Why My Horse Bucked...

I know exactly, precisely why my horse bucked.

What I don't know is whether or not I am up for fixing this problem.

We went over to Trail Rider's house for an afternoon of kids swimming, horse work, and BBQ. Trailering was without incident, just a little stubborn at the closing of the bar.

This detail will be ironic later, keep it in mind.

Once we got the kids swimming, we tacked up to ride. No problem. All good. Since I hadn't ridden Cibolo in a while we went over to the round pen and worked. I watched TR ride Vaquero, his Paso Fino. That horse responds to feather touch, and you really have to be on your game to ride him well. He's eager to please, but very quick to react. I remember him going sideways on me once because my weight was just a bit more on the right than the left.

Cibolo was being a pain. Not standing still. I checked for ants, anything, but there was nothing there.

We went into the round pen and he was pretty lousy. Canter was terrible. So with TR's guidance I worked on collecting him, something I don't know anything about. Slowly we got a little better. I'd say we worked for 15-20 minutes in the round pen and by the end he was responding much better, but was still not great at the canter - head tossing, head high, just a mess. Teeth maybe, maybe I needed a different bit, TR theorized.

I decided I'd work on collecting him over the next few months. It would give us something to do in the round pen.

We headed out to the big pasture and we were trotting and walking, just riding in a big square. After a good 15 or 20 minutes of that, TR went ahead of us by about 30 yards. I kept Cibolo at a trot. We'd already cantered here and there. So I wasn't worried. He was good, and I decided we were good to head out at a lope and catch up to that quick moving gaited horse.

That was it. The minute I gave him his head ever so slightly he bunched up and hit a dead run. I was startled, pulled slightly - seriously, slightly - on the reins, and his head dived down and he gave me the worst bucks I've ever been on. The first one caught me off balance, the second I lost my stirrups. But I'd be damned if he was going to dump me.

I yanked his head up hard, he still half bucked half turned, but I stuck it and turned him. I slapped him with the rope to make him turn, because his turns were lazy, crappy turns. He was startled, squirting out under me, but I was too mad to fall off.

I called him every name in the book in two languages. If he so much as moved his head I pulled him around hard.

I cantered him off across the pasture, away from TR. If we wanted to run, then we'd run. He cantered and we spent the next 20 minutes cantering away from TR and his horse.


So that it. That's why. This is exactly when he freaks out. The other horse is too far away, I release him enough to close some distance, and he explodes.

Which makes for a lousy experience. I can't imagine how this would work on an endurance ride where I wasn't with a group committed to stay together.

I worked him hard, cooled him down, pulled him around, stayed big with him in attitude and behavior, then tied him to the trailer with a hay bag. No more pasture time. His eyes were bright, he watched every move I made. He was worried about ticking me off, about making a mistake. It was something he needed to worry about.

When we loaded into the trailer he loaded up so quick, that I could have closed the divider two or three holes closer. Hmm. No need to stand with the butt in the way? Trailer not so small now?

This is who this horse needs. Very strong in attitude, very hard driving individual. I've said it before and I am pretty convinced at this point.

And let me tell you, those bucks didn't feel bratty, they didn't feel scared. I've ridden those. His bucks at the ranch two weeks ago were bratty. I was willing to put up with those.

These were mean. And I'm not kidding. I could feel it viscerally, and it was what made me so angry. I was so mad I could have ridden a Brahma bull at that point.


When I saw him today he still had attitude, but the minute I got harsher, angry, head witch, he straightened up. Even walked up to me in the paddock - but only after he tried to evade me and I got furious and drove him around three quick turns in 10 feet of space. Then he was all like "yes, ma'am!"

It sucks.

I know what he needs to get over this. He needs to be confronted with it repeatedly. But let me tell you, I'm not willing to be on his back when he explodes because the horse he wants to hang out with is 40 feet away. Because I might not get his head up on the second buck. And while I've ridden as many as 7 bucks in a row, I felt myself ready to fly on this one. Too big to stick.

