HELP! Can't stop horse!

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thespanishmane

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The Spaniard we have on loan has no brakes! They were wearing a bit thin when we first got him, but have finally worn through! Sensibly now - he was a notorious 'non stopper' and has been to two homes. He is a sweet chap, easy to do in all ways, walks and trots with no problems, but ask to canter, and we're under starters orders. He can do a beautiful canter trot canter transition in the arena, but ask for this more than a couple of times and he's off. It took me 25 circuits to stop him (nose pulled almost to my knee), and I have to say it put me off a bit!
out hacking is dreadful. my fearless husband rides him, the horse never spooks and is not bothered by anything, but the minute we ask for canter he leaps forward and goes.......nevertheless my own chap isnt really bothered - he will trot, canter or gallop to order, but you cant see the other one for dust (literally).
He has had his teeth done, and his back is fine. He is ridden in a french link snaffle, drop noseband and market harborough. He was a rearer, but this was because he had a bad mouth. Anything with a curb chain causes him to go backwards, and he opens his mouth wide and bogs off without the drop. the Market H was to stop him flinging his head in the air. We feel he has no sense of self preservation when he goes either.
Any help greatly recieved - he has done this with others apparently, which is why he was put out for loan. Fortunatley my husband is not put off by this!
 
Have you considered trying to remouth him? I rode my nappy horse with hair from his tail attached to the bit for a weeks to encourage him to mouth it. He was dead to the mouth and is abit better now.
 
this reminds me of a horse I rode ONCE! Took off a horse I didnt know that came from a sale with this problem and they felt sorry for it. it took off , everyone else in a field stopped their horses and we headed off, nothing worked wouldnt turn nothing. It took a larger horse to come along side and cut me off against a stone wall to stop it. I found out when I got off that it could run all day.

I hope you sort it out I am not being helpful but can understand this is blooming dangerous and I told the folks who put me on this horse the same. I wasnt scared just annoyed and at the time was trying everything I could think of to stop it. Nil!
 
It sounds like you've done all the pain-related checks, so can I ask have you had him on the lunge? Will he respond to voice commands?
I'm not saying this will be the magic answer, but if you can get him to do good transitions on the ground, it might just make him listen a tiny bit more so you can stop him beggaring off immediately!
Another vote for a Kineton noseband as well.
Other than that- I have had one stubbornly refuse to stop roaring round the school in canter, it was like the wall of death at times (!). So I didnt try to stop, and when she ran out of puff, made her go round for a few more minutes. Yes, it took quite a long time, and I worried about leg injury, but golly , I could always stop after that!
 
KellyTL said:
have you had the saddle checked? x
Click to expand...

Yes, he has a nice comfy Sue Carson Saddle!

He is also as safe as houses on the road, still great to hack in forest where we go as well, as long as you dont canter. It's just the canter business which is so frustrating. He lunges again well in walk and trot - canter either goes very slowly and nicely, or he bogs off and just will not listen. he seems to be bottomless!
 
Well just put him in a kimblewick for the moment. I know I am one for "schooling makes perfect" and all that but if you've got one that is a known runner-offerrer then sod-it - think of your own safety and pop it in a bit that gives a more rounded pressure i.e. poll+bars+tongue. It's much kinder in the long run.
 
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