Bucking: www.thinklikeahorse.org Rick Gore

Question
I just got a 20yr old quarter horse. They told me he had been ridden before but hadnt been ridden in about a year. He is the perfect horse until you get in the saddle. If he is on a lead he will walk just fine and do anything you ask him. But once he knows hes off the lead he bucks like crazy. He has bucked off 3 people.
Im 24 and about 5'3", hes 16hh. Im pretty inexperienced. I used to ride when I was younger but the horses were well trained.
We dont have a round pen, just a pretty large feild.
Im ok with him being just a buddy, but Ive really been itching to ride him. However with work I cant afford to break a bone.... any suggestions? Oh, also would it be safer to try bareback first? I didnt know if it would be easier to get off if he started buckin.

Answer
Well he may have a back injury, did you not say how much you weigh but if his back has a previous injury it will not take much to cause him pain.  You can have a vet check him out, but stop putting people on him that can't ride his bucks, every time he throws someone, he gets better at bucking, it teaches him that he can throw people, and it gets him release, so he will keep doing it.  

First educate yourself on the horse, read my website, it will help you see horses differently and you will understand them better.

After you invest some time reading and learning, then write me back if you have more questions.

Rick