Bucking - is it ever acceptable in a child's pony?

[funnycase]

Went to see a pony for dd at the weekend. She was gorgeous, pretty, great jumper, nice manners. But she put in 2 pretty big bucks, both when going into canter.

Dd wasn't particularly bothered by them but it bothered me enough to walk away. Owner has offered us a big discount on asking price. Now I'm dithering and wondering if I am being over protective. dds instructor says walk away, bucking never good in a childs pony (she was 14.1).

Had said pony been ridden much? was it particularily fresh?

How Risk Averse are you?

Well, not hugely risk averse, in that I wouldn't mind the odd buck (although it might stop ME exercising her in the week which would be inconvenient!) but worried that it might be something that she does a lot. I don't mind the odd 'skip' when out on a hack with other ponies and about to canter but these were quite definite big bucks. She did settle after and go beautifully.

She had been stabled the night before so was probably a bit fresh, yes.

I thought alot of frisky ponies bucked - or have times changed?

Having ridden buckers over the years, I would say they need a more confident rider as you have to really push them on when they start that kind of nonsense. Generally speaking I would say bucking is a sign of over excitement or being couped up for too long.

If it is going to make you or your DD nervours about riding the pony, steer clear, as your nerves will make the pony more nervy & probably even more likely to buck.

Yes I do feel a bit conflicted about it. Dd hacks out alone so I suppose that is the real worry.

Walk away.
There could have been an innocent explanation, for example I have a wonderful trustworthy pony that occasionally pops a small buck going into canter if legs go on too strong but is perfect in every other way.
BUT
What would worry me is the vendor then offering a massive discount - it makes me think that this is the tip of the iceberg and they are trying to offload the pony.

alarm bells rang when the vendor didnt mention it. If it were a real one off she would have seemed surprised at least surely? As it was she just paused then carried on talking. I am sure it wasnt a one off.

can you do a trial?

No not if they've offered a massive discount!!

My pony bucked both my boys off in sept time, she's never done it.

We listened to what she was saying and after months of back and pelvic treatment she's back in work and no more bucking,

They buck for a reason, being offered a big discount so quickly would ring alarm bells.

I personally would want to go back and try the pony at least one more time, and in as many different scenarios as possible.
There are different sorts of bucking.
Theres:
Wheelspins: what giantshetland used to do when dd was inexperienced, and didnt ask for canter properly. The energy builds up and gets vented backwards rather than forward.

Whee: Im excited, youre new and Im going to buck for fun.

Not likely: You've asked me to do something Im not keen on and Im going to buck to let you know Im peeved.

Fuck off: Youre getting off. Whether you like it or not.
Id touch all but the last. If a horse wants you off and is prepared to buck until youre off, youre likely to get hurt. The others just need new riding techniques.

Dshetland taught DD tonnes. Hers were wheel spins, and quite fun from DDs point of view. They taught her balance and riding forward into canter.
Our favourite anecdote is about when DD took DShet to our local show. She had to trot a figure 8, canter to a small jump, jump it and return to her place. When she asked for canter, dpony threw 5 of the biggest bucks youve ever seen, charged off, jumped at least 3ft, and dd ended laughing and clinging to her neck. The entire crowd clapped and cheered, and the judge bumped her up 2 places for being brave!
DD still rides her and the pony is a saint!

OP, I would say that it also depends on your daughter's age, maturity, and her riding ability. Can you tell us a bit about her?

my cob had a phase of bucking into canter, after having his saddle and back checked it was decided he was being over fed (at the time he was on part livery and being fed for me, some staff were sloppy with the rations and filled a massive nets for him!) and was being a teenager (he was nearly 5)
a few lessons with an instuctor and it stopped (only returned for a short while when he was learning flying change, think he was frustrated and trying to understand lol).
the warning signs for me is that it happens on being on asking for canter, I'd want to rule out pain. maybe ask her if she is willing to have a back man out whilst you are there? at least then she could have a report for any buyer that the ponys back is ok (obviously this is still not the extent of xrays etc but they would detect pain)
other than that there may be the perfect pony out there for you. look around first and then only go back if this is your favourite one. if you do I'd say she needs to hack out etc and do lots with pony to check that theres nothing more dangerous to deal with.
I was once told at a viewing 'oh he's never done that before!' needless to say I walked away, I prefer honesty!

I think Saggy is right; it depends on the motivaion for bucking, and all ponies will buck sometimes, but I too would be worried about the instant massive discount, sounds habitual. I'd want a lot more info on this pony if I was going to keep it in consideration, but I'm not sure I'd trust the seller

I think a lot depends on your budget, dd's age, skill level and confidence (and how shredded your nerves would be) as to what bad points you'd be prepared to accept and work on and what's beyond the pale. There's loads for sale at the minute, you'll find a good one

Definitely depends on the type of buck and circumstances ie was it having to work more than it liked?

Our saintly pony was very fresh on Saturday from a mixture of a) lack of work, b) just come out of stable and c) cold and windy.

We lunged it first and it did buck but once DD was on board no problems.

Would not completly put me off but would suggest a trial or explanation.

Mine bucks, not a pony but might still be worth commenting from experience, mine is better now than used to be, I think a lot of his issues arise from badly fitting saddles in the past but now ingrained behaviour. This is a big buck which has been known to buck open a 5 bar gate and break fencing when ridden in school. I am pretty confident but there was a difficult summer when I knew every time I asked for a canter on a hack he was going to do a huge buck, once he was schooled more off the leg it helped as could kick him though it but that took time. I wouldn't fancy going through that again, although I love my horse now and all is well, I am a grown up and could handle it. I have ridden the skip out of excitement type of buck as well and it barely registers now, mine is a fly bucking power house when it gets going, there are lots of different types of buck and the big ones can be dangerous. The only time I came off I sommersaulted, landed on bum though so that's good. A big discount would be a warning sign to me and would think twice before going for it, riding that much of a challenge every day is wearing, could be the making of kid as a rider or a big mistake. I would add that mine is great to handle, perfect with kids and dogs, beautiful and was a bargain, everything else has to be great to go with this issue or why take it on? Would be very surprised if this wasn't something the pony usually does these things are in my experience habit forming, I would have a look at saddle and back of pony there may be a problem there, riding the buck once in the arena might not seem like a problem but day after day and getting on again and going out after falling off are difficult things to deal with for a kid.

if it was a pony for an older competent child it wouldnt put me off, most whizzy ponies will have a buck at some point. however, most sellers would probably mention it, at least when it happened if not before, and would be unlikely to offer a discount for it... i think thats pretty suspect, so id walk!

I had one that bucked when I was 11 - he was 14.2. They were never nasty, though could be quite big, and I really didn't mind. It taught me to sit a buck a bit better, I think. However, I was pretty confident anyway, it may have bothered me more had I not been!

Most ponies will buck, I've seen some broncing at PC rallies too.

The thing that would put me off in this scenario is that I would assume the pony had been lunged or ridden in before I came to see it. This would count out freshness and over-exuberance. And if it is habitual (and you have to think it is) why did the owner not mention it and then offer a big discount after you walked away? How much is it on the market for btw?

Personally, I would leave it, but then I have a DD who is not terribly confident so I need her ponies to be pretty straightforward to ride. If you have a confident child you could give it a go I suppose, but don't forget there are an awful lot of ponies on the market right now.

If you would like to buy a bucker we have a very smart one!!