If the bucking comes completely out of the blue, and after a couple of hours of riding, and the gear is OK and fits well, then I'd definitely have a vet examine her spine in case of problems there - like "kissing spines" for example.

I doesn't have to be something like that, but with those symptoms I would sure like to rule it out before trying things/exercises that might put the horse in more stress/pain.

Have you tried putting a fleece rug, or (better yet, if you can get/afford it!) a Back-on-Track rug, on her half an hour or so before riding? Helps increasing blood flow and warm up their muscles. Works good for cold-backed or muscle-sore/stiff horses.

Hi lesleymayhall,
Have your mare's back and saddle checked, please!
What you describe sounds like either a back problem or a saddle that doesn't fit anymore, or both.
When young horses start building muscles under the saddle, their form changes. She might not have freedom for her shoulder, or the deepest point of your saddle might be too far backwards. Anyway one needs to have a saddle checked at least once a year, the padding wears down uneven. For a young horse this could be even more often due to changes in musculature and growth, at this age they do still grow.
We had the 5 year old Arabian gelding checked by a chiropractor recently and found all these items.
Hope this helps you and your mare.
Miriam

Hi Lesleymayhall
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I second what Kicki and Miriam have said here. One of our mares used to buck the way yours is now, and the person who owned her then had an Equine Chiropractor look her over and do some work on her. She needed a couple of sessions, and she has not bucked since.
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Our Rescue Horse (Renacer) put in a couple of humps just recently too, so I had him and my other gelding checked over by an Equine Chiropractor. The difference in both horses since his visit is incredible.
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The Chiropractor who came out asked to see the equipment I was using, and he pointed out that the saddle I was using on Renacer was not fitting correctly probably because he had grown. I had never thought to look at this before, and he pointed it out and now Miriam is saying the same thing all within a couple of weeks. Great minds think alike ;-)
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I have heard some horror stories about Equine Chiropractors, so if you choose to use one, try to find someone who is recommended to you by trusted sources. The fellow we had was fantastic and very thorough.
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Your mare has great bloodlines too :-) Our little colt that was born in August has Smart Little Lena and Gun Smoke in his ancestory on his sire's side.
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Kind regards,
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Gen

I have had an equine chiropractor working on her the last three months. He found some minor issues mostly with her pelvic flexion but nothing drastically wrong. I have tried four different saddles on her using a variety of different pad types. She has bucked like a rodeo bronc from one day upon saddling - probably 3 out of 5 times she is saddled. She is small - only 13.2 but 950 lbs and built like a tank - so I waited until she was 3 to break her. She is very willing and reponsive when ridden and after breaking in two she usually settles in and rides fine. I really like the mare and don't want to rehome her but I can't afford to get hurt. Her explosions are totally without warrning so I can't prepare for them. Last night she exploded in the corridor outside the arena which was full of horses.

Leslie
I think you are getting some great advice. Horses don't buck with out a reason. The trick is to find out what is triggering this behavior. A couple of suggestion are to look at the saddle pad you are using. If you are riding her for more than an hour her back is going to start sweating, and the moisture may be contributing to the discomfort she is feeling. If she has sensitive skin she may be just itching and the only way to get relief if to buck. Also make sure that your cinch is not too loose as this may also be annoying to her.

Cheers

Hi again
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Dennis is right in that horses don't buck without a reason; and it is tricky to work out what the reason is - especially since they can't come right out and tell us!
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In "From My Hands To Yours" Monty Roberts talks about the horse that bucks, and for remedial buckers, he uses the Buck Stopper. Maybe you can ride her with the Buck Stopper fitted so at least the next time she gives bucking a go, there will be an immediate negative consequence to her actions.
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I don't know what "cold backed" means, but I am assuming it has something to do with being stiff?? It would be great if someone could explain this to me :-)
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If you can rule out pain and tack fitting problems, then perhaps its time to get out the Buck Stopper so at least when she does it again, she will be as surprised as you are :-) and maybe think twice about doing again next time.
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Good luck, and I hope things work out for you both.
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Kind regards,
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Gen

Hi,
It's hard to give advice if I cannot see the problem.
We do our best to describe what is happening but it is best if we can see the problem.
I understand the horse does not always do this but is it possible to have it recorded on video?
You stated that the horse did this without a ridder, hmmm, makes me wonder a few things.
If possible can you record this, bucking, and then an accurate response can be given.
Otherwise we are all just guessing, trying to help but guess work.
I would really appreciate seeing the problem before giving advice, it's too important for both you and the horse's safty.
Ronda

Hi Leslie May,

I have also a few questions.
Do I understand that she didn't buck before she was broken?
If so,the problem started after "being free".
Are her feet in balance?
Where is she when she has been ridden? In her stable, paddock...?
Does she have a blanket or something like that after riding on her?
May.

