Argh! Help! Really need some advice...

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bex1984

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Took ponio out across a field on my own for the first time today. The field is on the edge of a farm track, and all the horses' fields are on the other side of the track.

Went out away from the horses no problem, had a little canter and a fast trot, slowed right down, turned round and pony tanked off in canter. I was expecting him to speed up turning back towards the other horses but I was really struggling to slow him down, but I did in the end.

Turned him back away from the others again, just walked away, had a little trot but he just suddenly turned, set his neck against me and went - full on gallop and there was just no way I could stop him
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I tried pulling the reins, pulling-releasing-pulling-releasing, sitting up, sinking my weight into the saddle, saying "woah", shouting "woah", turning him, but nothing worked - he headed straight for a ditch, cattle grid and pile of nettles, started to slow down at which point I bailed out, landed on my feet and he stopped!

When he was tanking off he had his head tucked into his chest and set against me, and I just don't know what I could have done to stop him
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I need some advice on what I should do? Is there a technique for dealing with a situation like this? Do I need a stronger bit? Any thoughts would be much appreciated....

He is not a naughty, nasty pony but is built like a tank and is very very strong.
 
With some horses the secret is to loosen the reins and then they stop pulling , some will slow down altogether, others will pay more attrention to you when you do then take up a contact on the reins.

Alternatively turning the horse by using one rein often works well, difficult on narrow paths, but if you spot a wider bit, another path turning off, a field opening etc then focus on turning into this , you will find that with most horses as soon as you do turn they loose all momentum and stop.
 
Jesus Bex, how frightening.

Next time try crossing your reins and adopting the same pull release technique.

Maybe you need a stronger bit when hacking out, just in case?
 
Don't know how long you have been riding this pony but maybe you need to work on your relationship with the horse rather than trying to find gadgets. Riding near to other horses is always going to be a challenge, and if you have a horse that is insecure then it is an obvious problem area - you could try leading past and not mounting until the other horses are well out of sight and earshot and riding away on your hack, or going out with steady company. With enough practice you should be able to eliminate this kind of behaviour
 
All above are good advice,I have 2 very different ponies, one you have to ride with a loose rein, shortening them means go faster and pulling means "I'm not stopping"! The other, if this happens pulling on one rein, turning the head right around is the only way ( this has only happened twice, both times when spooked by deer)
Try not to canter/trot on they way back as they will get used to it. Do circular rides/different routes.
 
crazypony - it was a bit scary - he can be strong, but this was different, he was just off and there was nothing I could do. He was basically just running and running, almost bolting really.

the_watcher - I am reluctant to use gadgets, especially as I'm not a very experienced rider. I generally have a very good relationship with him. I lead him past the other horses fields, got on and walked him away with no problems.

I didn't plan to do anything faster than a walk back towards the other horses, he just had other ideas
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Keep the advice coming, I'm a bit stressed out by it because I really did feel I lost all control last night and it was scary, and I've only just got my confidence back really
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