I'm not a trainer. I'm a half decent rider. I just got my confidence back, and I'm not sure this is a way to keep it.

So tell me - are my expectations out of line? Is it unreasonable to want a horse that doesn't have a buck?

Falls from great heights

No, I didn't fall off my horse today.

But it wasn't because he didn't try to make me.

I rode out two of the hardest bucks I've ever been on. And I tell you what.

I didn't sign up for the rodeo.

And things were going so well

What would Pokey do?

Cibolo and I had a really lousy trail ride the other day. I partially blame myself. I didn't listen to the voice inside that said "you are too tired to do this."

We have a great deal of stress, had gotten some bad news, and lost a big battle (as an industry) at work. Everything seemed to be pressing down hard. I wanted to see my horses, but truly was too tired.

So I decided I'd just go and at least lay hands on them.

When I got there the barn owner said "we can ride on the ranch!"

We never get to ride on the ranch next door (with over 600 acres), so I felt like it was something I really needed to take advantage of. Even if it would be nearly a 2 hour ride.

But I hadn't seen my horse in a week. I had no time for even the most basic ground work. We were riding with a teenager who rides a hot, hoppy OTTB, who she loves to canter over rocks and such. Right away I found that I kept missing my horse's signals. Signals that he was taking charge. And by the time I did catch on, it was too late. I missed that 5 minute window.

At one point he gave me one little buck, which I found darn discouraging. I rode through it, but I was really, really ticked. I really don't want a horse that'll buck, even if I AM tired. Who the heck was this horse?

And my foot hurt from all the trotting.

And I was still tired.

I learned what the term "ride my ride" means.

And I know now that I need to listen to myself. When I'm too tired, I'm too tired.

Yesterday I took a pass on riding yet again with the teenager on the ranch. Instead we worked in the round pen, I got my horse reconnected, and worked on my bareback riding for a bit. Slowly the trotting is coming along. I almost felt competent for 3 steps! I'm committed to working on it this week.

There's lots of news around here, and it'll take a few days to tell it all. Part of it you can read here, from our dog. I'll try to catch up, I've sure missed everyone!

You wouldn't buck on me, would ya, Pokey?

Not a confidence building day

We went on a trail ride - I on Cibolo, the BO on the black TB - one of the two horses she's tuning up to sell.

My horse bucked. Five times. (clarification - just one buck, but on 5 separate occassions)

We were trotting and he wanted to canter. I said no. Buck

Didn't matter if we were in the front or the back, way ahead or far behind.

I know why he did it the first few times. He's been cooped up and wanted to run.

But that doesn't really explain the last 3 times. After I say no, that should be enough.


So my question is -- what the hell am I doing on the back of a bucking horse again?

And, more frightening, is it me? Am I turning a horse that was perfectly broke into a bucking horse because I don't want to canter? Can I just not do this? Again?

Husband wants the horse - actually all horses - gone. He thinks this is a lot of money to spend on something that isn't working out for the second time.

I'm pretty low. I don't know what I want anymore.






Here's my comfy, but ugly , saddle.


Here's a a picture of the appaloosa. More on him another time.

Two steps forward, one buck back.

Can you tell she really didn't want to go on a trail ride?

New Saddle. Thank you ebay.

Her horse is listening.

Backing.

Rubbing.

Out on the trail at Canyon Lake. Adam in front with our BO, Donna.

My Happier rider.

We borrowed a horse - this is the first time we've been out all together.

We divide up - and off goes Adam and Donna on a little trot time.

Me. Before IT happened.

Beautiful tree break...

The Sorrel Gang.

After here Cibolo got jiggy.
I got him under control.
His foot slid in the mud.
It startled him.
Then he bucked.
I stayed on.
I kept riding.
Turned him, worked him. Got off for a while
where we were trying to do some trail work.
Got back on and rode.

I'm pretty discouraged at this point.

Because I don't think can do bucking. Period.


We rode back. My mood matched the sky.

Still does.

