Control and Confidence - open spaces

[AnnaPK]

I’ve had my horse approximately one year and I still struggle to feel like I have control and open spaces in canter I know that at his old home, they had much more confidence and were galloping around a lot, so I know that this is a learnt behaviour. However I’m not sure how to get more confidence, especially Riding with other people as it feels like he’s constantly trying to race them, I think this is because they raced him at their yard for fun, however, I would really like to have enough confidence to go out and do cross-country and fun rides but I don’t feel like I have constant control I’m going to speak to a betting lady to see what I can change as I don’t think he needs the same bit or flat work hacking…

Is there anything i can do in terms of my riding rather than gear to change this behaviour? I know its not his fault but i have a pretty shattered confidence and im just not ready to be galloping about yet xx

 

[Mrs G]

What is he like when you canter him on his own? My horse is an ex racer and hasn't raced for over 11 years but he will still try to 'race' if we canter behind/alongside others, however in front or on his own he is very different - much more respectful of my aids and easily stoppable, so I could (in theory!) go cross country but I would never attempt a fun ride on him. Im also a tootle-along-mainly-in-walk-looking-at-the-scenery type of hacker so my horse no longer thinks any open space means canter/race and we did spend a couple of years at a yard where I mainly schooled in a field so again - horse got used to going at a pace decided by me, even in a big open field.

 

[dorsetladette]

Can you have in front of everyone else (maybe 3 or 4 horse lengths) and let him go (canter) and see what happens? If your friends stay behind a fair distance I'd hope he'd go and then ease up once he realized he was leaving his buddy's behind. you could then judge weather you can pull him up or not. Obviously I'd only recommend doing this in a field you had space to maybe circle a few times until he runs out of steam.

Can you teach him to slow down from weight in your seat rather than just your hands? this may help. As you sit up to slow you'll naturally put more weight into the saddle which will tell him 'slow down a bit mate' then the hand is more of a reminder of the seat rather than the actual aid.

If your not happy to try that maybe ask a pro to hack him with a friend and see what happens.

 

[Annagain]

I'm not sure if he's still operating (his page hasn't been updated since last year) but I had a session with this guy a few years ago and it was absolutely brilliant, it gave me so much confidence with a strong horse. He does clinics nationwide. https://www.facebook.com/markismsjump/?ref=embed_page

The other thing that helped with my horse (he was only strong when he got excited in certain situations so I couldn't train it out of him as we couldn't really replicate it in a training environment) was to find a bit he was happy in but that gave me enough control and (most importantly) only use it for those situations. He was snaffle mouthed for flat work and everyday hacking, he only wore the Waterford for exciting stuff. I know some won't agree with me but having the confidence in my ability to stop him meant I could let him go and not hang onto him. Once you have brakes you can trust, you can work on doing it in a less strong bit by working on using your bodyweight to slow him down.

 

[Skib]

I doubt whether anyone has full control of a very excited horse, out in company in the open country, which was why I was never allowed to ride in a group. And I am not allowed tio ride in a group these days because the horse I ride bucks when excited in a group.

It is in the genetic nature of horses to race when they are in a group. The horse that got left behnd was the one who got eaten by a predator. I am an elderly lady, hacking the safest of horses but believe me, if she gets spooked she runs, and like all horses, she accelerates once we have turned towards home.
My method is first to obtain absolute compliance in ground work and leading and then in the school. Remember that dressage was devised to train war horses. If you can canter full tilt down the long side of the school and control the turn at the end or ride canter trot transitions in the school (easier to start on a 20m circle), that is good preparation for riding canter transitions out on the track, which is something I do.
Out hackung, it is important to remind the horse that it is being ridden. I usually alternate 20 trot 20 canter but I also teach the horses I hack that my asking for canter does not always mean cantering a long distance. I expect the horses I hack to go into canter even near the end of a track and for just three strides.
I also expect canter from a slow trot, meaning I sometimes ride slow dressage canter out on my rides (which I was told by the YM she had never seen anyone do before).

Provided they have the physicalcapacity, horses can learn what any rider wants them to do and we have to convey those wishes to the horse. Yes, for ones own safety one needs to be a real dictator on horseback.

 

[Jellymoon]

Why not book a xc lesson or a clinic and get some tips from the trainer and will help with confidence, having someone there on the ground…
Riding clubs are good for xc clinics for people doing xc for the first time, maybe your local one is organising some?
Or if you feel safer on your own, a good BE accredited trainer can give you an individual lesson.

 

[AmyMay]

You need to hack out with one or two others who will help you. Those who won’t tank off or try and race you.

 

[Ceifer]

You need to hack out with one or two others who will help you. Those who won’t tank off or try and race you.

This. Find someone who does have a horse that can ‘nanny’ you.

I only hack my horse out with people I trust and understand that he is sharp and unless we’re sensible it’s not going to end well. We pick places to canter where the ground is good, uphill is helpful and we have a wood that’s slightly more enclosed.

If you have an uphill gallop you can hire that could also be a good place to gain confidence. You don’t have to gallop up them - as @Skib suggests above, vary paces. Walk trot and canter up them until you feel confident.

 

[Mrs. Jingle]

If you have an uphill gallop you can hire that could also be a good place to gain confidence.

