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Have you ever sat on a horse that has bucked? Have you ever been bucked off? I bet there are not many riders this hasn’t happened to at some point! I’ve been riding since I was three years old and know I’ve come off many times. Some of them were pure accidents, some of them pure stupidity, and many of them, no doubt, a misunderstanding of what my horse was trying to tell me.
I heard a description that resonated with me when I was listening to Horse and Hound podcast number 130. Dr Gemma Pearson discussed the difference between an N-shaped buck and a U-shaped buck. She said, and I agree with her, that an N-shaped buck is invariably pain-related, whereas there can be a variety of reasons for a U-shaped buck.
The N-shaped buck that most comes to mind for me is the horse who is cold-backed, girthy, or whatever description you want to use of the discomfort and resistance a horse shows when the saddle is put on, when the girth is done up, or when he takes his first steps with or without a rider. Many of us will be familiar with the feeling or sight of a horse lifting his back as the rider gets on. It’s usually accompanied by a change in the horse’s facial expression, and the rider’s facial expression if they’re aware of what’s happening! There is obvious tension in the horse.
I watched a video of a horse for sale who showed this behaviour at the mounting block. It was preceded by the horse putting his ears back, chomping at the bit, and swishing his tail as he approached the mounting block. These signs clearly told me he was not looking forward to the rider getting on board. The reason for this is likely pain-related. The video continued to show his ridden work in the walk, trot and canter, where there was frequent tail swishing, ears back, toe dragging, head above the vertical, a reluctance to move forwards, and resistance to the contact. I’m guessing that the salesperson who posted that video has not come across the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram (also known as the Ridden Horse Performance Checklist).
You are probably aware of the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram. If not, let me explain. The Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram, supported by robust science, is a list of 24 behaviours. If a horse shows eight or more of these behaviours in his ridden work, he is likely experiencing musculoskeletal pain. Why not watch some videos of horses for sale and see how many of the behaviours you can pick up? It’s an interesting exercise! You can learn more on my blog, Understanding and Using the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram.
You can find much more about the Ridden Horse Pain Ethogram in the book ‘Harmonious Horsemanship: Use of the Ridden Horse Ethogram to Optimise Potential, Partnership and Performance’, which I co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson. On the Harmonious Horsemanship website, you can watch the award-winning documentary about the RHpE, find links to the science surrounding the RHpE, download a free PDF so that you can use the RHpE with your own horse, and more. Subscribe to my newsletter for a 20% discount on the book, ‘Harmonious Horsemanship’.
Sue Palmer, MCSP, The Horse Physio, is an award-winning author, educator, and Chartered Physiotherapist. Sue specialises in understanding the links between equine pain and behaviour, focusing on prevention, partnership and performance. She promotes the kind and fair treatment of horses through empathetic education and is registered with the RAMP, the ACPAT, the IHA, the CSP and the HCPC.
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Horse Health Check: The 10-Point Plan for Physical Wellness
Head to Hoof: An Introduction to Horse Massage
Horse Massage for Horse Owners
Stretching Your Horse: A Guide to Keeping Your Equine Friend Happy and Healthy
Kissing Spines In Horses: Preventive Measures and Long-Term Management Solutions
Harmonious Horsemanship, co-authored with Dr Sue Dyson
Understanding Horse Performance: Brain, Pain or Training?
Horse Massage for Horse Owners
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