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[RC] bucking suggestion - Dawn Simas
I saw clinician Chris Cox do a presentation at Horse Expo on solving bucking with ground work. You'd have to investigate further to his DVD's or something for the full rundown. But, basically, he put a fat, cotton rope around the horse's flank through a loop that would release easily. Hold the halter and you have the flank rope in your other hand. Slowly (be ready with the halter hand to go with the horse a bit) reel in the flank rope until it puts enough pressure to make him buck, and go with him and keep the pressure there until he stops. As soon as he stops, release. Then do it again. You are teaching them that if they buck, it doesn't *solve* the problem. Simple Natural Horsemanship pressure and release.
He had a mare in the clinic that LOVED to buck and had about killed his owner. She bucked just standing there while he talked. Afterwards, he could reel in that flank rope and she'd just stand there. She realized it was more work to buck and buck and buck and never get relief--until she stopped. Then he mounted up in the saddle (kept the rope there, but only after he'd gotten her that far) and did the same once or twice from the saddle, but she gave up and didn't try at all any more.
Could be tricky and took some finesse with timing, but it was an interesting solution to a horse that just thinks bucking is a fun sport.
Ms. Dawn Simas
Director - Wild About Cats
Wild Feline Conservation, Education, and Rescue
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