Tips on How to Sit Through a Buck?

[Gidget]

Thank you, netg!!

It’s nice to know that this is a skill that can be developed over time…even by a more, ahem, “mature” rider such as myself.

I’m also getting a lot of confirmation that studying Dressage is the way to go, regardless of one’s long-term goals.

I started out by trying to learn H/J for the first year and half, but I can see now that I did myself a disservice. The school was outstanding, but I was SO LOST when it came to some very basic riding skills. Since making the switch to Dressage 8 or 9 months ago, I’ve really been getting a sense of what I was missing.

[Gidget]

[QUOTE=rb5007;7957986]
I agree - but for me, calling him REALLY bad names out loud helps even more. I know I am setting a bad example for the kids but everyone is usually so impressed with my rodeo bull that they forget to yell at me.[/QUOTE]

I’ve been trying NOT to be a potty-mouth lately. Maybe I picked the wrong sport! :lol:

[KateKat]

I think as long as you remain balanced you can ride out the buck.

That being said…

99% of the time I’ve been on a bucking horse I’ve first gotten off balance soooo, yeah. The ones that are killer are the ones who can throw in multiple bucks in a row, or twist and buck, or throw you to one side first, then buck :lol:. My mare actually has the easiest buck in the world to sit because she just goes straight up, and straight back down.

[eclipse]

[QUOTE=Gidget;7958054]
I’ve been trying NOT to be a potty-mouth lately. Maybe I picked the wrong sport! :lol:[/QUOTE]

No niceties came out of my mouth last night…I believe “you little flucker” came ringing out (once I’d regained control and I realized I wasn’t in a ball in the corner!!!)

[jawa]

You know you are in a good place when your horse throws out a buck and you LAUGH!!

My horses KNOW the meaning of “BEHAVE!”

I think it is important to have a tone of praise and a tone for when they are being little sh!ts.

[Gidget]

[QUOTE=eclipse;7958308]
No niceties came out of my mouth last night…I believe “you little flucker” came ringing out (once I’d regained control and I realized I wasn’t in a ball in the corner!!!)[/QUOTE]

Funny how “little flucker” and “little bucker” rhyme, isn’t it?

[SuzieQNutter]

[QUOTE=beowulf;7956722]
ride a pony that doesn’t buck :lol:[/QUOTE]

My old body agrees with this lol.

It worries me that you said this was caused by a full on instructor.

If you don’t know any different and the horse doesn’t know any different, then legs means go and reins mean turn and stop. Otherwise you end up with a confused horse and it is a confused horse that bucks, bolts, etc

It is better for the horse to learn from someone who knows and it is better for the rider to learn on a horse that already knows.

Agreeing with riding a horse that doesn’t buck I am training a horse that hubby bought sight unseen. grumble grumble grumble.

BUCK argh and so athletic at it that she would buck until she pulled something and injured herself on the lunge.

The first time I was on her and she is roly poly fat. I had visions of the saddle and I going down her neck. I managed to pull her head up after she had really gone for it and sonehow I was still on.

So first of all I took the saddle off intil she lunged without bucking.

Then I added a lunging sursingle until she didnt buck with that.

Then I added side reins and I have been taught to use them properly and I do not use them to pull a horses head in. I used them until she was going forward with contact and not bucking.

Then I added the saddle with no stirrups and side reins until no bucking.

Then I added lunging with the stirrups down and flapping.

Now on the lunge she is rounding up and going forward with contact and does not go into canter if I shorten the reins, or I flick the whip or she trips over cow manure, etc etc etc.

When she is lunging like an old pony is when I get on her and, touch wood, she has not bucked again with me on her.

[511]

Was this on your sidesaddle or on an astride?

[Sunsets]

Agree with the full seats - and if you really want to add some stability, get a sheepskin seat cover for your saddle. That + fake suede Irideon full seat breeches = butt glue.

Also, definitely keep up with the dressage-ing. After months of lessons with a really good instructor my seat and balance improved like whoah. Which turned out to be very useful when my mare lost her marbles during a clinic and proceeded to buck down the long side of a very. long. rodeo. sized. arena.

After the first two bucks, I knew I had it - and my thought process progressed from “Stay on, stay on, stay back, stay balanced” to “OMG you b____h!!! Stop embarrassing me in front of the medium big name trainer and all the auditors!!!”

[netg]

[QUOTE=Gidget;7958350]
Funny how “little flucker” and “little bucker” rhyme, isn’t it? :D[/QUOTE]

I call my horse my mother bucker.

[QUOTE=jawa;7958324]You know you are in a good place when your horse throws out a buck and you LAUGH!!

My horses KNOW the meaning of “BEHAVE!”

I think it is important to have a tone of praise and a tone for when they are being little sh!ts.[/QUOTE]

My trainer started laughing when my horse was bucking one lesson. “That’s great, because I know you know how to and will ride through it, so I can just watch and enjoy your technique!”

Greaaaaat.

[SuckerForHorses]

[QUOTE=Gidget;7958054]
I’ve been trying NOT to be a potty-mouth lately. Maybe I picked the wrong sport! :lol:[/QUOTE]

Most definitely! This sport REQUIRES a potty mouth sometimes! :lol:

[Gidget]

Hi SuzieQ!

I appreciate your very real concerns about my safety. Here’s why I’m optimistic though:

#1, this horse does NOT have a history of bucking.

