Dealing with nappy/bolshy behaviour when horse is upset?

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After an incident today, I need some advice.

My horse is good to handle 95% of the time in hand, however when she sees something she doesn't like, all manner of awful behavior ensues, and to be honest, I'm not really sure what to do.

About seven months ago we went for an in hand hack, and a horse in a field next to the road charged straight towards my horse, which upset her massively; we had all kinds of tratrums, rearing in hand and running off down the road. Needless to say I haven't been down that bit of road again.

About a month after that we decided that we didn't want to load, and had more similar tantrums.

As it's a nice day went out for another in hand hack, and come across a whole heard of horses charging up and down in a field next to the road behind a large hedge.

The behaviour wasn't as extreme as the first time, but I had to remove the horse from the situation as busy road. Couldn't get her to go in the direction i wanted, so had to backtrack for a short time then off onto a quieter road.

I've been doing loads of groundwork recently with the horse, but I'm at a loss at how to stop this extreme bad behaviour. I don't mind a horse being scared of something, it's the reacting in such an foolish and stupid way that I need to get out of her.

The route today is one she's been down plenty of times; we don't hack out loads as the roads are not very good, and the behaviour is not feed related.

How do I even start stopping this behaviour? Realistically I can't just walk her up there every day, the roads are simply too busy, especially if she has another episode. I would love for an instructor/behaviourist to come and see what she's like, but chances if I do that, she won't play up, and I haven't got endless pots of cash.

Please help!
 
I would forget the walks inhand if you can't control her behaviour and just get on and ride her. If you are onboard, you have a lot extra to control her with, legs, seat and hands and voice. If you are on the ground, you only really have two of those and if the horse gets away from you, you are left with nothing.
 
As I don't fancy my chances of staying on if something goes wrong; also as the loading issue goes, there is obviously more training required
 
The loading issue should be dealt with separately, but as for the issues out on the road, if you are not confident to lead or ride, then you probably need some help, either from someone riding out with you on a calm horse, or a person on the ground. I have a mare who can be inclined to throw a paddy if something upsets her, I would always rather be onboard as I can get my legs on her and push her forwards at a good trot so she can't think about it too much. You can't do that on the ground, you are effectively anchoring them next to the thing that is scaring them so you are getting the rearing and tearing off. If you are onboard, you can get them to concentrate on you a lot more.
 
Agree with the above. Is it a young horse or newly backed? Maybe some professional schooling is in order to nip this behaviour in the bud. These things rarely get better on their own. Re the loading that is something to be broken down and tackled in stages.
 
It's not a young horse an old one that's probably been left to develop bad habits at some point.

I was trying to use the two scenarios to highlight the same problem, which in essence it is, the horse stops listening to you when something happens she finds scary, then you have a hell of a job getting any sense back out of her.

If I take her past the field tommorow, even if I was riding her, we'd have the same paddy because it was scary today.

I won't be taking her back as it's too damed dangerous without trying to stop the behaviour.
 
Hi op
I think you may be safer on board than on the ground. there is far too much going on around you, cars, horses running around for you to be able to keep safe control.
Can you find a hacking buddy who could allow you to lead the way, but take over if things get to much for your horse?
It's really hard to remain calm in this situation, but they do know when your
nervous. I focus on somewhere in the distance, and ride towards it even if it takes all day.you have to have that thought in your mind and patience of a saint.
Good luck
star*
 
I wasn't particularly nervous more concerned that a car was going to appear.

If I had been riding her, granted she may have been better but I would have suspected it would have resulted in the horse running off down the road, weather I'd still have been on board is another matter. Even with another hacking partner she will now be stupid in this location for the foreseeable future, and as I'm sure you can appreciate, it's iust not safe to go back there down a busy road, especially when I know she is likely misbehave.

I'm just at a loss what I can do to stop the stupid behaviour, there must be something I can do that doesn't involve trying to kill myself!
 
It sounds as though you have come across some nasty situations. It's not the horses behaviour that is at fault....she is trying to protect herself! I think you need to learn some techniques that enable her to recognise that you are the leader and will protect her....
 
Alyth said:
It sounds as though you have come across some nasty situations. It's not the horses behaviour that is at fault....she is trying to protect herself! I think you need to learn some techniques that enable her to recognise that you are the leader and will protect her....
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Yes this is the point I'm trying to make, the point of my post is ideas for training?
 
I do know just what you mean. It's like they go in a trance and you just don't exist.

I would start with setting up some extreme scary things in an enclosed space and getting her used to approaching them. Treats if needed. If there is something really scary (hopefully). Circle and circle getting a little closer every time and loads of praise(treat) when she starts to ignore it.
Hopefully even if she is only half interested in the treats she will get more interested as she learns things don't kill her. Then find somewhere safe away from the yard you can re inforce the above.
In these situations starting with some of their attention is better than none!

I also find actually saying 'you big whally with a chuckle' in my voice really helps me give the right vibes. One of mine used to rear right up when he got over excited I used to just look at him and say get down you plonker, with a sigh as though I really wasn't bothered and just thought he was daft. Thankfully it worked every time
 
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I would try some Natural Horsemanship to really get the horse communicating with you (and NO not the P word). Join up is really a good tool, and helps the horse to trust you as leader, thus reducing panic. Lots of ground work will really help, but NOT is a dangerous situation.

The other thing (for your safety) is to always lead in a bridle. If this really does not work, he may need a few walks out in a chifney (make sure you know how to use it !) as this can really get them to listen and calm the situation byy bringing them back to earth. . And wear a hat !
 
I do use a bridle for the walks out. I can't currently do any "join up" as nowhere suitable at the yard, but that is something I intend to do when possible.
 
Because i have no intentions of riding past to see if the same reaction occurs! If she starts playing up under saddle I go into panic mode and cannot deal with it.
 
I've had the horse about 7 months. Behavior still the same when turned out all day (currently limited due to bad weather!) i ride at home in the school and no bad behaviour in there.

As for history, dont really know if this is something she does, or if it's just developed
 
Your horse is acting perfectly naturally when faced with other horses charging around. Funnily enough they probably wouldn't do it if you were on board.

As others have said, the loading problem is a different issue.
 
You need lessons from a good instructor to help you build your confidence in dealing with your horse both ridden and in hand - particularly ridden.

You will have more control if you are riding, but only if you are confident and competent enough to take charge of the situation.
 
OP - can you long-rein or are you confident to long-rein? I have a horse who was nappy, would go into panic and flight mode and was generally quite dangerous at times. She shattered my confidence to the point where I had accepted that I would not ride her again. I didn't want to give up though and I started long-reining her out. As it was, she was a pro at long-reining and it's something I'm very confident with. I wasn't leading her, so if she had a tantrum she couldn't go up and come down on me, and I wasn't on board so couldn't fall off. It's worked a treat and I can now ride her most places without problems. But I was fortunate in that our roads are fairly quiet and drivers mostly quite considerate. You do have to be confident to do it though and know what you are doing. Maybe if you could get help from someone else it might guide you in the right direction. Good luck - I've been where you are and it's not nice. But you can get through it and come out the other side. :)
 
yes, that's what I'd do too, perhaps your horse is using the horses charging up and down as an excuse to nap. My horse will "light up" a bit in those circumstances, most will but they don't all use it as an excuse to misbehave and that's really what you need to get sorted. Refusing to load may be a part of the same problem. Good luck, it must be very frustrating and frightening.
Goldenstar said:
I would find a good local rider and pay to get the horse ridden out three times a week .
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