How to Break the Bucking Horse

Breaking a horse of a bucking habit can be a real challenge, and unless you are a very good rider, it can be dangerous as well. Owners of horses that buck when being ridden should seriously consider contacting a professional trainer to break the habit. But before you contact a local trainer, there are a number of things you can do from the ground to find the reasons the horse is bucking and make the horse safer under saddle.

Things You'll Need

  • Old saddle
  • Back cinch
  • Longe line
  • Longe whip
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Instructions

    • 1

      Examine your tack carefully. If there are any sharp edges on the saddle or any pieces of hay stuck to the girth, this could cause enough irritation for the horse to buck. If possible, borrow a saddle from a friend and see if the horse continues to buck with the new equipment.

    • 2

      Take your horse to the veterinarian to be examined for any issues that could be causing the bucking habit. A sore back or a problem with the horse's spine could be the source of the misbehavior. Continue with the training if no health issues are found.

    • 3

      Place the saddle on the horse as you normally would, but do not tighten the girth as much as you would if you were going to ride. This will allow the saddle to bounce up and down on the horse's back and encourage a bucking reaction.

    • 4

      Move the horse out on the longe line and allow him to buck as he moves. The purpose of this exercise is to show the horse that bucking will not get him what he wants, in this case an end to the training session.

    • 5

      Tighten the back cinch on the saddle to the point at which it is just rubbing the horse. Tightening the back cinch will irritate the horse and encourage him to buck. Again, the purpose is to buck the horse out and teach him that bucking will not get him out of work.

    • 6

      Mount the horse if you are confident that you can ride out a bucking session. Otherwise, ask a more experienced rider to ride the horse. Eventually you will need to ride the horse and stay with him if he does buck, so taking some riding lessons will definitely make you safer, even when the horse has been cured of his bucking habit.

    • 7

      Call a professional trainer for help if the bucking habit continues. It is important to break the bucking habit, but it is critical that you do it safely. Safety-related misbehaviors like bucking and rearing are often difficult for average riders to deal with without professional help.