Confidence on go for a blast!

JackDaniels1

JackDaniels1

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Trying to fitten up an ex-racer who has had a few years of being a broodmare, she gets excited on stubble fields (especially on the way home) and insists on jogging! She obviously just wants a good blast but i'm not sure how good the brakes would be so am reluctant to let her go and *try* and keep her in walk. Am i better trying a trot or canter or will that just frustrate her and she'll end up being silly?
 
I've been helping a girl with my old pony wiht this as he wants (needs, he says!) to gallop and she is nervous. I think you'll find people's opinions vary on this, and obv it also depends on your horse - some just get hotter without galloping but others calm down. If it was me, I would:

1) Get someone experienced/confident and watch them take her for a blast so you know what she'll do
2) Find an open space on a relatively steep hill and gallop up it so your horse is tired at the end and stops, so you feel more confident

However, obv also make sure to gallop in different places each time, etc. I would try trotting on the fields and see what happens. You might find you just feel a bit more confident each time you go and eventually trust her enough to let her go.
 
I'd build up slowly with trot & canter first. Keeping a horse that's full of energy in endless walk is more likely to result in an explosion of energy, or at least jogging etc. Lots of walk & trot transistions keep their mind on you & their energy used to good effect. I'd then try a few strides of canter with a sensible companion she'll stick with, & build up slowly to a gallop. Regardless of confidence or stopping ability, if her work load has been hacks in walk, she won't be fit enough to be blasting about.
 
littlelegs said:
I'd build up slowly with trot & canter first. Keeping a horse that's full of energy in endless walk is more likely to result in an explosion of energy, or at least jogging etc. Lots of walk & trot transistions keep their mind on you & their energy used to good effect. I'd then try a few strides of canter with a sensible companion she'll stick with, & build up slowly to a gallop. Regardless of confidence or stopping ability, if her work load has been hacks in walk, she won't be fit enough to be blasting about.
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Her workload is mainly in the school. I am just fed up of her jogging as soon as we turn for home on the stubble fields! I will try the walk/trot transitions and see what happens. Thanks
 
with young or a new horse I always choose a field that is a fairly steep up hill run for their first gallop then if the brakes are not good they will run out of puff anyway. !
 
POLLDARK said:
with young or a new horse I always choose a field that is a fairly steep up hill run for their first gallop then if the brakes are not good they will run out of puff anyway. !
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Yep, same here.

Just out of curiosity, when you say you turn for home do you mean you get to a certain spot & turn round & then go home or do you ride a loop? I find if you actually have to turn for home this can make them worse, we always try & ride a loop where possible & it seems to stop them getting as excited....if you know what i mean?
 
I'd try and do a bit more and agree with the find a steep hill idea.

Also congratulations on the 70lbs weightloss- AMAZING!!!:D
 
If she jogs on the way home it may be that she's napping so don't allow her to gallop on the way home (it encourages them to rush home which is a disaster if you've got a nappy horse!) Xx
 
If she is food motivated and you don't mind occasional (authorised by you!) snacking on hacks then you could try a short trot/canter to end of field (or other 'natural' stopping place, ideally pointing uphill and away from home) and graze/treat (heaps of praise or whatever else she likes) as soon as she pulls up.

You can then build up/try out different locations making sure she gets a 'treat' when pulling up.

We've done this with OH's forward going ride and it works well for that combination. He now proudly points out a 'marker' (tree/fencepost/whatever) and awards himself points for how short his 'stopping distance' is.
 
Are there bales in the field?

I have a very hot and buzzy trotter and he goes banana's in a stubble field. I make him "school" round the bales for a bit in walk, trot and a gentle canter, only once he is listening to me do I let him go for a blast around the edge of the field.
I also make him vary his canter strides a little to start with during the blasty bits, to make sure he's listening, if he comes back to me nicely I reward him by putting my legs on and letting him go flat out.

Good luck! stubble fields are great fun!! :)
 
I've only just had the confidence to let my gelding have a good blast. In fact tonight was the second time we've done it.
I started by having a little trot and then asking him to walk again. I go with a friend whoes horse doesn't kick in case my breaks fail. I also start to think about pulling up 100m or so before I want to stop.
 
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