What the hell, I'll keep him

My irritation at Canyon has passed over. Sometimes I think we are in high school and in some weird on again off again dating thing. Maybe I should seek counseling. Could this be a bigger problem than I realize? Am I continuing an abusive relationship because of low self esteem?

Ok, you can stop laughing now.

Since my horse is actually my therapy, I clearly need this kind of couch...






Mmm. Yes, I really like this one. Particularly the fringe. But I digress.

Yes, he bucks. But I know when and where. And I'm going to follow some advice (thanks everybody) and try to work through it. Because the truth is that we HAVE come a long way (his spooking is way down, he lopes without freaking, he can handle distances away from his buddies better) and if I can just get past this last hurdle he's a pretty good horse.

Basically I need to get in a relatively safe situation, recreate the problem and run the living #$@$ out of him when he tries. I'm thinking of doing it under a trainers supervision so they can help spot anything I'm doing that may need correction.

If it still doesn't work, then I have to decide how big a problem this is for me.

Frankly until I can ride more regularly (read: get our own land), it may be that I can't really solve this problem, because I can't get in the time necessary. But I will keep trying and realize that by stretching this out it will take longer.

Its very comforting to talk to others who keep their bucking broncos - thanks for helping me not feel like a lunatic. ;)


In the meantime I need one of these shirts...


Tomorrow he's getting his fancy schmancy shoes and I'll talk to the farrier (who has the coolest rig. I'll try to get some photos). Maybe he'll have some advice too.

The buck is back. Damn.

Yes, the bucking bronco is back.

What the @#$@?!

We went on a trail ride and there was the buck. We were loping circles in an open area and Canyon got worked up running just behind Woody. His head went high and I could sense his energy change. It was run with the herd time. I'm not sure if picked up the rein too tightly, or if I was on a lookout because I knew he was no longer listening to me, but down went his head.

He curved up like a cat and gave one buck before I yanked his head backup. Then I ran him around the field a few times for good measure.

But the issue isn't that he's bucking because he doesn't want to run. The issue is he wants to give over leadership to the high horse and if I attempt to take any control during that moment of high headed running, there goes the buck.

So I'm pretty seriously discouraged. We had been very well connected all this time. We'd round penned, he'd responded well to my speed control in the arena and he was fine being in the front, back or middle of the herd during the ride. He even spooked in place at the vicious armadillo.

It's all about another horse running near him and me trying to slow him during that moment - but I don't remember actually trying to slow him. Frankly I'm not sure I did anything than draw up reins when he was starting to round his back.

Did I mention he can buck at a lope?

So what are my choices? Here's my thoughts:

• Be very choosy about when we run on the trail - no running with a herd buddy or running to "catch up"
• No running on the trail period. Save it for the arena.
• Get him to a trainer and see if they can break this habit somehow (not that I have money for that, but it's a thought).
• Think about another horse.
• Or, as DH would like me to do, get out of horses for a while.

Trainers talk a lot about picking your poison. I love this horse. But I'd like to run without worrying about a bucking bronc ride. Another horse might jig, another might be stubborn. Mine bucks when he thinks he might be being forced to be left behind.

Bottom line, he hasn't given over to me yet.

Do I need more time with this horse? Do I need to walk away so I don't get hurt? I hate being in this place again.

My Horse became a dog, part 2

When Rudy walked up to Canyon, Canyon tensed up. He snorted at Rudy's hand then took a quick side step when he tried to mount him.

"That is a one person horse," he said as Canyon trotted off.

I figured Canyon was just being difficult and now I'd have the same trouble with him. So I went over to the other end of the arena and went over to him. Canyon stood still, head relaxed and lowered. I got on and he was completely calm.

"He doesn't give his trust easily, but he's given it to you," Rudy remarked, getting on Woody (who had let me mount just fine, sane horse that he is).

I realized that it's true. Now, after 11 months, something has changed. Canyon is willing to give me some rope. Not all of it, though.

