There’s a CL ad for a bucking stock dispersal, 16 head at $200 each. 
I know it will likely be a sad outcome for these guys, but it just made me curious if it’s common / reasonably successful to “convert” one to a useful saddle horse.
I don’t know. But usually they quit bucking as soon as the buzzer sounds and the strap is released.
sheesh 
Back in the day when I read way too many Thoroughbred books and fancied myself the horse whisper I always wanted to climb over the fence at a rodeo and steal one. I considered both buying one from the rodeo and also just leaping upon it’s back and having it jump the fence before riding off into the sunset.
I don’t actually know the answer to this because no one would ever e-mail me back about buying one, but I am crazy enough that I would give it a shot…. If someone would like to drop one on my door step I’d be happy to make it a COTH project :yes:
Oh yes, make the grey in the last picture appear in TN and it could make all of my little girl dreams come true!
Many years ago I lived in Calgary and knew of a young girl who had a mare that bucked like crazy - the mare was sold to the Calgary Stampede ranch and went into their breeding program. But, I’ve never heard of one that went on to a normal life as a riding horse.
Well, they buck because of the bucking strap, not because they have a rider on their back. So, I would think that yes, they’d be able to be trained to be ridden. I doubt many are actually broke to ride at all.
I dunno; bucking stock are bred selectively for their propensity to buck, and hard. If I took one on I’d want some kind of alternate option in mind in case they didn’t take to riding horse life. Aside from that, I imagine you’d have quite a bit of work to do, from the ground up. Some rodeo operations lay the horses down or tie them up in shoeing stocks to trim them a couple of times a year, and I don’t know that they’d know how to tie or do other day-to-day stuff.
Yes–often they can. There are a few pickup horses that I’ve seen do double duty as rough stock. I have a farrier that trimmed rough stock for a rodeo supplier and found them easy to deal with. Horses that buck well are generally worth quite a lot of money.
I had a rough stock mare. She was bred to buck, didn’t really, and was sold as a practice horse. She would have been very lovely, but she’d been very badly abused. Badly enough that about a year after I got her, several teeth started coming out in pieces as they erupted because they’d been broken in her jaw.
Lead me to believe that life would have been a lot better for her if she had bucked.
I’d be a little cautious about rough stock sold for such a low price, but not about the “rough stock” label.
ETA–found that ad and that honestly doesn’t look like rough stock to me. I don’t see the typical brands and they’re all a little light in build. Wonder what the story is.
Little story - Neighbour got a horse that was a confirmed bucking horse - took that horse through Pony Club and on to International eventing - that horse was David Wilding Davies and Crusader.
I’ve met a couple who stopped wanting to buck and went on to be decent saddle horses. One had always had his feet handled in stocks, though, and badly injured a couple of people who tried to pick up his foot (or maybe just looked at him funny).
And I knew some other folks who adopted a 2 yr old that’d been raised with the rough stock. She grew into a really pretty mare, but was incredibly dangerous. In addition to lots of other quirks, she’d stalk people. If she could get close to someone who wasn’t paying attention, she’d attack and try to kill them (vicious biting, rearing and striking, etc). If you were paying attention the entire time, she was very sweet and loved attention. She really broke their hearts but, IIRC, they finally decided to put her down before she did manage to kill someone.
Here’s the ad
Yes, I agree many look light-- or wasp-waisted because they’re just skinny/young? That rose grey in the last pic looks like a youngster.
Anyway, thanks for these interesting insights, as I don’t have any exposure to that realm of the horseworld.
I had a friend in my 20s who had a gelding who’d come off a bucking string and he became a decent prelim eventer and was then sold as a nice ammy packer. His show name, in deference to his past, was Rip Snort N Run.
Yes; just saw one a few months ago a cowboy I work with took in. Within a month the horse was doing everything you’d expect a well-trained riding horse to do, with nary a buck in sight. He’s working as a cow horse now … exceptionally well-behaved.
We bought two colts a local rancher raised, local kids used to learn to ride bareback bucking horses their two year old spring, then tried to start under saddle that summer and make ranch horses out of them.
They did get one broke, more or less, not the other.
He bucked so hard, the bronc starter he hired that summer never got him riding, the one as a three year old finally had him riding.
Every cowboy on that ranch had at one time been bucked off by that horse.
We didn’t get all that story until later.
That rancher had two four year olds for sale and called us.
We went to look at them and they were rank, but really nice horses and we had worked with plenty just like those and they came along without problem.
We didn’t know the story, that he had let the high school kids practice bucking with those horses and the one was really rank, so we bought them.
We had been riding them about a month, they had learned to be ok about their feet, we could brush them without a rodeo, even their tails and they were learning to like their baths and treats, just as so many other barely handled ranch horses we had learned.
Well, we were moving some cattle and the one riding the other colt got bucked off on it’s head, the colt kept bucking up a bank into the brush above, fell down it and kept on bucking down the draw.
