Advice please. Excited and so hard to stop in walk

Achinghips

Achinghips

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I have a big lad, Shire cross Irish cob. Not used to hacking out much, and considering this, is doing beautifully, not at all spooky. He is perfectly schooled. Today though, he got excited when we saw another horse out hacking, head went up high - and, goodness me - it was like trying to stop the tide. He remained in walk but there was no way at all I could slow him. It was like a heavy tank on a straight line course. Having been used to a Tb, who stops from the seat, this was a new and really quite scarey experience for me. I've only had him 5 weeks. He's in a lozenge snaffle.

Any thoughts/advice? He half halts beautifully in the school, but out hacking today his strength was phenomenal. The lack of control and powerlessness I felt has started to worry me.
 
Get him back in school and teach him to flex his neck left and right, but remember not to release the rien till he gives to the pressure and his feet are still.
Next once his flexion is good and soft walk him flex him right and wait till he stops moving before releasing the presure again, now do the same thing to the left.
Again once this is set in his mind repeat it in the school at canter and at this point he may well spin but sit it out till he stands still before releasing.
You should now have a one rein stop for your horse, not pretty maybe but effective and remember if you pull on a horses mouth his neck is the controlling muscle so with a big boy if he wont flex his neck you have nothing.
 
bobreader said:
Get him back in school and teach him to flex his neck left and right, but remember not to release the rien till he gives to the pressure and his feet are still.
Next once his flexion is good and soft walk him flex him right and wait till he stops moving before releasing the presure again, now do the same thing to the left.
Again once this is set in his mind repeat it in the school at canter and at this point he may well spin but sit it out till he stands still before releasing.
You should now have a one rein stop for your horse, not pretty maybe but effective and remember if you pull on a horses mouth his neck is the controlling muscle so with a big boy if he wont flex his neck you have nothing.
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Ditto - very well explained:)
However, i would also try in trot before moving on to canter
 
As above re one rein stop. I STILL need it now and again on my 'motor mare'. One other hint is to have a neck strap on too. A good 'hoick' on that if they are setting the neck can change their thinking enough to relax the jaw I've found.

Was a tip from an event rider friend who saw my tank/mare out hacking. My girl is beautiful in the school and seat aids are all you need but take her out and its a different story.

I've tried every bit and bridle combo going over the twelve years I've had her inc bitless but for the last five she's ridden in a happy mouth fulmer for hacking and pelham with roundings for jumping so for us complicated bitting wasn't the answer just schooling and accepting to a degree that this is what she does.

Over time you should find in most cases your seat aids will work and my girlie now mostly just needs a rein stop on hunting and shooting days.
 
Thanks for the tips. He is very well schooled and is an Angel in the school. It seems he hasn't transferred what he learned in the school when out today.

Bitless is a definite no for me. I'd feel even less in control of the tank
 
Achinghips - I feel for you having a shire x myself. He's like a tank if he doesn't want to listen however like yours he is very well schooled. They're fab horses though arn't they xxxx
 
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