We were on a trail ride today and he bucked and was generally freaked out at the start of the ride. He did a side step so fast he almost lost me.

Thank goodness for those velcro pockets.

I rode him through it, then he had a panic run. I could feel his panic and did all I could in the saddle to reassure him. I let him run a bit, gradually slowing him down. I had to remain dead calm and this time, I managed it. But he was still bratty, still testing me. At one point I had to give him a solid smack on the hindquarters when he was acting up. Then he settled down a bit.

While we got through it, its clear = there's a lot of work I need to do with this crazy horse to get him to a place where he really trusts me all the way. And I'm going to need help because I am beyond my abilities with this.

But he is coming up to me in the field, he's nodding when he sees me, he is fine until we get up to a lope and the energy and nerves rise. So maybe I'm back to day 3 in the stop the bucking lessons. Maybe I need to see about getting some lessons together with a trainer.

But I'm not selling him. He's my crazy dog and unless someone who knows a hell of a lot more than me tells me different, I'm convinced I can find a good place with this life that is in my hands.

As a result, I'm making the ultimate commitment a woman can make with a gelding. I'm buying new tack.
I'm buying a new rope halter from these folks, because if you'll recall Canyon lost his in his panic run through Guadalupe state park. At Black Pond they will custom out everything and the prices are fantastic. I'll post on the quality when I receive it.

Day Four in Stop the Buck

The online course I've been using for stopping the buck in Canyon is at day four. We are refining control.

One aspect is focused on getting your horse to drop his head at a stop, then at a walk, then at a trot and, eventually, at a canter. So far I was able to get Canyon to drop his head at the walk consistently and had moved on to the trot. It took a while, but I got three consistent "head sets." (the horse pictured is a high end western pleasure horse with that low headset and nice bend at the poll). Yay!

The next thing at this stage is to work on a serpentine move, going two steps left, then two steps right, over and over making sure he relaxes his neck. I'm looking forward to working on it, only there's one problem.

I have no time. School is starting, I've had to travel for work, life has just sucked up all the free time and replaced it with a never ending to-do list. I'm heading over to the stables in the morning to brush him, fly spray him and ... that's probably it. But I'll have some mornings to myself this week and I plan on heading out and doing some riding.

A friend asked when was the last time Canyon bucked. It's been two months. But I haven't really pushed the situation either. Sure, I think he's improving and learning some control. But I've got a long way to go. I read something in a recent Parrelli newsletter (if you don't subscribe to them, you should. they're great. You can see the latest one here) that gave me a sense of how long I'll need to work on Canyon's confidence on the trail and belief in me as a leader:

Here's part of the question:

• (I want to go on a relaxing ride...)However, my Left-Brain Introvert mare, who is normally confident and relaxed in all situations including trails, does not seem to be of the same mind. She turns into a Right-Brain Extrovert when we are alone on our trails. It's as if she's expecting a panther to pounce on her from every tree we pass! At the start of these rides she's reasonably confident, although there are numerous thresholds which occur in the first several hundred feet. We stop and calmly address each one and do not move on until she appears ready. The number of thresholds seems to diminish the further we get from the barn (and her pasturemate). However, her unconfidence increases the further we go.

This describes what happens with Canyon perfectly. I never ride him alone, both because of the buck (I think it falls in the 'ride only where you can' category), but also because I know he is very nervous if we are without a buddy, any buddy.

• (Part of the answer) Believe it or not, you are describing what Remmer used to be like. On the trail he becomes very unconfident and behaviorally speaking becomes a Right-Brain Extrovert. After a couple of scary rides I decided that I wouldn't trail ride again until I'd moved his confidence up a lot in all areas: his self confidence, confidence as a learner, in new environments, and in me as a leader. I think you need to do the same and it happens everywhere except on the trail. I gave it a year, it may not take that long for you... but be prepared to take the time it takes.

A year. wow. Course Linda Parelli has 40 horses she can ride. And she rides nearly every day. Maybe I'll have it done in 5 years. Sigh.

