How do I stop our horse bucking?

Every time she bucks, you should "AYE!" at her. This will indicated to her that you are displeased. When she stops, reward her with a treat. If she doesn't take away her favourite chew toy.

I know you said she has been checked and her back is okay but I think not. I am a certified equine sports massage therapist and I see this problem A LOT! The fact that she sticks her nose up in the air is an indication of muscle damage and pain. She is trying to drop her back down and away from the saddle pressure to get relief. I just recently treated a retired race horse that was retired because they thought the bucking was behavioral. After 3 therapeutic massages over 10 days and a good saddle fitting he is riding with no pain and no further bucking. This mare is in pain and cannot be disciplined for trying to avoid the pain. I would call a local equine sports massage therapist in to treat her. To continue to ride her is not a good idea and is just making it worse.

I would suggest when she starts bucking pull her nose around to either foot, right or left, until she stops bucking....then give her head back and make her stand quietly. This does not allow her to buck and throws her off balance. This is what I have done with some problem horses I have worked with that has bucked me, works every time. Its not cruel either, I have used this technique with all my horses and I did it every time they would buck and honestly eventually they did stop all together. I really hope this helps.

One of the things I do before riding and if I know a horse will buck is warm them up first. I do this either in a round in or a paddock. I saddle the horse. Take the halter off and make the horse do a few laps. To the right and to the left. The bit problem could be that most people just make a horses take the bit and when taking it out don't give the horse time to bend his head and release the bit, they just take out the bit and the bit hurts he horses teeth. This problem is not fix's so easily as the horse thinks it will hurt. Changing the bit will not solve the problem. Patience and giving the horse time to release the bit will. Helping the horse to accept the bit and not causing pain is the answer. Also, on the bucking. You may be tightening the cinch tighter than his other rider. may check that and loosen it a tad.

Jog her around a round pin before you saddle keep her going till she seems to be less fresh and the saddle her and do the same thing in the round pin have someone get on her while someone else has a lunge line stay quiet on her but dont hide a be afraid. Then when she buck bring her head around till she stops then keep doing that same thing alot till she stops bucking and slowly progress to more things the person on the ground should also help pull her around so she will stop. And one thing at a time dont expect alot once you get her going to so she wont buck then move on to other things go slow more ground work

Use a standing martingale (not running martingale) to keep her from pointing her nose in the air. Push her FORWARD through the bucking. A horse will not buck when they are having to run at full speed. Keep your heels DOWN always

Always keep your heals down, pick up her head and squeeze her forward through the buck. If her head keeps going in the air, use a martingale. I have had many ex race horses, this is a behavioral issue.

If it is purely behavioral only then I would say there is holes in her groundwork & she needs to be doing more groundwork. Teach her lateral flexing. Teach this on the ground & then progress to the saddle. You want her to flex from side to side very lightly not stiff. The purpose in teaching this is for an "emergency break". Once she gets to bucking you can bend her head around (DO NOT jerk it, be light) this throws off their balance & she can't really buck. This is the reason you do not jerk her head around because you do not want her to fall. If she wont give you her head then do a series of little bumps to get her to bring her head around. Then bend her to the other side. What I do, teaching lateral flexing, is pull her head 2/3 of the way around & have her finish by touching her nose to her belly then quickly release. Do this 5x on one side then do the other side. Horses that were never taught this will try to walk away, bend their head but nothing else, pull against you, etc. At first when teaching this you will release to the SLIGHTEST give to pressure after you bend her head around. So she learns to give. You eventually work up to her touching her belly/side. Eventually once she gets good on ground move it to the saddle & just do this without riding her. Put the saddle on, get in it, then flex her side to side a few times, then get off. *Remember you teach in stages not all at once* Then teach her at all the gaits. Walk, trot, canter. When you bend her you do not release until she is 1 still & 2 gives to the pressure. Not one or the other, BOTH! When you 1st teach this you have to release at the tiniest try. This will teach her that you want her to give to the pressure. Her reward is you releasing the pressure but you can also add a rub & "Good girl" too it too. :)