My Horse Is Bucking & Acting Wild in the Turn Out

If you are new to the world of riding and horse ownership, you may be taken aback the first time you see your reliable mount running, bucking and acting wild in the pasture or the paddock. The good news is that all of these behaviors are perfectly normal, as long as they do not continue once you have put on the saddle and head out on the trail.

  1. Stall Bound

    • If your horse has been standing in the stall for a couple of days, you can expect a lot of running and bucking when you first let her into the turnout area. Horses develop a lot of energy when they stand idle, and they need a way to release that pent up energy. Running and bucking are simply two ways for your horse to release excess energy.

    Cold Weather

    • You may see a marked increase in running, bucking and seemingly wild behavior when the weather starts to turn colder. Horses are often sluggish when the weather is very hot, but as the temperatures fall they begin to move around more and get much needed exercise. The cold weather stimulates the horse to move around, and you may see your horse running around wildly when you turn it out on a cold fall or winter morning. This is perfectly normal and nothing to worry about, as long as the wild behavior ends when you take control of the animal.

    Longeing

    • If your horse continues to act wild even after you have caught him and put the halter on, you may want to longe him for awhile before you put the saddle on and head out for a ride. Longeing the horse helps him expend excess energy before you ride, which can make the ride both safer and more pleasant for you and your horse. When you longe the horse you stand in the center of a circle with a longe line attached to the halter. The horse moves in a circle around you, preferably following your directions regarding which gait to take and which direction to move.

    Training Issues

    • Running, bucking and acting wild are all normal equine behaviors, and there is nothing wrong with your horse doing any of those things. Those behaviors are not normal under saddle, however, and if your horse exhibits any of them, you need to address the problem with additional training. You can engage the services of a professional trainer if you do not feel comfortable doing the retraining on your own.

    Turnout Safety

    • Since running and bucking are normal parts of equine life, you should check the turnout area for obstacles that could make that behavior unsafe. If the turnout area contains old pieces of farm equipment, strands of barbed wire or other hazards, you could be placing an emergency call to the veterinarian the next time your horse decides to run and play.