Can Buck Off Help With a Cheeky Pony?

Maybe — but it depends on what's behind the “cheeky” behaviour.

We often hear ponies described as cheeky, naughty or strong, but those words can cover lots of different behaviours. Before reaching for a calmer, it's worth working out why your pony is behaving that way.

Is your pony cheeky — or over-reactive?

There's an important difference.

If your pony is barging, ignoring aids, taking advantage of their rider or has simply learned that a certain behaviour gets them out of work, Buck Off isn't designed to fix that. That's more likely to need appropriate training and consistent boundaries.

But sometimes what looks like “naughty” behaviour is actually a pony that's tense, spooky or over-reactive.

For example, do they:

• Spook dramatically at things they see regularly?
• Become tense and difficult to focus?
• React very quickly without seeming to think first?
• Become overwhelmed in busy or unfamiliar environments?
• Get increasingly wound up rather than settling into their work?

If so, Buck Off may be worth considering.

Look at what might be causing the behaviour

If your pony's behaviour has suddenly changed, don't assume they've simply decided to be naughty.

Consider whether anything else has changed. Are they getting enough turnout and exercise? Is their diet appropriate for their workload? Does their tack fit correctly? Could they be uncomfortable or in pain?

A calmer shouldn't be used to cover up an underlying physical, management or training problem.

What does Buck Off actually do?

Buck Off is designed to support horses and ponies that are naturally tense, spooky, sharp or over-reactive.

It isn't a sedative and the aim isn't to make a lively pony sleepy or take away their personality.

Instead, it's about supporting a calmer response in a pony that tends to overreact to what's happening around them.

And remember, Buck Off isn't an instant calmer. It needs to be fed consistently and typically takes around 7 days to start working.

So, will Buck Off make my pony less cheeky?

If your pony is genuinely being cheeky, probably not — and we wouldn't recommend a calmer simply to make an enthusiastic or clever pony quieter.

If their “cheekiness” is actually tension, spookiness or over-reactivity, that's different. Buck Off may help them feel calmer and better able to concentrate.

The important question isn't really “Is my pony naughty?”

It's “What's causing the behaviour I'm seeing?”

Once you understand that, it's much easier to decide whether Buck Off is the right support.