fed up!! new horse decided to go off down road? change bit??

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maisie1988

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so im a total worrier... my new boy is in a hanging cheek at the moment, but i find him very strong.... but i can stop him ish lol...

when i hack him on his own he is a little bit nappy... he doesnt spin but bit reluctant to go out.i

then i hack him in company he is very forward, keen and strong... when we turned to come home even more so... he always trys to pull me onto the verge but i dont let him, he has done this every ride, but i have a feeling he would go.. well today he pulled onto the verge and decided to canter.. we then ended up on the road and took about 4 strides to stop him, but then he was really strong and throwing his head about a bit and just not listening the rest of the way home.

should i try him in a stronger bit? it wasnt terrible but i didnt have control which makes me a litle nerves.

he is a lovely sweet horse, this is the first thing he has done wrong and it was only tiny, but just thought i would ask some advice??

thank you
 
I'd just give him something useful to put all that energy into. Make sure he's forwards all the time, rather than dawdling followed by sudden explosions. And keep him occupied, lots of transistions, shoulder in, leg yield etc.
 
ok so keep him thinking and busy? im not a very good rider, going for lessons learning at the mo... but i kinda the know the basics of leg yielding lol, not tried to see if i can do it though. but i can do lots of transitions.

he seems to really want to go on ther verge, i though maybe somoone who has had him always cantered on the verges of something??

thank you for your advice :)
 
Bet he's still a bit unsettled. How long have you had him? Mine took an age to settle hacking on his own and - if I'm honest - can still try and bounce home a bit speedily if , like today, a herd of deer gallop across the road in front of us and shatter his nerves!
If your lad is throwing his head up, don't be afraid to use a standing martingale. Properly adjusted, it is not harsh but does remind them that head up and off is not an option - without having to resort to a much stronger bit. Whatever you do 'safety first when hacking' is my motto
 
If you don't normally do leg yield, don't worry about having to do it on hacks. Lots of transitions will work just as well, you can do them every 5/6 strides if you need to. Just make sure though that even walking along he keeps moving nicely, rather than storing all his energy for a silly moment. If you can, try hacking with just one other person who will go at your pace while your getting used to him. And stick a neckstrap on too if you want some extra security.
 
littlelegs said:
If you don't normally do leg yield, don't worry about having to do it on hacks. Lots of transitions will work just as well, you can do them every 5/6 strides if you need to. Just make sure though that even walking along he keeps moving nicely, rather than storing all his energy for a silly moment. If you can, try hacking with just one other person who will go at your pace while your getting used to him. And stick a neckstrap on too if you want some extra security.
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ok lol ill try transitions... once i learn leg yielding i can do that then as well. he was striding out well the hole ride, but really felt him get bit fidgety and faster on way home, i sort off new he was going to do something!!?

thanks xxxx
 
Although I might suggest that a more experiended rider could solve this problem by schooling, I think in your case I would suggest a different bit. You do not want to lose your confidence on him, or get into a dangerous situation. I hack my very strong mare in a NS Universal, which is a kind of gag bit, with 2 reins. I mainly ride on the snaffle rein but if she does get strong, I have the extra control with the curb rein. The 2 reins are easy enough to use with a bit of practice and tbh I think just the fact that the horse knows the curb rein is there makes a difference to her. She had been used to going at the same pace in the same place on every ride before I got her and had runaway with her novice rider.

I agree that transitions will help and never turn round on a hack, always do a circular or lollipop shaped route.
 
