Jessica Jahiel's HORSE-SENSE Newsletter Archives

Breaking horses and bucking

From: Sandie

Dear Jessica, I would value your opinion about something I saw on a television show. It was about this trainer who said that he had started a lot of horses, I don't remember how many. But it was in the thousands. And only 10% of them bucked when they were first ridden! Wouldn't you say that this is pretty amazing? I know that this man is kind of in trouble with his family and other people for making up the things in his book, but if only 10% of the horses he starts buck that first ride, wouldn't that prove that he is doing something right?

I want to know because I have been preparing my horse for his first ride. My teacher and I have been leading Dunny and working him on the lunge line and also doing some ground-driving with him. He is used to his saddle and I think it fits him pretty well. His bridle too. So far he is real calm about everything. He is almost three and I plan to start riding him this summer. I am wondering whether I should sort of start him over with this trainer's method so that he won't buck when I get on. What do you think? My teacher says this is not necessary. I want to know what you think.

Thank you, Sandie

Hi Sandie -- let me put it this way: it's my opinion that a properly-started horse, one that has been worked correctly from the ground and introduced to people and saddles in the right way, is not going to buck when first ridden. When the rider mounts for the first time, a properly-prepared horse is neither hurt, nor frightened, nor confused, and has no reason to buck. This, for many, many, trainers, would be absolutely NORMAL behaviour, the reaction they expect and get from the horses they start! The horse that bucks would be the rare exception. So whereas I agree that 90% or more of horses should not buck the first time they are ridden, I do feel that I should point out that this is NOT strange, unusual, or unique to any single trainer, any single type of horse, or any single discipline.

It sounds to me as though you and your teacher have been doing a great job of preparing Dunny for his new job as a riding horse. By the time you ride him, he will be three, he will understand about the saddle, the bridle, the bit. He will know all about voice signals from his work on the longe, and his ground-driving training will have taught him to understand and respond to rein signals from a handler he can't see. You've been doing everything exactly right, Sandie, and I'll bet he never even THINKS about bucking when you get on that first time. In fact, given your patience and your level and type of preparation,I'd say that the smart money will be on Dunny reacting exactly the way he's reacted to everything else: calmly.

Have fun with him, and let me know how that first ride goes. ;-)

Jessica

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