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 Expert
Posts: 1631
   
Location: Somewhere around here | Next week I'll be riding a horse that is a little bit of a bucker if he hasn't been ridden for a while. I've ridden him a few times a few years ago and his a nice mouth on him, just rode him in a plain snaffle mouthpiece with 5 inch shanks, and he was great with everything. I was wondering should I ride him just in a plain snaffle bit with split reins and; just the bridle alone, bridle with a martingale on, or bridle with a German martingale? If he gets his head too low he can buck pretty good but if I keep it at a good spot I don't think he will have enough buck to launch me lol.
What are your ideas or maybe something that I haven't put on here? |
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The Advice Guru
Posts: 6419
| Wow 5 inch shank that is almost half a foot.
I would ride the horse in an o ring snaffle with split reins. And nothing else. I would pony the horse saddled for a few miles before I get on if the horse gets humpy after I am on I would be doing small circles keep the feet moving and head up.
If the horse has no reason to buck and is just dirty, I would can the horse as there are too many nice non buckers out there needing good owners. |
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Expert
Posts: 1631
Location: Somewhere around here | Opps sorry, let me rephrase with the 5 inches. It's counting with the purchase as well. Here's a picture of what it looked like >> http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/417sc7m3xrL._SY300_.jpg
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Location: Oregon | my thought, (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that I wouldn't be putting a martigale on a horse that bucks because as soon as he does, you are naturally going to take ahold of him and with a martingale you would be forcing his head down... I agree with the snaffle and split reins. |
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 Veteran
Posts: 222
Location: Texas | No martingales tie downs etc. you want to get his head up not down when he goes to pitch. Split reins and a bit with enough whoa and flex to control his head when he tries to take it away. Snaffle if he works well in it. Split reins to drive him forward. If he's really dirty ( as in flat rank will not move forward without breaking in half). you can put him in a buck stopper. |
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Industrial Srength Barrel Racer
Posts: 7268
| A noose? (Sorry, I'm old, don't do buckers)! |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 550
| Married2Rodeo - 2014-07-16 10:35 PM
No martingales tie downs etc. you want to get his head up not down when he goes to pitch. Split reins and a bit with enough whoa and flex to control his head when he tries to take it away. Snaffle if he works well in it. Split reins to drive him forward. If he's really dirty ( as in flat rank will not move forward without breaking in half). you can put him in a buck stopper.
How do you rig a buck stopper up? |
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  Queen Boobie 2
Posts: 7521
| One that wants to take his head and buck, I'll put a C gag on them that is rigged on a pigging string headstall. This applies poll pressure and pressure on corners of mout when you have to take hold of them and you can usually bring their head around toward your knee and keep their feet moving in a circle to help contain any bucking. |
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 Party Reptile
Posts: 1545
Location: Magnolia, Texas | Griz - 2014-07-17 5:21 AM A noose?(Sorry, I'm old, don't do buckers )!
This.
Too many nice one's out there to deal with a bucker. |
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 Expert
Posts: 2097
Location: Deep South | cheryl makofka - 2014-07-16 6:10 PM
Wow 5 inch shank that is almost half a foot.
I would ride the horse in an o ring snaffle with split reins. And nothing else. I would pony the horse saddled for a few miles before I get on if the horse gets humpy after I am on I would be doing small circles keep the feet moving and head up.
If the horse has no reason to buck and is just dirty, I would can the horse as there are too many nice non buckers out there needing good owners.
I agree with all of this.
I'd also add I wouldn't use any headgear that encourages the horse to keep it's head down (martingales, tie-downs, draw bits).
The bit you posted just doesn't look like it would have that much lateral flexion, and if he starts to pitch the best thing to do is get him moving in circles. |
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 Angel in a Sorrel Coat
Posts: 16030
Location: In a happy place | I<3BarrelRacing - 2014-07-16 9:01 PM my thought, (and correct me if I'm wrong) is that I wouldn't be putting a martigale on a horse that bucks because as soon as he does, you are naturally going to take ahold of him and with a martingale you would be forcing his head down... I agree with the snaffle and split reins.
I was thinking the same thing. |
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Unable to Live Without Chocolate or Coffee
Posts: 1849
| snaffle, split reins or mecate reins.
You didn't ask for training advice but I would address the bucking issue first. Chris cox has done alot of demos with buckers. I don't know your horse's history but if it was my horse I'd want to get that buck figured out so I didn't have to worry about it as much. A round pen and rope/lariat for the flanks are two things that he uses, for the experience horse person only of course... |
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| If he's just cold backed, I'd just lunge him good before riding him. I wouldn't, like others have said, put anything that helps him get his head down. I'd also make sure he's not fed up too good and not just being a spoiled brat. All things considered, if he's a never know when it's gonna happen type bucker and not just cold backed...I'd get rid of him and find something nicer to ride...as they say, "it doesn't cost anymore to feed a good one than it does to feed a rank one." I'd spend my feed money wisely if I were you. |
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