Does anyone else have this issue ?

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tessybear

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Our lovely Supercob mare Tessy Bear is an angel to pretty much everything with, she is great to hack out and it takes a lot to spook her generally.

However, if we are out and another horse is behind her she completely freaks out and starts tap dancing on the spot, and trying to spin to look at the horse which isn't good on busyish roads , we usually park her in a drive way and let the other horse go past us and then she is an angel again.

She has hacked out with others before, and was fine with it so it seems to just be other horses she hasnt "met" coming up her bottom at speed.

Any tips of how we can try to diffuse the situation.

thank you :-) x
 
I don't have quite the same issue, however, my vanner cob does the same when he is at the back. Everything behind him takes on "monster proportions"! and as you say, it can be nerve jangling when you have a line of traffic coming up and a daft cob with his backside in the road desperately trying to look behind him!!

My cob was bred and broken by gypsy's, so I assume he is mostly used to having blinkers on, and he doesn't do it if he is at the front! Just an issue we have to work through ... and believe me there have been many over the 18 months since I bought him.

However, with your lady's issue - can you not hack out in company and let one of her chums be behind her? Perhaps have them hold back and then trot to catch up? (obviously when on a quiet road!!!). Sounds like she needs a bit of confidence that she isn't going to have a big brutish horse attack her when she is vulnerable and looking after her mum!!!
 
Some mares are like this, but I should imagine that a bit of training and practise should sort it out. It could also be an eyesight problem, but still I'd try having an overtaking session with some companions, i.e. ride in file and have everyone move from back to front constantly until she gets used to people moving up from behind.
 
Vanner said:
I don't have quite the same issue, however, my vanner cob does the same when he is at the back. Everything behind him takes on "monster proportions"! and as you say, it can be nerve jangling when you have a line of traffic coming up and a daft cob with his backside in the road desperately trying to look behind him!!

My cob was bred and broken by gypsy's, so I assume he is mostly used to having blinkers on, and he doesn't do it if he is at the front! Just an issue we have to work through ... and believe me there have been many over the 18 months since I bought him.

However, with your lady's issue - can you not hack out in company and let one of her chums be behind her? Perhaps have them hold back and then trot to catch up? (obviously when on a quiet road!!!). Sounds like she needs a bit of confidence that she isn't going to have a big brutish horse attack her when she is vulnerable and looking after her mum!!!
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How strange Tess was a gypsy broken we believe and said to pull bowtop wagons with blinkers on. Generally she is good thought it's just horses coming behind her at speed. There is one nutcase lovely horse may i add who jogs with his head on the side evading the bit and she throws herself onto the verge to let them go past :o

Yes she has hacked out with others and was a complete dream even when the horse behind her spooked at a motorbike and ******ed off with my friend, Tess stood as still as a rock till they caught up and we carried on.

It can be daunting with a load of traffic i feel your pain :-) x
 
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Cortez said:
Some mares are like this, but I should imagine that a bit of training and practise should sort it out. It could also be an eyesight problem, but still I'd try having an overtaking session with some companions, i.e. ride in file and have everyone move from back to front constantly until she gets used to people moving up from behind.
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She passed a vetting recently with out vet and her eye sight was good, however that is something to look at my get the vet back out to check.

That's a fantastic idea will have to organise a new years hack and put my tough face on :D Thank you
 
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