Gen,
With the risk of being "lost in translation", to me "coldbacked" generally describes a horse that is unusually stiff and possibly sore in her back muscles before properly warmed up.
If you've ever had a really stiff shoulder or neck, and had someone poke a finger into it, you'll know how it feels!
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You can tell theses horses by the way they react when you place a weight on their backs when they are cold and/or wet.
Some will "just" throw up their heads, or object by snapping or kicking at you. The extreme cases will more or less buckle to the ground, trying to hollow their back away from the pain.
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Leslie,
A chiropractor - good as they might be - is not nearly enough to detect all back problems, or the cause of them (like kissing spines).
You need a vet and an x-ray.
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Like Ronda says, it's hard to give advice on something you don't experience live, and only with the knowledge you can give us in writing, but I still repeat the necessity of a real vet check before taking other measures, like the buck stopper.

Hi Leslie,
I just wanted to add something for you.
There are generally two causes for bucking:
Exuberant bucking: This is when the horse moves forward and throws their legs joyously up behind them.
They generally have excess energy to burn or on an over "hot" diet, too many hours in the stable, lack of exercise. Or sometimes just sheer excitement.
By increasing turn out time or increasing ground work time, this can help.
Defensive bucking: this occures when the horse is psychologically or physically uncomfortable. Or this is often found in a young horse!
Defensive bucking tends to be a lot more stacatto in motion.
This type of bucking needs to have the cause found and addressed.
Psychological discomfort can have many causes. Could be they want to resist leaving their friends, stable or field. This behaviour can become habitual and can take a good deal of confident, consistnet and patient handling.
Physical discomfort has been addressed but something to keep in mind is a horse may buck in an attempt to regain his center of balance.
When a horse bucks, don't take it personally, view it as a form of communication.
Remember any horse with a pulse is going to have the occasional buck. It is an innate bahaviour and can be observered in the wild herd and domestic horse.
Be safe, investagate and watch the horse's behaviour.
Ronda

Thanks for all the input. I started saddling this filly and lunging her for about a year before breaking her at three. The first two times I saddled her, she bucked like a rodeo bronc and has continued bucking about 3 out of 5 times upon saddling since; however, she never bucked when she was started. Most times I can walk her about 25 feet before she explodes but sometimes she starts as soon as I start to lead her off, pulls away and runs around bucking for about two minutes. Only a couple of times has she shown any inclination to buck once I mount up after lunging her.

She has always been very willing and wants to please. She has never had any attitude about doing anything asked of her. She has been a pleasure to train except for the bucking. I have ridden her on trail, in horse shows, working cows and even done mounted patrol on her. The first time she bucked me off was in an arena when I hadn't lunged her good and I knew she still had a hump in her back. The second time was in the middle of moving into a herd of cows after two hours of riding. The last time was after two hours of team penning when I mounted back up from a break. After each time, I mounted back up and continued to ride, she worked fine.

I can defintely get some video of the bucking during lunging. I tend to think it's a physical problem but haven't been able to identify the problem.

Hi lesliemayhall,
Here I am again.
Did you have the teeth checked too? Although it sounds like a saddle/back-reaction, I would have her teeth checked as well. The suddenness of her bucking makes me think of a pelvic/spinal problem, but better be sure it's not the bit, she reacts so unpredictable to.
Did the chiropractor settle her ileosacral-"joint"? If one side of this connection is under tension, it feels asymmetrical to the horse. Bucking might be an attempt to get rid of this tension. Do you feel any difference between sides when you ride her, is she more tense when cantering right or left?
She's still young, give her every chance there is to become what she's capable of.
Stay safe,
Miriam

Get the teeth checked by an Equine Dentist and try the Buck Stopper that Monty Roberts uses. There is a video on you tube of Monty Roberts using the buck stopper. The horse has a right to buck the first time or 2 I saddle them. After that I will shut them down and not let them buck. Sometimes if you let them learn how to buck it can become a habit also. Hard to figure it out if your not there watching your horse.

-Stephen

Hi Kicki
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Thanks for explaining the term "cold backed" to me :-) You have given me a great explanation :-) Thank you
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Leslie,
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I hope you find some way of dealing with this problem. By the sound of it X-Rays may be a good thing to do. Teeth are also important, we have our horses done every 12 months.
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Kind regards,
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Gen

One last thought I think you said that she bucks every time she is saddled, but lunging her gets the beans out and she is OK. Considering her breeding she is going to be a hot horse for sure. The fact that she will buck for 'no reason' after she has been ridden for a while is making me think that she may just be getting bored with what she is doing and bucking cools her down.
Your mare has some of the top bloodlines and those horses were super smart and great workers. Maybe you can write down what you were doing (what type of work your horse was doing) and see if there is a pattern to her behavior. Hope this give you a direction in solving the issue. It would be a shame to give up a horse with that breeding

Cheers

Hi Leslie,
I look forward to seeing the video.
From what you have said in your last statement it sounds like it has become a habit.
She has a cue somewhere that sets her off.
I will not give advice until I see the video and I look forward to it.
Let us know when you have posted, OK.
Ronda