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Some horses are chosen for use in rodeos, due to their especially powerful, back-cracking bucks.

Bucking is a movement performed by a horse in which the animal lowers his head and raises his hindquarters into the air, usually while kicking out with his hind legs. If powerful, it may unseat the rider enough so that he or she falls off.

• Happiness, such as when a horse bucks during a gallop because he is enjoying himself, or during play
• General excitement, such as horses that buck in a crowded schooling ring
• The rider's aids are causing confusion or fear in the horse, and the horse responds by bucking
• The horse is "fresh," having been kept up in a stall for a long period of time, and is releasing pent-up energy.
• Pain, which may be due to an ill-fitting saddle or another piece of equipment, tooth problems, or other medical issues
• Pain, due to an insect bite (usually on the hindquarters) which the horse is trying to rid himself of
• Untrained horses may instinctually buck the first few times they have a saddle on the back. This is a natural defense mechanism.
• Having found that bucking the rider off results in not having to work, the horse does it to avoid his exercise
• Rodeo broncos are used specifically as bucking horses, and are encouraged to buck whenever a rider is on their back with the help of a "bucking strap" around their flank.

Bucking is generally a harmless act, unless it is strong enough to unseat the rider. If bucking becomes an undesired habit (such as when a horse learns to buck off a rider so that he will no longer have to work), then the horse should be schooled by a more experienced rider (one who is able to sit the bucks). It is important to note that there have been Olympians who have had to send their horses for re-training by a specialist, because the animal was such a powerful bucker.

However, it is important to address the problem of the bucking, and to be sure that it is not due to poor riding that is causing confusion, or a result of poorly-fitting tack that is causing the horse pain. The horse's turn-out schedule should also be assessed, as extra turn-out will give a horse to release his extra energy before the rider gets on. In certain cases (such as a show, when horses are unable to be turned-out for extended periods), longeing the horses for a few minutes can help calm him enough so that the rider can get on.

To discourage bucking, the rider should get in a defensive position, with their heels forward and shoulders slightly back. This will help them stay in balance if the horse bucks, and will provide them with more leverage to help keep the horse's head up (which is the key to prevent bucking). Certain training aids, such as draw reins, may also discourage bucking.