She talks about some ground work then continues with a tip I'm going to try this week:

• First of all, manage thresholds in a big way. When you get to the first one, turn around and go all the way back to the barn and then return as many times as it takes for your horse to take you over it. You may even find that the thresholds get closer at first! Do this with each one without fail. It's your investment in building confidence. I think that you've helped with each threshold but you haven't actually overcome them.

We'll see how it goes. Like all things, real progress takes time.

One rein stopping. Sorta.

Step one in the retraining process is getting control of the hindquarters with a one rein stop.

At first I thought the one rein stop was simple. We started on the ground and it went perfectly (it's also described in this series of articles on shoulder control). But something didn't transfer from the ground to the saddle.

I realized I was doing it wrong. A one rein not about merely stopping, or going in a circle, both of which I'd been doing. What should happen in a one rein stop is your horse's front shoulder should stop and only his back end should move, swinging in an arc.

I have this happening in the ground, but not in the saddle. I was recently in an email exchange with a woman in the Austin area who recently retrained her horse, Cody (who is now for sale because this is what she does. Buys 'em, fixes 'em.).

It was in my email exchange with her that I realized I was doing it wrong. I ws explaining that I felt like while I was trying the one rein stop, but it felt wrong. All I was doing was going in circles. Here's her answer:

I am glad you are doing the one rein stop, I cannot tell you how many times it has “saved” me.

When Cody was walking and I pull his head over to my leg with the one rein he didn’t always stop, sometimes he would walk (spin) in a circle, around and around and around, but (as I got dizzy) I wouldn’t release any pressure until he stopped moving and stood calmly. He after he stood there I would release his head (in which he took it as a cue to go forward) and pull his head over to the other side and do the same thing. Horses are smart and for a while I would only pull his head over to one side, which then when I went to grab the one rein Cody would spin himself in a circle because he was anticipating what I was doing, so that is why I learned it is important to alternate sides. When Cody or any horse is going faster like at a canter I don’t pull there head over as hard or fast because I don’t want them to loose balance and flip over. I gradually pull them into a smaller and smaller circle until they stop. So yes, you need to just keep going until he stops, calmly and then release the pressure (holding his head). They will take a few steps until they learn you won’t release their head until they stop moving. When you turn his hind end should be swinging out and disengaging. If you don’t feel him slowing down, make the circle smaller that will force him to disengage.

Another thing you can do is if the horse is running and you want to slow down pull them until a circle until you get the speed you want like a trot and then let them out of the circle. If they break into a trot again pull them back into a circle. Repetition and consistency is key. He would learn what you want.

With the stop, I first sit back with my legs braced in front of me (I physically sigh, so I sit deeper), say whoa and wait one count and then lightly pull back on the reins. So, it is seat, word, and the reins are the correction. The horse should know when I sit back to stop moving. I let him walk a couple steps and do the same thing. Over and over again. When he gets it let him rest because the rest is his reward.

I tried it but found I was still missing something. Canyon was just circling and I knew I was missing something key because adding circles was still not working. I knew my cue was off somehow. So I was over at a fellow horse geek's house and he showed me a book I hadn't seen before, Ranch Horsemanship. It's a cowboy esque look at riding, no nonsense, "hey I got cattle to move, I don't have time for you to be honery" approach to riding.

There in the paragraph on "problems with the one rein stop" was the sentence that said I needed to hold the other rein as well, keeping his head checked just a little, to keep him from moving forward. Then he should swing his back end around.

Duh.

So I'll be trying that tomorrow.

Zero Tolerance

So how do you stop a horse from bucking?

The underlying issue is control, from what I've read. You have to have precise control of your horse always. You can't let these bucking broncos get away with anything, so to some degree you are going back to the basics, or the foundation as trainers call it.

One particular article I read on the topic said that horses that buck have been rushed through their training. I suspect it's a case of slippage. You let little things go and pretty soon the horse is experimenting with what they can get away with. Then they are stuck in an adolescent phase.

