Hacking nightmare

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mwoww89

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Hey all,

New here and looking for advice!

I bought a 5 YO exracer TB last year, I bought him because he was so laid back compared to my old boy who is nearly 18 and still acts like a 2YO!

I left him out for the summer to grow a little and get his head out the racing game. Unfortunately I haven't been able to do much with him recently due to personal issues so for the past two weeks I have been bringing him back into work. Lunges like a dream, rides in the school fine.

Me and the yard owner took him and another horse out for a quiet hack today. Quiet being the key word here haha! Got half way down the road and he starts going sideways, I'm used to this with my older TB. Turned off the main road onto a track down the side of the field and he starts rearing, bucking, spinning on a six pence and reversing without a care where to. He did this for 5 mins before I could see the huge ditch getting closer and closer so I got off. Normally I would ride it out but I could see we were either going to end up in the middle of the road or down this ditch, plus I aren't fit enough to deal with the rearing and bucking.

I rode him out at the back end of summer last year in groups and he was foot perfect. I could go anywhere, gallop etc and he was the sane one of the group!

Now I know it's probably a bit of excitement about going out etc but he would just not walk forward. He was reversing or going side ways or spinning when the yard owner was just stood perfect in front of us on this pony waiting for Mo to stop being an absolute fruitcake 😑

I have noticed over the past few weeks he seems to be extremely fresh, when he's turned out he is going bananas. I know he is 5 coming up 6 so he is going through his I'm testing you now stage but I just feel really drained after this ride. Never have I ever got off coz a horse was being stupid but he genuinely made me feel unsafe.

He is up to date with saddle, back, teeth etc. Any ideas and how I can get past this?
 
PinkvSantaboots

PinkvSantaboots

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I think its probably because of the extended time off one of my Arab's is the same if he has more than about a month off, turns into a complete nutter out hacking and his 19 this year I find alot of hot bloods have a tendancy to do this.

I have to ride mainly in the school when he comes back into work and have to do very short hacks to start with, like literally 15 to 20 minutes before he warm up basically, I normally do a short hack then go in the school afterwards, he is fine to hack once back in regular work but can take a few months until he settles and then his fine.
 
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Fieldlife

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mwoww89 said:
Hey all,

New here and looking for advice!

I bought a 5 YO exracer TB last year, I bought him because he was so laid back compared to my old boy who is nearly 18 and still acts like a 2YO!

I left him out for the summer to grow a little and get his head out the racing game. Unfortunately I haven't been able to do much with him recently due to personal issues so for the past two weeks I have been bringing him back into work. Lunges like a dream, rides in the school fine.

Me and the yard owner took him and another horse out for a quiet hack today. Quiet being the key word here haha! Got half way down the road and he starts going sideways, I'm used to this with my older TB. Turned off the main road onto a track down the side of the field and he starts rearing, bucking, spinning on a six pence and reversing without a care where to. He did this for 5 mins before I could see the huge ditch getting closer and closer so I got off. Normally I would ride it out but I could see we were either going to end up in the middle of the road or down this ditch, plus I aren't fit enough to deal with the rearing and bucking.

I rode him out at the back end of summer last year in groups and he was foot perfect. I could go anywhere, gallop etc and he was the sane one of the group!

Now I know it's probably a bit of excitement about going out etc but he would just not walk forward. He was reversing or going side ways or spinning when the yard owner was just stood perfect in front of us on this pony waiting for Mo to stop being an absolute fruitcake 😑

I have noticed over the past few weeks he seems to be extremely fresh, when he's turned out he is going bananas. I know he is 5 coming up 6 so he is going through his I'm testing you now stage but I just feel really drained after this ride. Never have I ever got off coz a horse was being stupid but he genuinely made me feel unsafe.

He is up to date with saddle, back, teeth etc. Any ideas and how I can get past this?
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Maybe initially only hack him when he is slightly tired and weather is good and build up. So start after he has been turned out for a few hours, bring in and lunge and then ride for 20 minutes of brisk trotting and cantering in the school, then hack with company. If necessary enlist a foot soldier to assist with getting him forwards sensibly. Spend a few weeks building on this.
 
TheChestnutThing

TheChestnutThing

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Literally reading this I thought you had taken my TB for a hack....

DM me if you like and I can tell you what worked for me and what didn't...
 
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YourValentine

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Depending on how he was feeling when spinning - pure excitement or stressed brain melt-down. I would either try leading him out in-hand to make it as unexciting as possible, start with short distance and slowly go further or warm up in the arena and then set off at a brisk, forward trot and keep trotting till he feels settled or a bit tired. So that he is thinking forward the whole time.
 
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