bucking 4 year old???

You are correct that this could become a confirmed behavior if your horse figures out that he gets out of work by bucking off his rider. As soon as his back is better and he is in no pain, he needs to have someone riding him regularly. That someone could be your daughter if she is ready or it could be your trainer. But it needs to happen as quickly as possible. The more painless riding experiences you can get between him and this last incident, the less likely he will be to buck in the future. Once he's been out a few times and realizes that it doesn't hurt anymore, he is less likely to act up.

A four year old can be a lot to handle for a young person, but it can work with regular guidance from a competent trainer. If your current trainer can't provide you with regular service because of her school schedule, you might need someone who can.

I doubt you'll like this answer but I've been down this road your daughter's on TOO MANY TIMES! Green on green= black and blue. They're not kidding, as you can see by your daughter's crutches.

Unfortunately, since he's gotten her off and no one got back on he will most definitely do it again so she either A. has to ride through it and stay on or B. she will fall off again. This is the quickest way to make your daughter fearful of horses. Please take heed of what I'm saying because I've been in your daughter's EXACT shoes and it's a sad, frustrating, confidence-busting place to be.

I think a lot of people try to make excuses for their horses: "they bucked because the saddle hurt" or "they bucked because their teeth need done". Horses really are a lot tougher than we give them credit for. If a four year old is bucking, it is out of disrespect because if a horse truly had someone's respect, even though they hurt, they would not buck someone off! I know this because we have working horses that sometimes work 16-hour days and YES they get sore up in the mountains gathering cattle. We aren't getting bucked off though. The bucking is a respect issue that will keep recurring until it's fixed! (I do think you should find a properly fit saddle for this horse however.)

I think it would be great if you could find a ranch to send this colt to or if he could spend some time with experienced horse trainers. I mean no offense, but obviously what's happening now isn't working. I really think your daughter would benefit from a horse that is already (actually) broke so she could build her confidence again. She isn't ready to break colts yet, not to say she won't ever be but right now she's not. Please put her on a safe horse so she can continue to enjoy horses (without crutches). I don't know where you live, but I know of some trainers in OR if you're close. Hope that helps and good luck!

Unless the horse is in pain it is always the horses fault if they buck. A horse can choose other methods, but unless pain involved bucking is something that needs to be stopped immediately.

The problem here is that the horse is 4 and has decided it does not like your daughter riding it. It may be because she is too heavy in the reins or it may be simply that he has discovered that he can get her off when he wants.

I have seen this behavior before in many horses. Take my word for this. You need to sell or give the horse to someone that can handle it (no kids and perhaps no one without a LOT of upper body strength). Then get her an older horse that she can handle. Choose one that loves kids and is bombproof. Also choose one with little or no fire. The less it is willing to run the better for her.

Again I have seen this behavior many times. A LOT of horses will not tolerate younger riders. Some will when first trained but learn at about the 3 1/2 to 5 year stage that young riders can be gotten off easily. It may have nothing to do with how good a rider your daughter is, but the horse needs to go. You will never be able to trust it under your daughter. If you get it retrained it may be fine for a few days or even a month or more, but eventually it will unseat her again.

Oh and there is not now or has there ever been any scientific evidence that acupuncture works even in the slightest.

Just why do you think there is back pain anyway? I seriously doubt that is the problem. It was not in this case at all, but even prior to that it wasn't.

OK after reading your e'mail I see it is not your daughter's fault and the horse is indeed in pain. I would wait on the training until your daughter can train with him. Work with the trainer to find the problem. Something is causing the pain.

Once his back problem has been corrected you'll probably have a different horse. If he's not mean spirited I'd give his back a chance to heal maybe get massage and chiropractic work done. Lot's of stretching exercises and a new saddle. After all of this have your daughter spend some time with him on the longe line saddled so he gets used to the new saddle. BUT no amount of longing will stop a horse from bucking. Have her start with small rides always ending on a positive note. I would flex, flex and flex that horse EVERY time I messed with him. On and off of the saddle. I would also teach your daughter a one rein stop and emergency dimount. It's very hard for a horse to buck when their nose is touching their belly!! So Flex!! Good Luck I hope it all works out for her!!

Hmm. I think sending the pony off for training would be the best idea. If she can't stay on him while he bucks he won't get any better. Just lunge him and don't put a saddle on him at all until his back gets better. Once it is less sore, she can either risk riding him again or you could send him off to training. He will probably be better as soon as his back gets better although, by that time he might have learned a bad habit of bucking her off. Best idea is training for a little while. Maybe, the trainer at the training place should ride him for a little while and then once he isn't trying to buck anymore put a kid on him just to test for a little while as she is still riding him. This should get the bucking out of his head, as he is just a baby and easily learns new things.

Hope I helped, hope your daughter heals up. Good luck! =)

You might want to have a vet check his mouth, neck, back and legs. Horses sometimes buck for the following reasons: 1) If the bit you are using causes them pain. 2) If they need their teeth floated. 3) If they have a neck or back problem. 4) If they have a leg injury or problem. In most cases, reasons 1, 2 and 3 usually set them to bucking. It could also be that he dislikes arena work. Some horses exhibit a genuine dislike of the arena. It may be that he also is confused about what you are asking, which results in him becoming stressed and bucking as a result. Do you longe him on a long line before you ride him? Try tacking him up, with a halter under his bridle, and longe him for 15 to 20 minutes, attaching the line to his halter, not the bit. If he shows no bucking or antics, you may have to assume that he has a back problem, brought on by a rider's weight. In that case, have a vet check him. Rearing, if he does, is a different matter. Rearing is a VERY dangerous habit, and must not be encouraged in any form. If he rears while you are on him, drive him forward using your legs and voice. It does not matter what gait he uses to move forward (if it isn't bucking, any gait's okay) as long as he moves forward. Horses cannot rear when they are moving. You may find it easier to train him if you just work with the 3 most basic of a horse's gaits. The walk, trot and canter. When he settles more into a training routine, call a professional who trains gaited horses. But, since he does have QH blood, it may in fact be hard for him to perform the Walking Horse gaits, hence his confusion.

The horse is going to need some time off to let his back get better. Then when they start riding again, he probably will try bucking because 1. He thinks its going to hurt or 2. he has figured out her lack of confidence now. It is now a physical and pyscological thing to work through. She is just going to have to be confident and not let him sense her worry.

PS lunging a horse for 30 minutes does nothing but build up their stamina, giving them more energy in the long run. Lunge for 10 minutes.

Because the bucking was caused by back pain and the horse is young, the habit should be easy to correct. If I was in this position I would send the horse to a nearby trainer/intructor and as they work with him she could take lessons once he's more reliable. That way she gets to learn about young horses but with someone else to help teach him not to buck. Good luck!

Well I am a trainer and I guess I disagree with whats being said, this horse has only bucked 3 times, he is TOTALLY fixable. Now I would say hes not appropriate for your daughter at this point.......but he needs to go to and experienced trainer that deals with behavioral issues for 30 to 60 days once hes feeling better and done with his treatment. My goodness If I gave up on every horse that bucked....lololol I wouldn't have any horses left on my property. While this horse is away, I would want your daughter to peruse riding, but on a very reliable horse to regain her confidence. Do not give up on this guy, especially if hes really a nice boy, but has just had a ruff time of it.

Your question is confusing. Is it that after the back problem is treated, you aren't sure whether you will be able to tell if the treatment has been effective because it may now be a habit? If you're stuck with this horse, then are you asking how to boost your daughter's confidence in him? I guess I need more information to know what you're looking for.