Horse that bucks when cantering

Question
Hello Susan,
My name is Kelly and i have a 9 yr old horse that likes to buck when I ask him for the canter. He doesnt buck that hard and i havent been bucked off yet but it is enough to scare me. I am a fairly new rider I have had my horse for two years. I work my horse in the round pen and he bucks a little when i ask him to canter with nothing on but not much then i put the saddle on him and i run him around and he bucks a lot when cantering (the amount when im on him which hasnt bucked me off yet)I then get on him and he bucks when i ask him to canter he will do this for the first few times i ask him to canter and then he is fine. I just was wondering if there is a way to get him to stop bucking and also could you give me some tips for dealing with this. He doesnt buck at the walk or trot and he hasnt yet reared while bucking. I dont want to get rid of him I would like to work through this. Please help me!!! Thank you so much in advance for reading this and taking your time as a volunteer to help people like me on this site!!!

Answer
Hi Kelly,

It sounds to me like the problem probably isn't a training issue, but is more likely a pain or discomfort issue.  There are a couple of things you might want to check out.  You may need to check how your horse's saddle fits.  Since most of his bucking takes place with the saddle on, it tells me that there's something bother his back having to do with the saddle.  I wonder if the saddle digs into his back somewhere when he's at the canter.  It sure sounds like something along those lines.  Have you tried a different saddle on him?  That might give you some insight.

Another thought is that he may need a chiropractic adjustment.  Just like with humans, when a horse's back is out of alignment, doing normal, everyday things can cause pain.  It's like when you've slept funny, and your back is a bit tweaked.  When that happens, nothing is very comfortable.  One thing you can try is to massage the muscles down him back on either side of his spine.  If you come to an area where he flinches or reacts when you apply direct pressure, I think you've found your problem area.  Also, if his muscles tremble when you massage, it's an indicator of a muscle injury.

Those are just my thoughts.  I certainly think this is something you'll be able to work through so don't give up.  I'd first try having a chiropractor adjust him, and maybe have the chiro. check to see if the saddle is causing a problem.  Many chiropractors will do this for you if what's happening is in the saddle area.  Above all else, stay safe.  I hope you're wearing a helmet whenever you ride!  (A good friend of mine just ended up in the hospital for a couple of days with a concussion because she got tossed and wasn't wearing a helmet.)  Be patient and don't give up.  You'll figure it out, and your horse will be better as a result.  Good luck, and don't hesitate to write me back if you have any other questions.

--Susan