wind sucking and bucking

Question
Ok. I have a gelding...about 8 years old, he is a great horse and everything...great jog, but whenever I make him lope, he just starts spazing out and starts bucking like a bronc! Any tips how to make this stop? He also wind sucks. We have a collar on him, but it dosn't really help. Any suggestions?

Answer
Hi Kristy!

Let me address the cribbing/wind sucking first.  There are plenty of theories as to why horses do this.  I cannot give you a reason he does it or a cure.  But, I can make a few suggestions.  First, I hate the collars and do not use them.  I think a physically and mentally tired horse will do it less.  I work my "Cribbers" everyday and turn them out all day everyday.  Now, I do have one old coot who does it on the fenceline for hours.  He's a lost cause!!  This habit is unattractive and bothersome but, vets say now it does not cause colic as often as it has been said it does in the past.  Ignore it completely and work, work, work him.  He's young and if he's sound (which I assume he is, since you did not mention it) feel free to longe him at the canter for 20 or 25 minutes prior to riding.  And this is after he has been turned out to run around!

Longeing him brings me to the second part of your question.  Yound QH geldings seem to be the most powerful and contrary horses I've ever come up against!  His bucking is a sign of his lack of concern, distrustful and disrespectful attitiude toward you and any other human that asks for something he didn't like!  

Tough Tater Tots!!  He has to do what you ask, when you ask.  You need to longe him and work with him on just the ground for awhile to correct this issue.  Think about it....does his bad side come out in other ways during ground handling?  I wouldn't be surprised at all if you listed 3 or 4 things he is bad about.  Start with the simplest of things and get him to do it well and easily and then move to the next issue.  I believe in the clicker method and always in food rewards for correct behavior.  You need to get his attention with these simple things and build a base of discipline with him before you take on the big thing.

You will need a longe whip to correct his bucking on the line. He needs to be in full tack. No need to hit him, unless you feel it will work.  Humans are often afraid to smack a horse because they feel it will make him worse.  Yes, it will AND THEN it will make him better.  This is a language he understands...much like the kick of a horse in the field who is saying "STOP THAT!"

Always work in a safe, enclosed area.  While on the longe line and in full tack ask for the canter/lope and have that whip ready to use.  You should see instant results. Feel free to do this for as long as it takes.  The hotter and sweatier and angrier he becomes...just keep going. He's young and healthy and has waaay too much energy! He'll begin to get it and start doing as you ask.  When he does....DO NOT walk up to him and be sorry and pet him.  This will confuse him.  DO NOT look at him or speak to him. You are the "Boss Mare" and you need to stay in that postion always.  He is a bad little pony and he needs to know that or you will never get him to respect you or stop bucking. Untack him, hose him off, and put him away without so much as a word and no treats.  He needs to go home and think about this.

So, now it's the next day and you get back on him and he bucks.  Dismount, grab the longe line and whip you have set down right there and go back to your enclosed area and begin longeing him and use the whip. Stop and immediately  get back on him and work your way up to the lope.  If he even THINKS about bucking, dismount, pick up the longe line and whip and right back to running him in circles and the whip.  Repeat as many time as you need to, till he does it right.  Honestly, this can go on for an hour.  But, it becomes quickly evident to him YOU WILL NOT GIVE UP and he may as well just do as you ask.  As he quickly tires out, he will become safer and more pliable for you to control.  All's the better!!

The bucking will never go away.  You can push it deep, deep down so that he stops doing it for you because he knows what will happen if he does.  But, let's say a wimpy rider gets on him in the future.  He will give them the benefit of the doubt for a few rides but.....then he will start to see if he can get away with it and when he senses he can...BOOM!  He's right back to doing it again!  SO, keep up on him.  He needs to know there are consequences for his bad behavior!  Be firm, be kind when he is good and sit back and enjoy the ride!

Good Luck!

Solange