He's been ponied off of an older horse. He could use some more work, but my horse decided that he's jealous of the baby and doesn't like him (*eyeroll*), so I haven't been able to do more with him. I might have my trainer do some more ponying with him if she has a suitable horse, but I'm not sure if she does right now. We get a lot of hot young warmbloods at my barn. Not a lot of easygoing types.

HMH: He's definitely not backsore. I mostly use a block, though I usually at least stand in the stirrup from the ground a couple of times before trying to get on. I use the block much, much, much more than I don't though. I do repeat the exercise with him to let him settle into it, but I never do it excessively with him because I definitely don't want to make his back hurt. I think I already have a pretty good balance with how many times I do it. I was already going slowly, but he kinda... beat me to the punch. I mean, I had just barely taken a foot out of the stirrup and he was bucking. I do like that idea of swinging your feet before getting off. I think I'll add that to what I'm already doing with him - thanks!

Copper: I said in my post that I put his first ride on him in May. He was never ridden before I got him, and he mostly lived in a field with a dozen other young horses until I brought him home. I've owned him since he was a little under two, and when I got him he knew how to lead and load in a trailer, and that was about it. I know his breeder personally, and she's extremely reputable and good to her horses. He's never been abused or even slightly mistreated. He doesn't even have a concept of being hurt by a human. His saddle fit isn't perfect, but that's just because his body is changing a lot right now and he's still filling out. I check his fit every time I tack him up because he's still growing. It's not pinching anywhere, and it's not causing him any pain. Essentially, it's not what I'd want for a long term fit for a mature horse in heavy work, but for an oddly shaped gangly sock puppet of a three year old, it's pretty good, and a half pad goes a long way with fitting him right now.

Since I've been a little laid up these past few days due to the, uh, face sized bruise on my thigh from the errant creature in question stomping on me, I had my trainer work with him a couple times this week. It was reported that the first session (lunging in tack) went well and he behaved himself nicely. I know she was thinking about getting on him and doing some desensitizing with the dismount today, so hopefully she was able to have some success in that area. Her hope was to give him a "less broncy" experience so we can start moving past this. I'll ask her about it tomorrow.

I figure at this point y'all deserve to see the horse in question. It's a good thing he's cute.

Is he an Arabian or Thoroughbred? Some of those breeds are a bit spirited and will buck whentheu're having fun, although I've never heard of bucking at dismount.

Let me also ask, because I've had horses hop under me before in this situation- have you done desentizitation with dragging your right leg over his hindquarters while mounting/dismounting? If they're not used to that sweeping sensation it can be pretty startling.

It's definitely not his breed making him buck.

Yup, I've done that desensitization with him. Of course doing more never hurts (and I am planning to revisit it with him just in case), but it is something he is familiar with. He also started bucking before my leg could have touched his hindquarters. I don't think that's what happened here, but it's a good thought.