To quote the bucking course "horses that buck are teenagers, sitting on the couch, watching youtube all day. The last thing they want to do is work with you on their back"

This is what I think is going on with Canyon. Of course I could be totally wrong and will be spending the next four months figuring that out. This would not be the first time I took the long way around.

So the first thing to do is to go to a zero tolerance policy on all behavior. Ground work has to be exactly right, no slop. No eating when I'm leading him to the wash rack. No cookies (except for one at the end, I can't help myself). No cutting slack on slow transitions up or down during lunging. No half hearted backing up. I am all over him, demanding more and more.

And he's responding. It may end up being the most effective thing I do. I swear, this kind of reaction from a male is why so many women turn into ... witches. But I digress.

After the zero tolerance policy is in place it's time for serious work.

Tomorrow. Enough of the horse dominatrix routine.

Working on Whoa

(Great image from the Carter Museum in Fort Worth: Charles M. Russell (1864–1926) Bucking Horse and Cowgirl, ca. 1925
Ink with transparent and opaque watercolor over graphite underdrawing on paper 1961.187)

Canyon is half Arabian. I don't know if that really has anything to do with the issue we've got going on, some people say it does, others say it's not.

That's one thing I've learned in the horse world. There are as many opinions as there are horses.

The "issue" is bucking.

You can find plenty of information on why a horse bucks, but I haven't found a whole lot of trainers interested in working on this issue. Part of the reason is the why.

Bottom line. Barring a pain issue (poorly fit saddle, back problem, hoof issue) or being young (Canyon is 10 so he's way too old to be still doing this nonsense), a horse bucks because of either fear or disrespect for the rider. Not too many trainers want to tell that to their clients. I think that may be because even if a trainer can work on the problem the question may remain - will this horse respect YOU? Sure, maybe the trainer will be able to get the horse to perform perfectly, but will your horse then say "Oh, here's that chick with the new boots. Yesh. I'm getting rid of her first chance I get."


Apparently it's not particularly personal thing with Canyon. He bucked with his previous owner (information I found out after the fact from other people who knew Leslie, his owner for 7 years. She, of course, neglected to mention this at all and sold him as a "good for a novice" horse. ah well). He has bucked with others on board. So I'm somewhat relieved that it's not all about me. It's a general bratty attitude.

Here's how it goes. All the other horses are running and so are you. You decide to slow down. Canyon hates the idea and BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK.

Or you are finishing up a ride. Someone starts to trot back to the gate. Canyon wants to do more than trot. You decide trotting is plenty. BUCK BUCK BUCK

A young horse freaks out right next to him and starts bucking. Canyon, a sensitive, low horse on the totem pole, FREAKS out. BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK BUCK (it was a long one).

The wind is blowing the fake barrels in a very scary way. (To be fair it was really really windy) Canyon FREAKS out BUCK BUCK BUCK.

So there are two scenarios. Fear and aggravation.

Every single time I've ridden through his bucks. He did toss Erin, our friend at the stables. She's okay, a little sore and now a little gun shy. But he hasn't "gotten away" with it, so to speak. Not only do we ride longer, I also then lunge him for good measure.

What's weird is that he's so good the rest of the time. He's got great ground manners. He neck reins and responds quickly to cues. He's good in the arena (except for that windy day with the scary barrel, but I saw it coming). He's even good on the trail 90% of the time.

But there's a line where he feels he's in charge. And the line is sort of tough to spot. I've contacted a few trainers, but no one is available any time soon. So as of two weeks ago I've started a five day STOP THE BUCKING course from John Lyons trainer Keith Hosman. It was 5 bucks (pun intended) so I figured it would give me something to do until I either found him a new owner or a trainer.

(By the way, it doesn't take five days. It just has five segments.)

I'm not getting any kind of commission on this thing. I don't even know if it works. But so far I've really enjoyed reading it. Now I'm giving it a shot.

Anyway, I'll be posting on how it goes. Hopefully my velcro butt will hold out.

Next: Day one: The one rein stop.