Join Up and a head shy horse?

Erin- horses most certainly can buck on a hill! One day going up a steep hill my girth broke and i learned that the hard way. Sounds like your gelding needs more ground work. try treating (sugar cubes etc) every time he lets you touch his hose. some one ever pinched his top lip while try-in to trim or shoe him? A guy did this to my horse once and we like to of never got him to take a bit again.