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Can you ride or lunge him before you hack? Maybe get him tired out before you go and he may be a bit less eager to be so forward going, then as you build up your own confidence gradually do less and less before the hack. Don't go the same route every time and certainly don't let him trot/canter in the same places each time, as he will start anticipating and get himself excited!
 
elduende said:
Bet he's still a bit unsettled. How long have you had him? Mine took an age to settle hacking on his own and - if I'm honest - can still try and bounce home a bit speedily if , like today, a herd of deer gallop across the road in front of us and shatter his nerves!
If your lad is throwing his head up, don't be afraid to use a standing martingale. Properly adjusted, it is not harsh but does remind them that head up and off is not an option - without having to resort to a much stronger bit. Whatever you do 'safety first when hacking' is my motto
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ive only had him 3/4 weeks, and havent rode him since last wednesday so i havent rode him much.. maybe he needs time to settle.

x
 
in fact i probly had him nearer the 3 weeks... i just thought it was a bit naughty of him to decide to go off on a canter lol.... second he got on the verge he was off! ill make sure he doesnt get on them in future lolol :)
 
scottishmiss said:
Can you ride or lunge him before you hack? Maybe get him tired out before you go and he may be a bit less eager to be so forward going, then as you build up your own confidence gradually do less and less before the hack. Don't go the same route every time and certainly don't let him trot/canter in the same places each time, as he will start anticipating and get himself excited!
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sadly nowhere to lunge, which sucks bit time.. to be fair he hadnt been riden since last wednesday, so could he be fresh as ive heard people say? i think someone has had him and always cantered on verges... i know that sounds really silly.. but every hack he always pulls and drifts to the verge and i push him back away from the verge... today he got on the verge and was off.... i could tell the first hack i had with him he was very keen to go on a verge. so where you say dont canter in the same place, maybe he is used to cantering on verges... lol i duno :)

it wasnt how i hoped my first canter on him would go.... never mind!
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Although I might suggest that a more experiended rider could solve this problem by schooling, I think in your case I would suggest a different bit. You do not want to lose your confidence on him, or get into a dangerous situation. I hack my very strong mare in a NS Universal, which is a kind of gag bit, with 2 reins. I mainly ride on the snaffle rein but if she does get strong, I have the extra control with the curb rein. The 2 reins are easy enough to use with a bit of practice and tbh I think just the fact that the horse knows the curb rein is there makes a difference to her. She had been used to going at the same pace in the same place on every ride before I got her and had runaway with her novice rider.

I agree that transitions will help and never turn round on a hack, always do a circular or lollipop shaped route.
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thats probably a good idea, go all the way around the block rather then turning around... jst if i can get around before day light goes... but i think thats a good idea! not too keen on the two reins lol thats sounds bit above me!! i agree an experianced rider would get him going lovely...

i did think send him to be school properly and things but then the second he comes back to me, he will know i dont have the same control/exp and just go back to square one!!?? hopefully il learn with lessons! waiting for my aunty to take me to a very good lady for lessons... just when she has time, i dont have a horse trailer :(
 
I have ridden a few ponies that have been owned by teenagers that would always try to canter when they touched any sort of grass, including verges.
 
Pearlsasinger said:
Could you get an instructor to come to you?.
Honestly the 2 reins are easy with just a bit of practice.
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i would love someone to come to me... but i havent got a school or anywhere to have a lesson. this is a problem for me as its 1 mile hack on my own to my instructor or waiting on someone to take me to an instructor.

i really wish i could have someone come to me!!
 
Do you know what,I would just continue what you are doing and keep hacks nice and calm and steady. Don'tknow how old he is but it is perfectly possible that his previous owner did canter him on verges (we used to!) so I would make sure you don't do this and teach him to just walk and trot on the roads - do not take him on the verges!
He sounds like a nice horse just that he's got a few ingrained habits going on there and the napping is probably just down to lack of confidence in a new place.

If he is throwing his head put a standing martingale on him but make sure it's fitted properly (ie not too tight - it shoukd only come in to play when he throws his head). If you're not sure ask someone to help - we all learn somewhere.

if you feel you are mot entirely in control and could do witha stronger bit then go for it. I amall for schooling and getting a horse to be obedient but to be honest, when you're out on the roads you need to feel safe and in control and a stronger bit can help. I have also found that this mere fact of you feeling in control makes you feel more confident and the horse picks up on that and they act calmer.

Oh and yes, don't ever just turn back round - pick a circular route, no matter how short.
 
I would say you don't know him or trust him, and he doesn't know you or trust you.

