bucking problem

Question
QUESTION: I have a new horse that we rescued, when we got him he was in bad shape, underweight, and scared.  Since that time he is so much better about being handled all over his body (I can walk all around him and touch him all over and no flinching like he was going to be hurt).  He is back up to weight and has had 30 days professional training.  Since that time we have gone up in the trails and for the most part he is doing good with that.  My problem is that we dont get to ride that often, maybe 2 times a month.  The last time out he rode out well and then on the way home he bucked three times.  Since that outing I have taken him out by himself down our gravel road and he is fine leaving his buddy.  Last night I rode and he bucked again just once as we first started the ride, we had only been riding for under 5 minutes.  I continued on and his behavior was great the rest of the way no bucking or carrying on.  How can I stop this bucking when we first take off?  I dont have a large enough area to longe him.

ANSWER: Hi Michelle,

First of all congrats on your new horse and kudos to you for adopting him. My first suggestion, is that twice a month of riding is just not enough to build a solid foundation. That combined with no place to turn him out or lunge him, is really setting yourself up for some struggles and a dangerous riding situation. I would suggest moving him to an area where you have access to a turnout arena or round pen, so you can go back to some basics with him and possibly have someone else help exercise him for you. He's probably got some respect issues and that combined with no way to to get his excess energy worked out of him, so he starts using his "thinking" side of his brain is really going to provoke any herd-bound behaviour he's exhibiting (which you are seeing in the bucking). I am sorry I don't have any specific exercises for you based on your lack of lunging/turnout facilities. But once you get him moved and access to more room, drop me another note, you just might find that being able to get the "edge" off before you set out on a trail ride, is enough to solved the problem right there.

Happy Trails, Jen

---------- FOLLOW-UP ----------

QUESTION: He does have a turn out area, Im not sure the exact dimensions but its big enough for him to run around and kick up his heels if he needs to.  I have been lunging him, its not as big of an area as I would like, but it will do for now.  I did lunge and take him out for a ride on Sunday and had no problems with the bucking.  So, would you suggest just lunging him for 10 minutes or so to get him warmed up before the ride.  Any good ground training excercises that I can do to get him to focus on me?  On the trail he is real focused on what Im saying to him and really responds well to praise that I give him.

Answer
Hi,

It sounds like he just needs to get the edge off, personally I say if you are going to go through the trouble to lunge, do it for atleast 10 minutes each way. His "reward" will be stopping and going for a trail ride. I'd work on speed changes, directional changes, maybe even lunge him over some poles or small jumps, anything to keep him interested and focused on you. You are doing great with him!

Jen