Leandy
Well-Known Member
It depends a bit on the horse and the degree of what it is doing. Largely, I aim to manage them so they not overfresh in the first place. In the winter, if they are clipped, don't let them get cold and wind up the tail. Make sure all tack is comfortable. Then I try to ignore and not give them the opportunity by keeping them moving (strongly) forward, making them work and keeping them occupied ie "don't let it happen, be two steps ahead of them". But with some horses, either because they are bold and strong and excitable, or they are scatty and wont to lose their heads or because they have just been allowed to develop bad habits by previous riders, I would say "broncing" type behaviour (and rearing but I haven't really had a rearer) is simply unacceptable as it is bad manners and could result in an accident, and they need a strategic sharp reminder with a whip. I don't do it often (because if you ride them purposefully and educate them well this type of behaviour should never become a problem in the first place) but have on occasion with the odd horse basically given them a good wallop behind the leg. I aim for one, really hard whack, perhaps a double whack no more but it needs to be well timed the minute they start the behaviour and very decisive so there is no doubt that it means NO!! STOP NOW!! NOT ACCEPTABLE! Don't be half hearted though, tickling with the whip will just set them off more and achieve nothing. I have done this to good effect with several horses, one in particular, a youngster I bought who was generally lovely (if excitable) but who it transpired just used to stand and do handstands for minutes at a time regularly through sheer excitement at the beginning of a hack, dangerous for a weaker rider who might come off, dangerous for those around who she might kick by mistake. I decided one day shortly after getting her that enough was enough, armed myself with a whip, walloped her once the second she started. She stopped dead, clearly surprised at what had happened, recovered her brains and her manners and quite literally never tried the same thing again from that day onwards. I was so pleased I had tackled it head on rather than letting the habit become engrained. Another I had used to quietly creep behind the leg when schooling until he felt able to launch into a giant space hopper impression to avoid having to work any more. The approach with him was twofold, keep him strongly forward, especially at the start of work, and if that failed and he still managed the vertical lift off then he got a good wallop too. He was well able to buck me off though due to general bounciness and roundness so if he was having a fresh spell I would ride him in a neck strap just in case. It didn't take long for him to become absolutely perfectly behaved "butter wouldn't melt" when I tacked up with a neck strap on, but if I forgot, back to his cheeky tricks. He knew exactly what he was doing, thought it a great game! Oh and of course, it goes without saying, when they move off sensibly and settle down, absolutely release the pressure, give some praise and reward the good way of going. Timing is everything.
Occasionally if they are trying to p*** off I might pull them up and make them stop dead but generally trying to make a fresh or naughty horse stand is a recipe for disaster and possibly more dangerous antics. Keep them moving, forwards, sideways in a circle or whatever, keep the head up firmly and if you do both those effectively, there is actually very little they can do. Horses are flight animals, restricting their movement will make them more anxious and possibly cause them to panic.
No doubt people will come along and say but you shouldn't hit them. I would argue that very clearly curtailing the behaviour in a big strong animal is clearly only in its best interests. Always being firm but fair. Letting bad habits become ingrained prejudices their future.
Occasionally if they are trying to p*** off I might pull them up and make them stop dead but generally trying to make a fresh or naughty horse stand is a recipe for disaster and possibly more dangerous antics. Keep them moving, forwards, sideways in a circle or whatever, keep the head up firmly and if you do both those effectively, there is actually very little they can do. Horses are flight animals, restricting their movement will make them more anxious and possibly cause them to panic.
No doubt people will come along and say but you shouldn't hit them. I would argue that very clearly curtailing the behaviour in a big strong animal is clearly only in its best interests. Always being firm but fair. Letting bad habits become ingrained prejudices their future.