Rather than sticking a stronger bit in his gob I would do a bit of ground work with him. Cause him to understand that you can move him around - forward, backwards, left and right, and he will trust you more.

I would think if he naps he isn't confident in you (and you can't expect him to be in a new home with a new rider after three weeks ) - mine was dreadful, because I never stepped up to the plate, but once I did, he was infinitely better.
 
I remember when I was a kid ( very long time ago) we used to canter the riding school ponies up the central reservation of the dual carriageway! LOL What was I thinking of !!!:eek:
 
ladyt25 said:
Do you know what,I would just continue what you are doing and keep hacks nice and calm and steady. Don'tknow how old he is but it is perfectly possible that his previous owner did canter him on verges (we used to!) so I would make sure you don't do this and teach him to just walk and trot on the roads - do not take him on the verges!
He sounds like a nice horse just that he's got a few ingrained habits going on there and the napping is probably just down to lack of confidence in a new place.

If he is throwing his head put a standing martingale on him but make sure it's fitted properly (ie not too tight - it shoukd only come in to play when he throws his head). If you're not sure ask someone to help - we all learn somewhere.

if you feel you are mot entirely in control and could do witha stronger bit then go for it. I amall for schooling and getting a horse to be obedient but to be honest, when you're out on the roads you need to feel safe and in control and a stronger bit can help. I have also found that this mere fact of you feeling in control makes you feel more confident and the horse picks up on that and they act calmer.

Oh and yes, don't ever just turn back round - pick a circular route, no matter how short.
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thanks you thats a lovely message. i think its a habbit aswel. on the very first hack i said to my cousin he keeps pulling to the verge, she said let him go on it, and i said i dont want to... i have a feeling that he will canter, just because he is being really forward and keen to go. then today when he got on the verge he went straight into canter, it was just unfortunate that the verge ended very quickly and we ended up catering on the road. i could tell he was going to do it as well.

if i was to go for a stronger bit, what would you suggest? i dont want to put a crazy bit in his mouth but something with a little more than what im using ( hanging cheek snaffle). my cousin said to try her gag, but that looks and sounds awful lol, but she said that she was looking at picc of him with his last owner and she had him in a gag. so not sure?

if i was confident, i wouldnt mind cantering on the verge, but im not... i look at the verges and think there too narrow and looks pot holey lol and think nope dont want to do that! it was my first canter on him... lolol.

i feel that going into a field or open space he will jsut take off... i dont know why but just got it in my head he will. my cousin wanted to go in a field today for a canter, i said i didnt want to lol... she was a bit dissapointed but i just feel unsure!!

never turn around.. got it lol. he defo went full speed ahead and hard wrk the second we turned. ill go around the block from now on!!

:)
 
this might sounds silly, but if i take him on lead rope walks, do some trotting and walking... just go for a walk lol. will this build up his confidence with me and vice versa or is that not a great idea? he is a saint on the ground, very gentle... like a puppy... but wasnt sure wether taking for a walk was a good idea or not? just thought its gets us out dong something together that isnt riding? and also be a bit of fitness??
 
Ok... the fact that he hasn't been worked in over a week more than likely has something to do with today's behaviour. Secondly, the temperature has suddenly dropped so this may also make him feel quite fresh. is he clipped?

THIRDLY what is he being fed? and what is his typical weekly workload?

FOURTHLY have you considered that where you currently keep him possibly isn't the most suitable place to keep him as it sounds like it is rather ticky to keep him in consistent work?

Finally, yes you could change his bit. BUT what sort of mouthpiece do you currently use? do you work him into a contact / on the bit? I'm wondering if schooling (or lack of) is the issue here rather than tack and equipment...

But yes, after ony 3 weeks he will still be settling in / finding his feet?...
 
