A questions about horse going backwards

[SHAYTAY]

I have the most adorable pony BUT he is very stubbon and a bit of a wuss! I have had him a year. He hacks out beautifully in company, and although when i first got him he wouldnt go out on his own, i have eventually managed to get him round the block alone. i havent done it for a while as there hasnt really been any need to as there is always someone to go out with. However this morning i rode with a lady from the next door yard and had to meet her at the bottom of our drive. He refused to leave the yard alone and kept reversing, but one of the coaches were leaving the yard and he was ok following it! (strange boy that he is!) but eventually it got too far away and again he refused to go forward so i had to have a lead from someone on foot, with him spooking all the way, very naughty considering he goes down there with no fuss at least twice a week for the last year following another horse with no problems. We met the others and continued on our way, he was a bit spooky to begin with but soon settled down and we had a lovely hack - however about half hour into the ride the other horse did a big spook at something in the hedge and refused to go forward - it was the end of the world for my boy! My freind managed to get her lad past but mine was jumping about on the stubble, reversing and terrified. My freind chickened out and decided that we should just go back (rightly or wrongly) so we turned them round and had a lovely relaxed trot all the way home!
I was wondering if anyone else has the same problem as i do? When he gets scared or is being stubbon whilst out (doesnt do it in the school, he is very well schooled) he goes backwards. There is absolutly nothing i can do to persuade him to go forwards again. If i kick him hard he bucks if i tap him with the whip he bucks, if i put my leg on he goes backwards faster. He is quite happy to go round and round in a circle for as long as i like. and will also stand still for ever! The only thing that i can do is to get off and lead him past. He never lets an episode upset him for long once it is over he will just happily plod along again. It doesnt frighten me so i am not tense or worried, just frustrated really as i have to pick who i ride out with, choosing only quiet horses as companions.
He is not a spooky pony 100% in traffic ect but his big downfall is if the horse we are with refuses/or spooks at anything. Then he just seems to loose it and panic! Do you have any stratergies to help in those situations (he is not a baby - 16 years old) back,teeth, saddle all ok!

 

[Nic74]

Well I have a horse who naps and goes backwards, but he is fairly easy to get going again with a bit of a kick and a tap with the whip (I do hang on to his mane though lol)

But I had a pony on loan last year, and she sounds exactly like yours, except she wouldn't even be led past things. All I can advise is that you keep practicing hacking alone, just short hacks until he feels comfortable leaving the yard. It is clearly a confidence issue as he even felt the coach offered him some kind of reassurance! He sounds very nervy and it may be at his age that he's never going to be happy hacking alone, but if you can at least get him to leave the yard happily so you can meet your friend at the end of the lane then that's a good start, and maybe try and ride him ahead sometimes instead of alongside or behind the other one.

 

[raincloud]

It's not a haflinger is it..
My old mare used to do that, but she was just a cowbag generally. Tried absolutely everything, so best of luck and hope yours isn't as determined to just be an arse as mine was.

 

[SHAYTAY]

no raincloud not a haffy - a Sec D - so just as bad!!!!!
He is very opinionated but a smashing ride. This is the only thing i would change about him if i could. Although give me anpther year and i will have probably got to grips with it! (I hope)
x

 

[Dressagebabe]

One of the best ways to treat a 'reversing' horse is to allow it to go back as far as it wants then to keep forcing it in reverse (whilst riding or on foot) even more until it refuses to go back any further and wants to go forward! My farrier whom also trains and works with behavioural horses taught me this to help deal with one of my horses that did the same every time he found something scary whilst out hacking. He attempted it 3 days running and on the 3rd day I made him reverse most of the way along one of our lanes, he kept trying to turn in a circle but I just blocked him with my hands and pushed him further back with my legs, to this day he has never reversed in a napping way since, he sometimes just stands on the spot so I start to ask for him to back up and he then moves forward! You must make sure it is a quiet road or track that you can do this on for your safety but it really works.

 

[SHAYTAY]

thanks Dressage_babe. I think i will have a go at that if you say it works. Although its difficult when with someone else as i dont think they would appreciate waiting around! Will have a go when im on my own xx

 

[jellyshake]

was told to do the same as Dressage babe has suggested with one of mine who took to reversing when she didn't want to do something, now as soon as she steps back once I make her go backwards more and she gets in a huff but moves forward lol

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

I was at a Richard Maxwell clinic and he recommends exactly the same. Even if he has to do the entire hack backwards, make it happen.

 

[niagaraduval]

Sound like the complete opposite to my horse. He's as good as gold when out alone and when riding with someone else he is just so excited and strong.. I find it hard to stop him sometimes!