Almost got buried by a 4yo..again!

[RunToEarth]

Friday the little madam, good as gold 99% of the time, its not even like riding a young horse but my gosh when she starts she means it. She has the most almighty bucks on her, arches her back and then throws you forwards, quite unsettling, but I think the worst part is her tendancy to whip round on hacks when she sees something she doesnt like. Have talked about it and it seems that putting gadgets on her is a bad idea as she is only so young, but how can avoid my near death encounters?
Today she took one look at a milk float and I didnt have time to get my leg on before she had spun around and left me clinging to her neck strap

 

[ladylisa]

Have i missed something??????
Who is this 4 year old ??
You ride so many horses i dont know where i am with you Rosiie!!!

 

[RunToEarth]

Eugh she isnt mine, I wouldnt dare have a 4yo at this stage in my life

I ride her for Robert.

 

[mrdarcy]

Gadgets won't stop her whipping round so I agree with you on that one - although if you're not already doing so I'd have her in some sort of fulmer bit as the cheeks will help you catch the spins easier. Basically the only way is to sense it before she does it and have your leg on... as you ride her more you'll be able to read her better and 'know' when she's likely to spook and spin. I also find it easier to ride spooky horses in close contact saddles... because your legs are so much closer to the horse's side you have better chance of feeling them about to spook... horses seem to tense their stomach muscles just before spooking and you can feel it with your thighs and calves in a close contact saddle. I'd also try 'bearing' down... something Mary Wanless teaches (and some people do it without thinking anyway) I find this really helps to prevent spooks happening. She should get braver as you do more with her but some horses are always spooky spinners....