Horses!

[OneHappyDuckie]

When I got my mare I was told it was impossible to bathe her with a hose

I was told that when I got my horse too! They said he was terrified of hoses. First time I tried to give him a bath, he stood in the crossties and hardly even moved the entire time

 

[OneHappyDuckie]

Well our problem lies in the fact that he’s my sister’s horse and she’s a ‘green’ rider. So she’ll ride and never correct the mistake/flaw/habit, then it gets worse and worse with every ride. I’ve finally convinced her to let me ride and try to correct him before it gets worse. I also have a couple friends who train and are willing to help out.

Does she lunge before she rides? I wonder if that would help, if he's just fresh and that's why he's bucking. If it's just a bad habit he has though that probably won't help

 

[MyParadiseFalls]

Does she lunge before she rides? I wonder if that would help, if he's just fresh and that's why he's bucking. If it's just a bad habit he has though that probably won't help

Occasionally, not every time tho

 

[littledog]

Our only problem with him is wanting to Buck when going from a trot to a slower more collected lope.

Pedro has done that sometimes. Luckily it's not a habit. How do you fix that???

It's usually because they just need more fitness and muscle development in their back and hindquarters. They're not being naughty, or bucking to get you off, it's just uncomfortable and feels unbalanced for them to try to transition from a balanced trot to a steady canter/lope. It's easier for them to run faster and faster in the trot and get up enough momentum to go into the canter, than to get their inside hind leg under them, take their whole weight on that leg, and smoothly take off into a canter/lope. They buck (usually it's more of a crow-hop really) to get their whole hind end off the ground and give themselves time to figure out how their hind legs should land, instead of immediately stepping under themselves with the inside hind, like a fit, trained horse will do when asked to canter/lope.
Often we riders will get unbalanced or grab the reins when they do their "crow-hop" then it can sometimes turn into a bucking festival which is no good for us or them...the best thing to do when this happens, is keep your weight over your stirrups, your upper body over their center of gravity, hands steady and keep sending them forward, even if they're unbalanced. Tell them good boy or girl when they finally canter, and let them keep going until they find their balance.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, try to help them build good balance and strong back and hindquarter muscles before you ever ask for the canter. Do lots of walking and trotting up and down hills. Do lots of walking and trotting over poles on the ground (set them 4 feet apart).

 

[OneHappyDuckie]

It's usually because they just need more fitness and muscle development in their back and hindquarters. They're not being naughty, or bucking to get you off, it's just uncomfortable and feels unbalanced for them to try to transition from a balanced trot to a steady canter/lope. It's easier for them to run faster and faster in the trot and get up enough momentum to go into the canter, than to get their inside hind leg under them, take their whole weight on that leg, and smoothly take off into a canter/lope. They buck (usually it's more of a crow-hop really) to get their whole hind end off the ground and give themselves time to figure out how their hind legs should land, instead of immediately stepping under themselves with the inside hind, like a fit, trained horse will do when asked to canter/lope.
Often we riders will get unbalanced or grab the reins when they do their "crow-hop" then it can sometimes turn into a bucking festival which is no good for us or them...the best thing to do when this happens, is keep your weight over your stirrups, your upper body over their center of gravity, hands steady and keep sending them forward, even if they're unbalanced. Tell them good boy or girl when they finally canter, and let them keep going until they find their balance.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, try to help them build good balance and strong back and hindquarter muscles before you ever ask for the canter. Do lots of walking and trotting up and down hills. Do lots of walking and trotting over poles on the ground (set them 4 feet apart).

That actually makes a lot of sense! Thanks for the explanation!

 

[Mary Poopins Love]

Our other horse, Patsy, will drink the hose water. We bathe her and she turns her head, puts her muzzle in the stream, and her lips wiggle. It's HILARIOUS. Burst out laughing every time.

 

[MyParadiseFalls]

It's usually because they just need more fitness and muscle development in their back and hindquarters. They're not being naughty, or bucking to get you off, it's just uncomfortable and feels unbalanced for them to try to transition from a balanced trot to a steady canter/lope. It's easier for them to run faster and faster in the trot and get up enough momentum to go into the canter, than to get their inside hind leg under them, take their whole weight on that leg, and smoothly take off into a canter/lope. They buck (usually it's more of a crow-hop really) to get their whole hind end off the ground and give themselves time to figure out how their hind legs should land, instead of immediately stepping under themselves with the inside hind, like a fit, trained horse will do when asked to canter/lope.
Often we riders will get unbalanced or grab the reins when they do their "crow-hop" then it can sometimes turn into a bucking festival which is no good for us or them...the best thing to do when this happens, is keep your weight over your stirrups, your upper body over their center of gravity, hands steady and keep sending them forward, even if they're unbalanced. Tell them good boy or girl when they finally canter, and let them keep going until they find their balance.
To prevent this from happening in the first place, try to help them build good balance and strong back and hindquarter muscles before you ever ask for the canter. Do lots of walking and trotting up and down hills. Do lots of walking and trotting over poles on the ground (set them 4 feet apart).

Wow thanks so much for the info!!

 

[MyParadiseFalls]

Our other horse, Patsy, will drink the hose water. We bathe her and she turns her head, puts her muzzle in the stream, and her lips wiggle. It's HILARIOUS. Burst out laughing every time.

First time we ever led kota to the water she stuck her whole nose in and splashed up and down and side to side, I laughed so hard!

 

[littledog]

Does she lunge before she rides? I wonder if that would help, if he's just fresh and that's why he's bucking. If it's just a bad habit he has though that probably won't help

That can really help! Lungeing in general can help get some of the high energy out, but you should make sure you're teaching them something, not just letting them go wild on the longe line, or at least limit their high energy to a few minutes, then go to work. Lunge over poles, ask for transitions, ask for changes of direction. Get their minds working, get them thinking and concentrating on something, get them into "work mode." Then get on them and ride. Exercises in hand can do the same thing to engage their mind before you get on their back - lead them through pole mazes, up and down hills, over walk and trot poles.

 

[littledog]

Our other horse, Patsy, will drink the hose water. We bathe her and she turns her head, puts her muzzle in the stream, and her lips wiggle. It's HILARIOUS. Burst out laughing every time.

Oh, I'm jealous!