The rider had a concussion and six broken ribs.
A friend wanted to give it a try, bought that horse from us and tried to make a ranch horse off him.
She said that she never knew when he was going to be ok, or just blow up when she tried to get on.
She then sold him to a cowboy that did get along with him, but did say “he was kind of salty some mornings”, so you never know.
The other horse, a month after the first one bucked, we were moving cattle into a trap to ship next day, riding slowly behind the cattle and getting to a windmill, when that horse took a huge bucking jump out of the blue.
I went way high up, was using my English saddle, which I do when I don’t trust a horse.
The stirrups went high over the horse and kept me from going any higher, then I lost them and was falling down as he took a second huge buck and kicked out and his hoof went inches by my head as I was falling down.
I broke my tail bone, still had to get back on to finish driving the cattle one more mile and penning them in the trap, then one more mile to headquarters.
Worse, I had to ride next morning to ship the cattle, all that on a broken tail bone.
Getting back on him and riding leaning over his neck, I was telling him what all I was going to do with him if he bucked me off again.
I called the rancher that sold us those horses, we had already moved the other, I told him he was going to buy this horse back, he was not the nice, good minded horse he represented him being.
His answer? Oh, sorry, I thought he was over all that, he seemed fine now."
That is when I asked around and was told, by some that had been bucked off previously by that horse, the rest of the sad story.
Now, I am sure there are many horses that learned to buck well and have now that muscle memory to really turn it on and still make very nice riding horses.
I would be careful buying a bucking horse and hoping he may be one of those that do fine later as saddle horses, that when pressed, he won’t revert to his default behavior of bucking and be very good at it.
There are so many good horses out there today, bred to be riding horses, to work with people and do a good job at whatever they are bred for, if I wanted to put all that time on a horse, I would look at those, not bucking stock.
Even feral horses that have not been started at least don’t have that bucking history behind them.
I started several dozens of those and they made excellent riding horses.
Bucking stock?
Some surely will make nice riding horses, just don’t let a really rank one hurt you if that is what you end up with.
FLAME SUIT
Bucking stock don’t buck because they have a flank on. Just like Dressage people and hunter/jumper people breed for specific traits, so do stock contractors. They stop bucking after the buzzer and go out the gate, because they are trained to do that. Not just because of the strap. If you go to rodeo’s regularly, you will see that even if the flank comes off many of these horses still buck. Bucking stock are bred very selectively to get desired traits, bucking styles, way of going, etc. Please, please, please educate yourself before you make wild assumptions.
OP - to answers your question, it just depends. Just like with any other breeding program, you have rejects. My horse was a saddle horse first, then he bucked some people off, so then he went to a bucking string. He goated out of the gate and didn’t really buck (WITH A FLANK!). Therefore, he didn’t really the cut. He was given to me and now is a jumper.
The rodeo company I worked for had a few bucking rejects as pick-up horses. If you get one young, it could work. If you get a reject, it could work. If you get a 14 year old bucker that has been doing it all it’s life, ehhhh good luck and more patience to you.
Also remember, these horses ( though they may be 10) should be treated almost like colts. Most of them are barely halter broke and have a huge herd mentality. Of course, there are some bucking horses and cattle that are gentle and easy to be around. It just depends.
You just have to be smart and really taken on what you can handle. Maybe call the person and ask if any of them are young and gentle? It depends on what you can do. It took three years for my horse to settle. Every horse is different. Just don’t believe the stigma “They only buck because of the strap”. I’ve traveled and worked extensively with a major PRCA/PBR/NFR Stock Contractor, and I have seen it all.
Simply put, yes some bucking horses can make saddle horses. You just have to be smart about your selection and patient.
I have posted some pictures for good measure and for fun. I’m the first picture and the rest are horses I’ve worked with and people I’ve worked for. Please, if you don’t agree with it, keep it to yourself. PRCA pick-men and children don’t wear helmets, unfortunately. There isn’t much we can do about it. It’s just proof that it CAN happen.
