Rearing: Horse Bucking Rider Off

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Hi Keith, The "Legend" story has a happy ending. The girl who bought him did put him in the auction and a lady bought him for $250. The only other bidder was the "meat buyer." The lady buyer knew she bought a problem, but had the experience and background to deal with him. She went back to lots of groundwork, even though he had had lots in the past, but her secret was consistency. When she started riding him, she had the help of 2 other experienced younger friends who weren't afraid of rearing and bucking. One was a dressage rider and the other a three day event rider and they started him in a ring with someone on the ground with a whip to drive him forward if he tried anything. She analyzed his problem as a reluctance to move forward. I'll attach some of her letters. After several months of very CONSISTENT work with somedays all three women working him most of the day, they put him in a schooling show and he won 1st place in jumping and I believe 3rd in dressage! Hello Buckinghams! Lorina gave me your email address as the former owners of Christmas Legend. Thought I’d update you on his progress. First, he’s now called Chaucer. I bought him at auction in January—when I heard Laurina, who I know from the University of Oregon, was giving up on him I offered to buy him from her but she was worried that I would get hurt (she was truly scared of him) so said no. I figured she’d take him to the auction so showed up (a big leap on my part as I’d never seen the horse) and rescued him from the meat packers (the only person who bid on him besides me—Chaucer was pretty upset and so looked very unmanageable). I thought he deserved one more chance AND I have a niece and two friends who said they’d help wear him down. Much to my surprise, Chaucer was totally friendly from the ground—a big puppy dog, kind of a goof. I decided to do at least a month of intensive ground work with him before we started riding. Knowing his history, we figured that keeping his respect from the ground would pay off riding. After a month, we took things rather slowly, mainly hacking, bending, and working on rhythm of gaits. Trailered him places with the other horses, rode him inside and outside, lunged him over small fences, all easy stuff. We ride him in a heavy fat snaffle and no draw reins/martingale or tie down and at first he did a lot of head tossing but that slowly stopped—now it only happens when he gets frustrated. In April we started jumping him and asking him to do more. He was squirrely over fences, sometimes almost out of control, and more resistant in general. We had slacked off on ground work, which proved a mistake, as Chaucer started bucking and rearing and generally being a pain in the ass. We didn’t back off, though, just started doing ground work in earnest, along with riding him. I see all of his behavior problems as a refusal to go forward so we just basically kicked him forward no matter what he did. About two weeks ago things started coming together. He’s not out of control going over fences—actually pays attention 80% of the time. His dressage is coming along, too, he bends nicely in both directions, can move in a straight line!, and is working towards being on the bit (not there but maybe in a couple months). In general, he’s been a quite difficult horse to ride, but very loveable horse to handle. Chaucer is a big goof and we remind ourselves that he’s pretty old to have to start all over again. We see glimmers of past training—it’s obvious that someone has done work with him—and hope that age is maturing him so that this time the training will stick. He is a powerful mover so fun to ride and lovely to watch. I’d love to hear all about his early life. When was he born, for instance? Did you own the mare? What kind of training has he received over the years? Did he fall asleep when you tied him up (he’s done that five or six times and fallen over)? Laurina says you were mostly interested in trail riding him, which we also do. He is not a good lead horse but settles in nicely among other horses. While not a beautiful horse standing still, as I mentioned, he is quite lovely when moving. I think his skill, if he proves to be as talented with a rider over fences as he is free jumping, will be in combined training. That horse has unbelievable stamina—one week when we were having the most difficulties we rode him three hours day—kind of a tag team riding approach—and he was still ready to go when we were exhausted. Sorry this went on for so long. Just meant to say that your horse seems to be doing ok. His first show is this weekend so keep your fingers crossed. Ellen Hi Dori, Well Chaucer had a successful weekend, at least as far as the jumping went. Mind you, this was a little schooling show with fences no higher than 2'9" but he won high point in jumping!! He was so calm--we couldn't have been more pleased. I will send you photos once I get them downloaded. For the two dressage tests, which happened first thing, he was a little spooked. The dressage arena was beside a field with sheep and most of the horses (except the ones from that barn, naturally) were a tad freaked out. The second test went a little better and he placed fifth. Again, not bad for a first effort. Ellen Hi Dori, I ride dressage and teach a little. Used to event and ride hunters and put myself through grad school coaching and training horses but am now 55 and do only dressage, plus a little jumping and teaching (mainly for friends as I got tired of dealing with dilettante riders). Chaucer is being jumped by a friend, Marcie, who, along with my niece is around 30. Marcie rides eventers, Rose rides dressage. We don't work with professional trainers--other than taking horses to the occasional clinic--don't really need to, pretty much know what we're doing in that I've handled thoroughbreds for most of my life and discuss everything with Marcie/Rose as they've worked with the horses. Both of them are more than competent riders, not afraid of buckers/rearers but not stupid enough to try to handle problems on their own. Chaucer has been to two clinics with a woman who comes down every other month from Seattle. We took him after we'd ridden him for a month and then brought him back two months later so she's tracking his progress along with us. She rides warmbloods so has given us suggestions on dealing with his behavior. It all seems to be working well. Cross your fingers. Ellen Hi Dori, Chaucer has not reverted back to his evil side (yet). We are very close to having him canter a complete course calmly. He is relaxing more and more at the trot--has developed an even stride and is stretching down and should be truly on the bit within the next couple months. Here is a picture of Marcie jumping him. I still don't have the pictures from the show. We will be going to another show either in October or November and will keep you up-to-date on how he does. Ellen