as dangerous, IMHO. Can you find something else to ride?
Hmm, when I told you what I'd do I didn't know she was capable of throwing herself down... I don't honestly know if she would do that if pushed through the bucking. I can't really say in that case. I know what I'd do if she did, but I am not the one riding her and you do need to remember to take care of yourself, after all she is a lease!
well, if yoiu're happy with this horse that is perfect in every other way, then just be happy with her as she is. she may not be open to being changed. how many people are riding her? how often per week?
If I really felt ready and willing to take on the tantrum this horse is displaying, I'd got with her to the round pen with a flag on a golf club. and if a person has enough 'balls', they can usually get even a spoiled horse to move out. but, it can be scary and ugly. the flag allows you to make a lot of noise, and a firm stick to hit her on the nose, if she truly charged you. (that's the only time I'd ever hit a horse in the face).
the flag snapping around can also be a better driver than a whip. it doesnt cause pain, but it does make a commotion, if needed.
I ride the her twice a week, but sometimes I give her the day off depending how I feel. Her owners rides her about two-three times a week but that's just hacking. It's only me who rides her in the school.
You can either force her to canter with an over and under (google it), basically long reins but if you ride English, there are ways to fashion one with leather reins. She might buck, but usually it startles the bejeezus out of them and they go. It's better than nagging on & on, it gets the point across and it's done. However, with a confirmed bucker, you might get hurt. Be safe.
For a horse that throws herself, I would get her cantering without a rider first
If a horse is not good with groundwork, he is not going to be good, asked the same thing while ridden.
You already said all physical pain issues have been ruled out, by a vet, so won't be repetitive
Seeing how she is being asked to lunge, on a video, sure would be helpful, far as giving any useful advise
Thank you all for the advice! I rode her tonight and I finally got her into canter! It was only a few strides but a canter nonetheless. In the end I had to kick through her bucks and a tap on the shoulder with my schooling whip pushed her forward. I just now have to keep her in the canter. She still throws bucks even in canter but she's learning the more she bucks the longer the work is. Hopefully she will give in and learn that the quicker you do it the easier it is!
Update on this.
She's got a new trick, and will now suddenly jump to the side in canter. She unbalanced me today and I came flying off the side of her. But was made to get back on by a friend at the yard and told to make her do it because she can't go throwing people in a "tantrum"
Hopefully over the next few weeks she'll improve.
If not her, then for the sake of my back.
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