Here is my reject:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-f-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/q84/p600x600/945652_10154617911060484_8496202569265824331_n.jpg?oh=14cdaf0d64616455230636a1bec79fcb&oe=54C48C1C&gda=1422728986_ac60565b6c5abfe52eed07d9f3cafd1e
This is Bob, PRCA Pick-Up horse/bull horse/baby sitter and ex-bucker:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-b-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p720x720/1904049_905710532791689_3402367765880928520_n.jpg?oh=5f8cda3e8fd34b7ee6863bed1200b984&oe=54D10A57&gda=1421673086_bd0144772991a6d87fc168383aac787b
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xap1/v/t1.0-9/p600x600/10405277_846055968757146_3833934667708156889_n.jpg?oh=45be297b832d29031cb7d7342a5ecce3&oe=54CD821F&gda=1422300481_154066d35ab44050431acca340ecce24
PRCA Bucking Bull getting love:
https://fbcdn-sphotos-a-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10536920_882020018494074_812774776191917078_n.jpg?oh=3fa57317455abde759205f77ec1c22c2&oe=54CCF758&gda=1422572645_b64905490092a2178a65545bfcba9482
2x NFR Bucking Horse - 720 Chicken Hawk
https://fbcdn-sphotos-c-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpf1/v/t1.0-9/p640x640/1535433_818502214845855_1041999913090468435_n.jpg?oh=075134a232ba4ee70a0c69e6441081f2&oe=54C1D53A&gda=1421726141_f03e1ced172f2ff3407274291aa49d65
https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xaf1/v/t1.0-9/486462_472840349412045_484382024_n.jpg?oh=e605310880ddb9f3036becca162404f5&oe=5482FC6B&gda=1418654394_cb0a0d2281b0c335e4ec31e2a5a73c31
My mom’s first horse was a bucking string washout. From what I understand, he was always a bit cold-backed, but if you got past the first buck you were home free.
There was a lady in Iowa that was competing her ex-rough stock gelding in dressage, so yes, some can become riding horses. I suspect he was a flunkie or she acquired him young because as someone above said, an older bronc is going to know it’s job. He was lovely, some kind of draft cross and they got pretty good scores so the riding life seemed to agree with him.
If you do end up buying one, and horse continues to buck under saddle, try teaching horse to drive. As long as they don’t kick behind they may not buck under harness.
Just an alternative if the riding part doesn’t work.
[QUOTE=Calvincrowe;7777455]
Well, they buck because of the bucking strap, not because they have a rider on their back. So, I would think that yes, they’d be able to be trained to be ridden. I doubt many are actually broke to ride at all.[/QUOTE]
Actually, No. Bucking horses DO NOT buck because of the strap. Strap helps horse buck straighter. Release of strap tells horse “work time” is now over. But the strap DOES NOTHING to MAKE a horse buck.
Many of the (correct name) Flank Straps are fleece lined, no objects to poke or prod horses into bucking. Rodeo horses that buck are closely scrutinized by outside authorities all the time and none of the equipment used “makes” them buck.
In the top ranks of Rodeo stock contractors, the breeding having established bucking stock behind a horse can raise the value incredibly! A “name” horse with a good record of shedding riders is going to sell for 5 figures easily. Western Horseman magazine has covered several families that breed their bucking stock and use the young horses in their rodeos. It is much like bringing on any young horse, training with dummies that fall off, learning to stand in chutes quietly, showing low level rodeos, not often, letting horse win, building his strength as he matures. Breeders put a LOT of time, effort and training into making a consistant bucking animal, who will give good rides to let cowboys score well on him.
Lower level rodeos may be using lower level bucking horses, not as big, strong, reliable in the quality of rides. I can’t imagine why this person hasn’t hauled these horses to a bucking horse sale or called another Rodeo Contractor to sell for much better money.
I would NOT want to “try fixing” these horses. There is a REASON they are in the string. Maybe dirty fighters, try to catch you off guard. Just ill-tempered to handle. If they were known to be kindly with the flank strap off, they wouldn’t still be in the string earning money for owner.
Articles I have read about Rodeo Contractors all have said they usually don’t buy “bad” saddle horses. Horses just don’t usually have the “attitude” needed to keep on bucking when good bronc riders can stay on. Horse gives up pretty quick, is not reliable in consistency to buck, so is not going to work as a “true bronc” for the Rodeo. Those guys would only be able to name 3-4 horses that went from saddle horse to good bucker in a rodeo setting, over a number of years. They say the modern horses are bred to being more easily handled, have been handled usually since birth, are not like horses from the past or those bred to be bucking stock. That is the main reason there are now bucking stock breeders, there were not enough “tough buckers” coming to the Contractors from saddle horse stock. No replacement buckers as horses aged out of Rodeo competition ranks. Created a new horse breeding slot, producing bucking animals!
It’s possible but, the ad notes that these are ‘aged’ bucking stock, so it’s not as though they are washouts. On the other hand, there were and are plenty of very talented broncs who, if saddle broncs, could be ridden bareback like plow horses, or if bareback, ridden under saddle.
But- these are horses that ought to be bought as rough stock in my opinion. I read an interesting article recently about Larry Mahan (multiple all around champ back in the day)- he had his own little saddle bronc that he hauled around to practice with when he was on the tour.
Perhaps a college rodeo team, or a rough stock school somewhere, could use these that are advertised.
As an aside, I had an OTTB once, quite apparently NOT started right at a race track- great manners for all things until you got on him. He went to a stock string and was saddle bronc of the year the next year on the particular circuit on the east coast. I really wanted to try to get to the bottom of him, because he would have been a helluva foxhunting horse, but with two small kids and work I just couldn’t give it the time that was needed to do it right. In the end it was a great fit for him, just keep doing what you are doing, for 15 minutes a year or so.
