I will certainly try these tips. I know that bucking is very common, and I hope everyone reads this article.
I still don't understand why people think three one rein stop (aka, pulling a horses head around) works under every circumstance. I have seen and ridden many horses that have bucked and pulling their head around doesn't make then always stop. If your house is athletic enough, he can continue bucking in a circle, just like when a bull spins. The proper way to get your house to stop bucking is to pull his head up. When his head is up he has a harder time kicking out and keeping the bucking rhythm. Look at the Bronx riders in rodeo. After the buzzer what do they do? They pull the horses head up and the horse starts moving forward at the run. They quit bucking. The "one rein stop" will get an inexperienced rider hurt. Period.
This is in response to Chris. The use of the one rein stop assumes it has been properly taught. If your horse does not understand the cue and what it means then I would agree it would be ineffective in stopping unwanted behavior. However it has been my experience that in teaching a good one rein stop with a hind quarter disengage to your horse and reinforcing it it does wort to stop behaviors like bucking, trying to run off, etc. If the foundation training in not there then no it's not a good solution.
He's talking about a crow hopping horse, not a full bucking one. If the horse is in a full blown buck, his head is down and you would just draw his head into his chest. If you do manage to get his head up, he might come back on top of you and if not that, you might get hit in the face with the horses head.Tie a course string from the saddle horn to just under his neck just tight enough for him to feel it. He will not want to lower his head and he can't buck or crow hop without lowering his head. This is temporary.It will give him a chance to get used to working with the lope.
I have a 4 yr old mare that will go along very nicely for 20 or 30 minutes and then all of a sudden rear to full height, and start broncing...all four feet off the ground, head between the front legs, etc. I have done 1 year of ground work following Tricky Warrior videos since mine is also off the track. What I eventually found out is she has Kissing Spine, her vertebrae touch and cause significant pain. What I also found out, one rein stops tweak the spine very badly when she is already in pain. We have gone back to more round pen work with the sole purpose of physical therapy to strengthen her stomach muscles. Please also have a vet look at your horse if you experience bucking and make sure they horse doesn't have pain. I am about to start riding again in the next few weeks as soon as I can round pen with no more "episodes" for at least 2 weeks, then her muscles should be ready for me to start riding again. Wish me luck.
perhaps if your horse ws not held in the over bent behind the verticle head position, in dressage we get reamed for this from spectarors bt for some reason it is ok to see a western horse BTV, why because they are on a loose rein (with a great big bit and are punished for thinking of coming up for air.) Horses buck at the canter because of pain, riders sitting incorrectly or riders holding and closing off the inside rein and shoulder. As another lady here said, her horse had kissing spine, a more common occurrence than most people know. Most people also have no idea that the canter cue comes from the seat not the outside spur, and many mares object to the pain inflicted by that spur so far back into the ticklish flank area. Horses never react from laziness, stupidity or stubborn meanness, they react from fear pain and confusion.