Well, after last weekends ride I thought maybe I had rode the buck out of him as last Sunday he just bucked the one time. Well this weekend I put in the round pen for just a few minutes with the saddle and worked him a little. He finally started to hook up to me. I thought, ok I have his attention so I got on him and rode him into the pasture. Rode him around at a walk for 20 minutes or so and then got him up to speed. He doesn't resist picking up speed near as much as he used to. I got him into a canter and he would want to slow and I would give him a little heel and he would pick it up again. I did this twice. I had my girlfriend with a video camera filming it. On the third try he took off ok and went about 30 yards and went rodeo on me. Up, down, stop, up, down, turn left, up, around. Well you get the picture. I was not expect this because he had done so well on the first two tires. He got me off to the right on his spinning left buck so I just baled. I didn't really have much choice as all I had in my hands were the reins. Fortunately I was ok with my landing. He continued to buck for a few seconds and then headed for the barn. I caught him with no trouble and got back on. I took him into a canter two more times with no bucking. I then took him back to the round pen for some more exercise.
I had described what I thought had happened but when I watched the tape I said "I should not have come off of that". I then played it in slow motion and what a difference that made. I could see exactly what I had described before seeing the tape. I think this boy would have made a real good rodeo bronc. He gets all four off of the ground, turns into a "C", gets his head going one direction and the rear end the other. Watching the tape after he dumped me, I could see him get all four feet three feet off of the ground come down and twist and sling his rear another direction. He knows how to do it well.
MillIronQH had mentioned the rope around the flanks and I hope to try that soon. My round pen I think is too small so I hope I can put him on a long lounge line in the pasture and the rope on the flanks. This should give me more room to maneuver hopefully.
Oh, in the video I was able to see the saddle separate 3-4 inches from his back while I was still in the seat. I had the rear girth touching his belly but not too snug. I didn't expect to see that much separation but I guess with him stretching out when he goes up and maybe it can get that much slack. Amazing what a video can show. In slow-mo it was just as I remembered.
I'm just not too sure what is up with this boy when one time he is just fine and the next he is a champion bronc. Maybe I need to tie his head up so he can't get it down to get started.
Suggestions?