Blue & Amanda

Bucking. The word alone sends shivers down the spines of many equestrians. It’s a dangerous and frustrating habit, often stemming from discomfort, fear, or a simple lack of respect.

In June 2025, we visited a farm to help a young woman with her beloved horse, Blue. Blue has been off work for a year due to an injury and had finally been fully cleared by the vet to return to exercise. Only one problem.... that's not what Blue wanted to hear. He developed a nasty habit of breaking into bucking fits most times when he was asked to move out at anything faster than a trot. After throwing off children and stomping all over his owner's confidence, Blue was teetering on the edge of needing to find a new zip code.

Since multiple vets entirely cleared him, Blue's behavior seemed more rooted in a lack of respect and a power struggle. He was testing boundaries, and the canter cue had become a trigger for resistance. Therefore, we began with groundwork, the unsung hero of horse training. My focus was not on forcing compliance but on building a relationship built on respect and understanding. This involved simple exercises like yielding to pressure, moving his hindquarters and forequarters independently, maintaining a consistent and respectful distance, and LOTS of backing.

Once Blue consistently displayed respect and responsiveness on the ground, we moved on to saddling him but repeating the recently established groundwork exercises. This period was crucial for reinforcing the groundwork principles and ensuring that Blue was physically comfortable and mentally relaxed under the saddle.

Next, we transitioned to ridden work, initially confining ourselves to the roundpen. We practiced flexing left and right while standing still, teaching him to yield his neck and rib cage to the rein pressure. This groundwork exercise translated seamlessly to under-saddle work, laying the foundation for effective communication and control. One crucial element in Blue’s retraining was the introduction of the one-rein stop. This technique, where one rein is gently pulled towards the rider's hip to disengage the hindquarters, provided a safe and effective way to interrupt any bucking behavior. It gives the rider a tool to regain control and prevent the situation from escalating. We practiced this maneuver extensively, ensuring that Blue understood the cue and responded promptly and calmly.

We then worked on transitions, focusing on smooth, balanced departures and returns to the walk and trot. Any signs of excessive tension or resistance were met with patience and redirection through one rein stops.

To address the possibility that Blue’s bucking stemmed from fear or sensitivity, we incorporated desensitization at all gaits. During our sessions at the walk, trot, and canter, I would intentionally “flop around” in the saddle, touch Blue all over, make unexpected noises, and clap my hands. This might sound unconventional, but the goal was to expose Blue to a variety of stimuli in a controlled environment, gradually decreasing his reactivity and building his tolerance to potentially startling sensations. It was essential to emphasize that this wasn't about scaring him, but about helping him understand that these things weren't a threat.

The breakthrough finally came when Blue began to trust that the request to canter wouldn't be followed by discomfort or fear. He started responding willingly, maintaining a balanced and relaxed posture. The initial canter strides were short and controlled, but with each successful transition, his confidence grew.

The true testament to Blue's transformation came when his owner and her friends were able to ride him at a canter with no issues. His owner had not ridden him at a canter in TWO YEARS. Witnessing her joy and growing confidence as they effortlessly navigated the arena was incredibly rewarding. By addressing the underlying issues and building a foundation of respect, we were able to transform an unpredictable bronco into a horse capable of a blissful canter, fostering a deeper connection between horse and rider. This experience serves as a potent reminder that with the right approach, even the most challenging behaviors can be overcome, unlocking the true potential within each horse. His owner will continue to work with him to ensure this nasty habit stays away! We will continue to follow their journey!