shifting of weight to the front legs and kicking out with the back legs, sometimes repeatedly
Bucking is a normal behavior that horses exhibit during both play and stress or pain (1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 8). This is important to keep in mind when you observe a horse bucking! Below are two examples of bucking in different contexts:
Activity: Watch the two videos above and list the differences in both the situation and the horse's specific behaviors before, during, and after bucking.
When a horse bucks, we must then look at the context of the buck.
Where was the horse?
What was the horse doing before it bucked?
Were there any environmental changes before the bucking?
Usually, asking these questions can give us a decent understanding of why the horse is bucking. If the horse is just out in a herd with other bucking horses, it may just be playing with the others. If the horse always bucks picking up the right canter or when mounting to ride, then it may be a pain issue. The more questions you ask and answer, the more you can understand what the horse may be feeling.
Throughout history, horses have needed bucking to keep predators off their backs. It is a survival mechanism that is also seen in young horses to play as a way of practicing the skill for survival (5)
Stall Housing
Looking to horses throughout history and in the wild, they walk long distances every day in order to eat, and they have evolved to thrive with that much movement (7).
Stalled horses tend to show more bucking and other unwanted behaviors than pasture horses, especially when they do not get regular exercise outside of the stall (8).
Bucking can sometimes be a sign of excitement or play, and play is beneficial for physical, social, and cognitive health (1, 3, 4, 5, 9).
Pain/Discomfort
Bucking is often a sign of pain or discomfort in the back (2, 5).
Ill-fitting tack can cause pain on the back, which may cause the horse to buck as if a predator is on its back (6).
Self-Defense
As mentioned above, the horse's survival mechanism for a predator is bucking it off, so a perceived threat to its back or rear can trigger it to buck (5).
Training
Sometimes, bucking can be a result of training! Pushing a horse too far for its comfort can trigger a bucking event, particularly with negative reinforcement, can trigger a bucking event (5, 6)
Trauma
Horses can hold onto memories, especially for traumatic events (10, 11). This means that a horse bucking may be reacting to a memory of pain or extreme stress in its past.
Because bucking may indicate back pain, it is important to feed the horse a diet that fits all its needs to develop the right muscles over the back.
24/7 forage is the most beneficial feeding method for horses to absorb all of their necessary nutrients.
Sometimes, horses just want to frolic with other horses, and that is totally normal!
Maximize turnout with friends to allow them to get their bucks out on their own time.
Bucking has been associated with stalled horses and decreased exercise.
Maximize turnout time to give them space for movement, stretching, and play as they want!
If problems persist, the issue might be pain that should be addressed by a vet.
Back sensitivity can be tested with a back palpation. A healthy horse will not react to firm pressing on the muscles of the back, but a horse with back pain will move away from the pressure due to the pain.
Once pain is ruled out or addressed, and the basic needs of the horse are met, you may then move forward to training and decreasing bucking events.
With positive reinforcement, go slow with small steps and lots of rewards. When working through pain and counter-conditioning, we must put a strong emphasis on positive experiences and enthusiastic participation.
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