I would say that if you and he are new to each other and you turned on the track and headed for home he was actually being really quite good - holding himself in check from his natural instinct to run home - rather than being a naughty boy! I know that when I first moved my mare and started hacking on her she was full of fizz when we headed home ( still is!) if you think of it that way you will begin to have more confidence in him rather than less. Remember if he does ever take off with you to turn him round in circles before he really gets into a big run! Horses heads are very strong if you try to pull back on them but much less strong laterally. A circling horse cannot buck or rear so easy either ( sorry to mention those 2 scary things! ) And of course you no longer just running into god knows what.
I wish when I had first started riding someone had explained circles and the one rein stop ( google it for full explanation). Practice circles in a field or ménage and start cantering in circles not just into the horizon. Thats my best advice :)
 
You could try when on your own or with someone else willing to do it with you; when you get home go straight back out on another short hack, even do this twice! Or go straight past your yard and Carry on the other way. Really worked for me, he now listens to me rather than expects to go home. He jogged and span round for home before I did lots of this
 
I think that's a great idea - there was a certain spot we used to turn for home and my girl would get joggy and head shaky along the track leading to that spot. So quite a few times we went the same route but instead of turning for home turned for Blackheath for a really really long ride. That cooled her head and she's not done it again !
 
Simbacat said:
I think that's a great idea - there was a certain spot we used to turn for home and my girl would get joggy and head shaky along the track leading to that spot. So quite a few times we went the same route but instead of turning for home turned for Blackheath for a really really long ride. That cooled her head and she's not done it again !
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after today my cousin actually said at the end of the road, we will go left rather than right to go back home... but i said i dont want to, as i was worried lol and just wanted to go back!! but now i have looked at it and realised it wasnt really that bad i wish we turned left. ill try getting back to the yard and going straight out again, or going past the yard lol...
 
CBFan said:
Ok... the fact that he hasn't been worked in over a week more than likely has something to do with today's behaviour. Secondly, the temperature has suddenly dropped so this may also make him feel quite fresh. is he clipped?

THIRDLY what is he being fed? and what is his typical weekly workload?

FOURTHLY have you considered that where you currently keep him possibly isn't the most suitable place to keep him as it sounds like it is rather ticky to keep him in consistent work?

Finally, yes you could change his bit. BUT what sort of mouthpiece do you currently use? do you work him into a contact / on the bit? I'm wondering if schooling (or lack of) is the issue here rather than tack and equipment...

But yes, after ony 3 weeks he will still be settling in / finding his feet?...
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i definatly think the problem lies with me not him... he might be being cheeky maybe but im not dealing with thing right. if that makes sence?? i need schooling as much as him, jus difficuilt!!

so not being ridden for a week could have added to this? he isnt clipped... does cold weather make a difference also?

i am feeding him on one big scoop of baileys no.4 conditioning cubes as he needs a bit fo weight and safe and sound chaff mix stuff? what do you think?? im told the safe and sound wont fizz him up, so i got that at first, then i was told he needs something to put weight on and i should put something else with it, so i went with baileys no.4 in hope to add weight without too much hyper stuff... what do you think?

he is in a hanging cheek. i totally agree the yard isnt right, i need to be where there is a school and lessons i can have a good few times a week. i have a 2 year old daugher, also work and at uni lol. so its squeeze, i would love to quit work but then couldnt keep him haha! i ride normally on mondays, wednesday and then one day at the weekend. however this week the weather cancelled them all, lucky my aunty has my daughter so i could hack today. unfortunatly there isnt anywhere here i can take him, and my aunty and cousin (we rent the yard together) they really help with my confidence and they understand me... also feel terrible if i left them. i did think just maybe for the winter and go back in the summer, just until i get more confident and have a school to use. but there isnt anywhere near me!! :(

x
 
also if i went somewhere with a school i can lunge the days i dont ride and have my daughter... as she naps for an hour in the car and i can jus lunge him quick... but there just inst anywhere with a school and would feel bad on my aunty!! the right yard would help tho :(
 
maisie1988 said:
i definatly think the problem lies with me not him... he might be being cheeky maybe but im not dealing with thing right. if that makes sence?? i need schooling as much as him, jus difficuilt!!

so not being ridden for a week could have added to this? he isnt clipped... does cold weather make a difference also?