#2, I’d been riding her successfully for over 7 months (both sidesaddle and astride) with without any issues. This included lessons with our original instructor, practicing on my own in the arena as well as taking her out on short trail rides with a buddy.

It wasn’t until we switched instructors that I noticed her becoming harder for me to handle. Mind you, the woman was VERY nice and extremely knowledgeable, but she seemed to subscribe to that “old school” way of teaching where you hammer on the horse relentlessly until it gives you what you want.

Of course, with my being less experienced, I didn’t question it. I tried my best to be a good student and apply everything she suggested. I figured the resistance I was feeling from the horse was just temporary and that things would get better.

Fast forward to our third lesson:

Towards the end of the hour, the horse & I were both feeling wrung out and had a less-than-perfect canter depart. I could have still worked with, but instead the instructor yelled, “Stop! Just STOP!!!”

I panicked, pulled the horse up too quickly and that’s when the fun began.

Fortunately, last night we had a VERY successful lesson with a person who uses a completely different approach. I know it’s a good fit already, not only because I was getting results again, but because both the horse & I remained relaxed throughout the whole experience. (Is there anything worse than a keyed up Thoroughbred???)

I think we’ll be fine. In fact, I’m sure of it. :yes:

[Gidget]

Hey 5!

It’s been awhile. How are you?

I was in a Dressage saddle. If I’d been in a sidesaddle I think I would have had a better chance of staying on.

[Gidget]

[QUOTE=Sunsets;7958838]
Agree with the full seats - and if you really want to add some stability, get a sheepskin seat cover for your saddle. That + fake suede Irideon full seat breeches = butt glue.

Also, definitely keep up with the dressage-ing. After months of lessons with a really good instructor my seat and balance improved like whoah. Which turned out to be very useful when my mare lost her marbles during a clinic and proceeded to buck down the long side of a very. long. rodeo. sized. arena.

After the first two bucks, I knew I had it - and my thought process progressed from “Stay on, stay on, stay back, stay balanced” to “OMG you b____h!!! Stop embarrassing me in front of the medium big name trainer and all the auditors!!!”[/QUOTE]

LOL!!! Yeah, they can be “interesting” sometimes can’t they?

I’m SO glad I kept an open mind about taking Dressage. I have to admit, the first time I saw someone doing it on TV I thought, “Oh jeez, here we go.”

Back then, I was new to riding and didn’t know what I was looking at. Now that I have a better understanding of what Dressage really is, I think EVERY rider should be forced to take it…at gunpoint if necessary!

[AppendixQHLover]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;7957172]
Yep, same thing! That’s the horseman’s prayer![/QUOTE]

I also usually drop a few F bombs in the mix…

[Hinderella]

Full chaps are even better than full seat breeches
Any advice I might give has already been pretty much covered. I have found it helpful to think about steering through a skid with your car…you know how you’re not supposed to brake, just steer into the skid? I try to apply the same thinking with a bolt/buck. You do have to pull up on the reins to get their head up but I try to focus on looking where I want to go (not down)

[Sunsets]

[QUOTE=SuckerForHorses;7959054]
Most definitely! This sport REQUIRES a potty mouth sometimes! :lol:[/QUOTE]

Oh man, one of my riding buddies just can’t understand why I can be exclaiming “Stop that you rhymes-with-witch!” one minute, and then patting and praising the next. She thinks I hate the mare. Which is the furthest thing from the truth, but mare and I have certainly had some, um “intense discussions” while schooling, so I guess I see where she’s getting that idea.

As for me, I always figure it’s better to let the frustration out vocally than it is to yank or spur.

[Gidget]

[QUOTE=Sunsets;7959653]
As for me, I always figure it’s better to let the frustration out vocally than it is to yank or spur.[/QUOTE]

AMEN!!!

[511]

[QUOTE=Gidget;7959524]
Hey 5!

It’s been awhile. How are you?

I was in a Dressage saddle. If I’d been in a sidesaddle I think I would have had a better chance of staying on.[/QUOTE]

I think for your safety* we COTHrs with connections had better start beating the bushes looking for one that is not being actively used**, that fits you if you tell us your size.

*You said in earlier posts that you were the most comfortable sidesaddle perhaps that is part of what the horse is feeding off of - one thing they are not is self sacrificing.

**Sidesaddles are herd creatures, they tend to group for safety. First there is a the herd leader (Usually a paki or catalog,) the second to join a herd is usually a park saddle if the first one is a paki and the paki is usually at this point driven from the herd, the second/third is usually a hunting saddle joined by later found gems on ebay, wider, longer, better fitting gems from friends, craingslist or ebay and the herd just grows and grows.

[Gidget]

[QUOTE=5;7960031]
I think for your safety* we COTHrs with connections had better start beating the bushes looking for one that fits you if you tell us your size.

*You said in earlier posts that you were the most comfortable sidesaddle, perhaps that is part of what the horse is feeding off of - one thing they are not is self sacrificing.[/QUOTE]

LOL!!!

Yes, I prefer sidesaddle for a number of reasons, but I think my mare prefers being ridden astride. It kills me to admit it, but I notice a BIG difference in her mood & energy levels when I ride her the “regular” way.

Of course, it could just be the way this particular sidesaddle fits her (her owner’s looking for a narrower one as we speak), but I have a feeling she’s “just not that into it.”