How to Get a Horse to Stop Bucking

Riding horses can be dangerous, as any experienced rider knows. Even when all safety precautions are taken, horses are unpredictable and can hurt their rider. Knowing how to stop bad behavior, like bucking, can prevent accidents and injuries. Learn how to get a horse to stop bucking by following these steps.

Instructions

Difficulty: Moderate

1. Pull your horse's head up if he starts bucking. Horses can not buck with their heads up.
2. Turn your horse in a tight circle if he doesn't want to stop moving or bucking. Get his head up, and pull him sharply to the left or right. Keep him circling until he calms down.
3. Stop your horse and figure out why he is bucking. Horses can sometimes buck for no reason other than playfulness.
4. Check your tack for problems. A stick or object under the saddle pad can irritate your horse and cause him to buck, as can a bit that is pinching his mouth.
5. Dig further into the matter if you can not see an immediate reason why your horse is bucking. Health problems can cause a horse to buck. Have a veterinarian check him out, including his teeth.

Tips & Warnings

• Your horse's teeth should be checked annually or every six months by an equine dentist. Teeth growing crooked or extra teeth can cause pain when the bit is placed in the horse's mouth. This can cause your horse to buck.
• Never hit or hurt your horse because he is bucking. There is a reason for his behavior, and there is a reasonable solution.
• Don't dismount your horse if he bucks. This will teach him that bucking is a way of getting you off, and staying in the saddle will give him time to relax.