This. A good steep hill, the longer the better. You can practice upping the speed gradually as you go up it, slow down again, then push on etc. Repeat until the horse absolutely gets your message that you say when to go faster, and when to slow down, not him. Extra benefit is you will get more used to going faster and become more confident that you are in control and have more of a feel for his way of going if that makes sense and can happily have a really good gallop up the hill after a few practice sessions. Oh and nearly forgot, never hack out with idiots who just want to race everywhere with little control and will have very little sympathy for your lack of confidence.

 

[MiJodsR2BlinkinTite]

I think you mean a "bitting lady" rather than a "betting lady"??? LOL. Had to figure out what you meant there!

Frankly I don't think a stronger bit in the horse's gob is the answer here; I think the problem is twofold:

Firstly your horse has learnt to "race" because others have taught him to do so. Big mistake. I had this with mine when he was on working livery and it was very obvious that they'd always let him tank off in the same places every single time. I had a heck of a job getting him out of this behaviour.

Secondly you as rider have some confidence issues and you know the old saying, "fear runs down the reins".

I believe that this IS sortable, and that you WILL find that you can ride your horse out in an open space at some point and enjoy it. However I think for now you are going to need to make sure that you are not placed in the situation where your horse can tank off and for this reason you need to try and find someone with a nice steady horse to hack out with for a while, and if you are not happy riding out in open spaces then don't put yourself through it. It does take time; when I had my little coblet she was 4yo and just-backed, and it actually took me a good few years to be able to ride her out on an open common in faster paces and to be totally happy with it! Sensible riding companions who won't tank off past you is a must; and I would gently suggest that you refrain from doing Fun Rides (which can be anything but "fun" if rude people are tanking past you) until you feel ready.

However, for now, I would strongly suggest that rather than engage a bitting consultant that you ask a professional to work with you both. You need someone who will be understanding of your situation and won't push you beyond where you are comfortable, for now - but who will also have the sensitivity to know when it IS the right moment for you to perhaps explore doing a little faster work in a safe environment, such as hiring a local Gallops. So yep, find a professional would be my advice - I really benefited from having someone when I needed it.

 

[Jambarissa]

May I ask whether you are really up to this or would it be better to find your horse a more suitable home and get yourself a more suitable mount?

I hope that doesn't upset you, it isn't any reflection of your skill but confidence is fragile and really you need to be confident to fix this rather than fix it to improve your confidence.

Horses that have been taught that cantering in open spaces means bombing along with their mates are very hard to retrain and unlikely to ever be fully 'fixed'. Riding is supposed to be fun, this does not sound fun!

There's good advice above on ways to try to manage this but as someone who has been there I'd suggest seriously considering whether you and this horse are right for each other.

 

[SpeedyPony]

I'd agree with taking him out with sensible horses or alone at first.
Will he circle nicely? If not, I'd spend a bit of time schooling that and perhaps get a D-ring/ full cheek bit to help so that you can pop him on a circle if he starts to tank off. Once you have him on a circle you can decrease the size until he slows back down, although often merely the change in direction is enough to slow them up a bit.
As dorsetladette mentioned above, getting him to respond to your seat will help as well- both when asking him to steady and to turn him.

 

[canteron]

Can you school him in different open spaces - on your own at first and then maybe with one other horse. Try and stop the association of open spaces and galloping!!! I would suggest lots and lots of transitions, slowly making your schooling space larger!

 

[TheHairyOne]

I believe, like others, you can train this out of them to the point they do listen, but you need a good 2nd horse with a decent and respectful rider to do this with.

My friend and I have had to do it twice. Once with her old horse and mine (who used to buck for england if asked to canter behind) and then again about 3 years later with her new horse who used to GO in open spaces, using my now perfectly behaved horse as the nanny.

 

[maya2008]

If you want/feel you can fix this, you will need an in person instructor who is willing to ride the horse as well as instruct you from the ground.

I will say though that the ‘right’ horse for a nervous rider is one who fills them with confidence. One who you feel gives you the confidence to do things you never dreamed of. One who is maybe a bit slow and always needs kicking on, so you never have cause to worry. One who maybe gets left behind the ride, refusing to go too fast or to race even if the others disappear into the distance. Not one who frightens you. My daughter gets nervous. She’s happiest on a kickalong type pony

 

[Skib]

A good steep hill, the longer the better. You can practice upping the speed gradually as you go up it,

I learned to canter at the RS by going up hills. And I chose up hill slopes for my first canters on my current share.
One was taught this way becaue an uphill slope was supposed to tip you back in the saddle and prevent a foetal crouch. And possibly slow down the horse.

However, people on this forum had other views. I was warned that cantering up hill is fine in a light seat, but a learner who is sitting canter going up hill has more of their weight over the hind legs of the horse where the powerful or more bumpy movement is. I pretty much gave up my pleasure of cantering up hill. But summer is about to begin and I have been thinking of some inviting uphill canter places when I could let her go, before I get too old to enjoy them. I reckon we canter up the hill because we wouldnt want to canter down them,

 

[Spiritedly]

I had one like this when I was younger and one of my current ones was similar...the only time he went put was to go hunting!...so I went right back to basics and we walked across every field whether alone or in company...you need people who are willing to stick to walk...Then when they could walk calmly we progress to short trots, if they got excited it was back to walk, then increased the length of the trots. When that could be done calmly we started short canters and built them up.

We never cantered in the same place every ride or even cantered every ride and if there was any sign of them getting too strong or silly it was back to walk.

I ended up doing sponsored rides and eventing with the horse when I was younger and that is my aim with my current one once we sort out his need to break himself

It takes time and patience but you can do it.