Hi all,

I am new to horse ownership. I have had trail riding experience and working as a stable hand many moons ago. I finally decided to make my dream of horse ownership come true. In April I purchased a 10yr old Appy/Draft cross that per the previous owner (of two months) had a bucking problem. When my stable manager and I went to look at this appy his tack was extremely tight on him and we thought that was the cause of his alleged bucking issue. I brought him home and bonded with him for a month before I even got on him. Not being a very confident rider, and him being as big as he is, I didn't ride him very often. In July, I decided to push myself past my fears and start riding. It was about the fourth time I had gotten on him and was only on him about 15-20 minutes he spooked at something and jumped sidways. I went sideways on him and he started bucking until I came off. I landed pretty hard and wound up with bruises, but was luckily unhurt for the most part. It took me months to build up the nerve to get on him again. There again not riding very often. Since July to now I have probably ridden him about 5 or 6 times. Yesterday, he spooked again at who knows what and I went sideways again and he bucked until I came off. Once again, luckily not seriously hurt. I did get right back on him yesterday and walked him around a little then when I went to get off he started acting up again.

Now my question is... I am very apprehensive to get on him again. I am afraid that he has learned that when he wants me off to just buck and I'll fly. I know he would not be pulling this if I was an experienced rider. I am questioning wheather I should keep him or sell him and look for another horse that will not act up like this. I know I need to ride more to improve my skills, but how can I if he keeps bucking me off? I am afraid that one of these time I won't be so lucky. I am not in my teens and I am to old to be thrown from a horse repeatedly.

Does anyone have any suggestions?

If you are both beginners, you are fighting a losing battle here without spending lots of money on trainers. Even then without guarranteed succes. If you lack the skill and confidence for a green broke horse all you are doing is risking your health and safety as well as the horse's. It's a painful truth to have to face but you need to go find yourself a horse that's an old hand at it as a confidence builder. I suspect you probably already realize this or you wouldn't ask the question, but sometimes it helps to get prodded a little bit. Bucking itself can be indicative of a countless number of different factors. There are far to many good horses out there waiting for a good home to risk your future on one your not ready for.

That is were the problem is. He is not a green horse. He is very well trained and extremely smart. When experienced riders ride him and he spooks they can bring him right out of it. But I can't stay on him long enough to gain the experience necessary to stay on him while he is bucking. He is a beautiful horse and very loving to me when I am on the ground. I am faced with a very hard decision, because I am very attached to him already. Thanks for your incite.

I believe your problem is much different. I had the exact same problem with my mare. She is sweet and gentle, quiet on the ground but if you get on her, she'd buck you off. After 2 years of this, I read an article that changed my life. I got a very negative reaction and still do from people but I seriously urge you and any PMU or draft horse owner who has a problem with what seems like laziness, bucking, inabilty to canter for long periods of time, etc. The problem is with diet. I'd bet your horse has a common ailment known as EPSM. Anything I've read online about EPSM deals with tying up or Monday Morning Sickness but that is not always the case. I have since become an expert on this subject through necessity and it has changed my life and my mares life. A vet named Dr. Valentine has written many articles on EPSM and I'd start there. Again, none of the health issues were a factor with my mare at all, only the bucking. We changed her diet and she is a totally different horse. She used to go out in the pasture and isolate herself from the herd and never want to run. Since her diet change, she is social and runs, bucks and plays in the field. She is fed NO GRAIN. She gets Alfalfa pellets, corn oil and red cell. There are many diet combinations but basicaly it is a high fat, low carb diet. Do a search online for Dr Valentine and EPSM horses, you will get a ton of info on many sites. The best article I ever read and the one that confirmed it for my mare was one in a local publication in Maine. I am in the process of getting that article electronically because I want it reprinted in as many publications as possible.
I know some people will write this off as a bunch of crap but it saved my life and my horse is happy. Again, she never showed any signs of sickness, colic, etc like a lot of the articles suggested, it was just the bucking and stiffness in the round pen that she was experiencing. it effects all horses not just drafts and I think getting the word out about this can save a lot of people and frustrated horses. Most PMU horses are drafts or crosses and as Dr Valentine says, ALL DRAFTS need to be on a different diet because they deal with sugars differently. All of this research is brand new but very enlightning. I hope this helps you or anyone else who reads this that may be having an issue with their horses who are not willing. Its not that they don't WANT to move, they CAN'T.

Very interesting about diet possibly causing the "bucking" but to Read the Horse is to understand that "Bucking is the most common instinct any Horse has other than running.

The Horse "bucks" because he does not like you on his back...why not? The Horses biggest fear is any "big-cat"...to the Horse you actually remind his deep ancestral-mind whether you are a friend or a foe...so he tries to and does "buck you off"; meaning you no harm.

Answer: Make the Horse understands under no uncertain terms that you are Here to Help the Horse you are the Horses's friend; I would try just walking with the Horse more just being it's friend building up TRUST from you to him.

Also pay attention to the diet. The Feed should have an adeauate supply of Vitamins and Minerals; esp. the Vitamin B-Complex.

I couldn't follow the exact diet; but I'd go for it. The key Nutrient in calming a Horse is *Vitamin B1(w/Valerian-Root is best)* available at www.uckele.com.
Summary: "It's just a matter of trust diet B1."

Hi,
Your situation sounds like a really bad accident waiting to happen. I urge you to find a reputable local trainer who can help you by assessing you and your horse. It is quite possible this just may be too much horse for you, as a beginner, to handle.
Also, make sure you have a competent equine chiropractor do an evaluation. Your horse may very well be in some pain, or have ill-fitting equipment that is bothering him.
Another thing to consider with spooky horses is the quality of their eyesight! Not all horses see as well as the next horse, and this can certainly make them shy. I used to work with a lady and her horse, who was very spooky and dangerous for her to ride. The horse did great when paired with a much more experienced rider.
Horses like this come to us sometimes as teachers. Just be careful that you do not put yourself in a spot where you or the horse could be seriously injured! Get professional help, and do it right away.
Katie