i am feeding him on one big scoop of baileys no.4 conditioning cubes as he needs a bit fo weight and safe and sound chaff mix stuff? what do you think?? im told the safe and sound wont fizz him up, so i got that at first, then i was told he needs something to put weight on and i should put something else with it, so i went with baileys no.4 in hope to add weight without too much hyper stuff... what do you think?

he is in a hanging cheek. i totally agree the yard isnt right, i need to be where there is a school and lessons i can have a good few times a week. i have a 2 year old daugher, also work and at uni lol. so its squeeze, i would love to quit work but then couldnt keep him haha! i ride normally on mondays, wednesday and then one day at the weekend. however this week the weather cancelled them all, lucky my aunty has my daughter so i could hack today. unfortunatly there isnt anywhere here i can take him, and my aunty and cousin (we rent the yard together) they really help with my confidence and they understand me... also feel terrible if i left them. i did think just maybe for the winter and go back in the summer, just until i get more confident and have a school to use. but there isnt anywhere near me!! :(

x
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Ok, It is probably a combination of a LOT of things... yes cold weather can wake them up a bit! lol! so that might not help! Certainly do not clip him!

As for feed... I think the baileys No4 might not be helping either. Certainly not with the amount of work he is doing. I would use up what you have at a reduced rate (say quarter of a scoop a day until it's gone) and swap your safe and sound to something like hi-fi mollasses free (less alfa-a which can heat some up) and then for bulk, add some speedi-beet (make sure you follow the soaking instructions on the bag)... Micronised linseed or just some veg / sunflower oil from the supermarket will help with his weight too. Also, most importantly, make sure he is getting plenty of hay. How big is he?

I really think moving yards might be the most sensible option as it would give you more freedom to work him more... could anyone else exercise him for you one or two days that you can't?

Could your instructor come out on a hack with you one time to give you some tips on how to handle him rather than you having a lesson in the arena?

What TYPE of hanging cheek is he in? is it a single jointed mouthpiece or french link?
 
CBFan said:
Ok, It is probably a combination of a LOT of things... yes cold weather can wake them up a bit! lol! so that might not help! Certainly do not clip him!

As for feed... I think the baileys No4 might not be helping either. Certainly not with the amount of work he is doing. I would use up what you have at a reduced rate (say quarter of a scoop a day until it's gone) and swap your safe and sound to something like hi-fi mollasses free (less alfa-a which can heat some up) and then for bulk, add some speedi-beet (make sure you follow the soaking instructions on the bag)... Micronised linseed or just some veg / sunflower oil from the supermarket will help with his weight too. Also, most importantly, make sure he is getting plenty of hay. How big is he?

I really think moving yards might be the most sensible option as it would give you more freedom to work him more... could anyone else exercise him for you one or two days that you can't?

Could your instructor come out on a hack with you one time to give you some tips on how to handle him rather than you having a lesson in the arena?

What TYPE of hanging cheek is he in? is it a single jointed mouthpiece or french link?
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ok great thank you, so hi-fi mallases free and speedi beet. ill go with those now and see how that goes.
he is 15'1 connie, maybe ill look into a sharer... for an exo rider, he will get riden more then. i didnt want to do that as i wanted to bond with him but might be a good idea.

he has loads of hay constantly for him in field and stable...i think i might have to consider a diff yard, maybe just until next summer or somehting

thank you so much for your help :)
 
maisie1988 said:
this might sounds silly, but if i take him on lead rope walks, do some trotting and walking... just go for a walk lol. will this build up his confidence with me and vice versa or is that not a great idea? he is a saint on the ground, very gentle... like a puppy... but wasnt sure wether taking for a walk was a good idea or not? just thought its gets us out dong something together that isnt riding? and also be a bit of fitness??
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Its a good idea....make sure you do it in a bridle though to have better control over it. I took my horse out for walks to give him confidence, it helped him out certainly.

MIne get a bit boingy this time of year if I cant ride during the week....its just excitement. When you get to know your horse better and gain more confidence this wont phase you...you'll probably enjoy it;)
 
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