How to Get Horses to Buck

Bucking horses are in high demand with professional rodeo companies, and can actually make a profitable living for their owners. Training a horse to buck is chancy at best, but there are methods to help encourage bucking. Knowing some of these tools and tricks can help you get the best buck possible from your horse.

Things You'll Need

  • Flank strap
  • Spurs
  • Horse prone to bucking
  • Bucking chute
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Instructions

    • 1

      Begin by having a horse that already has some "buck" in it. In the vast majority of cases, you'll have to find a horse that already shows a natural desire to buck its rider off. Without it, a rider must resort to methods that aren't humane or acceptable. Most horses buck in response to pain, anger or other irritation. If you irritate a horse by using a flank strap to "tickle" its hind legs and sensitive flank, or wear a set of spurs to prick it and make it angry, or limit its exercise so it's "full of itself," you've used many of the common techniques designed to encourage a horse to buck.

    • 2

      Keep the horse "fresh." A fresh horse hasn't had much exercise and is ready to run and buck on its own, which will help to ensure a good bucking session. Keep the horse in a stall for a few days before the bucking event.

    • 3

      Tie the flank strap to the horse's belly just in front of its legs. It can't be tight, because that'll inhibit your horse's legs, but it needs to be tight enough not to slide upside down. The purpose of the flank strap is to encourage the horse to buck higher.

    • 4

      Place the horse in a bucking chute and climb aboard. Get your grip and have the door opened. The moment the door is opened, the long flank strap should be tossed out behind the horse's hind feet, causing it to whip around its back legs.

    • 5

      Apply your spurs to your horse in a raking motion from shoulder to hip as it runs and bucks. The irritation from the spurs on its sensitive flanks will make it want to unseat the rider. This, combined with the flank strap, should get some bucks from even a usually docile mount.