Help - horse botled when leading

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missyme10

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Hey all,

My delightful gypsey cob who is normally an angel was an bugger today.

I was taking him back out to his paddock and he got himself into a tizz, he marched then spun and then bolted double barrelling me as he went.
He ran to a paddock by the side of his own and could see his field buddies but couldn't get to them and then ran off again back onto the track I was on and to his gate.
When I got to him, butter wouldn't melt!

It really shook me up, Billy is typical of his breed and is normally a docile gentle boy.
He panicked for sure, but I am not sure why.

I've a lesson in the morning and am not looking forward to going to get him or putting him back out. Its a bit of a walk to his winter paddock so a good distance for him to get upset again.

I am really peed off right now, I lost my confidence and while back and I have worked so damn hard to get it back, and spent over 500 on lessons to get me riding again. Things have gone so well I've gone from a wreck getting on my horse to being happy hacking out, cantering in open spaces and jumping again, so I really could have done without this.

I've only had Billy for about 4 months and he's 4 years old (was meant to be 6 when buying him!!) so I know he's young, but he's been such an angel that age just became a number.

Its so out of charachter for him, I think thats whats shocked me the most.

So tomorrow is looming, and I am gonna have to go and get him whether I like it or not.

Tips, ideas? to help me deal with this situation, I dont want to go backwards after all the work I've put in, and I know if he tries to do this again this week and gets away with it, I am gonna have a problem on my hands so must knock this on the head now and make sure he doesn't get to do it again :(
 
First thing is really yo try very hard to work out why he did this - what spooked him. If at all possible.

Second is that I would take him out in a bridle so that you have a bit more control over him.
 
First of all don't worry. It sounds like it was probably just a one off. Next time you turn him out wear your hat and if you have one a body protector. This will make you feel safer and therefore more confident. Also lead him in a bridle, or chifney of you have one, as if he starts pulling, you will instantly have much more control.

I have to turn out quite a few big, highly strung horses at the yard, and if I think I have a very tricky one, I will have him in a headcollar with long rope attached, plus a chifney with a short rope attached.

The Chifney is for control, and there are not many horses who don't respect one of those. The short rope attached to the bit is just incase I lose him, as I don't want him treading on the rope and ripping his mouth.

The headcollar has a long, boating rope attached, so that if the horse lunges sharply, or rearing despite the chifney, and I have to step away, I can hold onto the horse using the boating rope without flying hooves dangerously close to me. I usually find, that they may try it on once or twice, but once they realise they can't pull away they are fine afterwards.
 
long rope so that he doesn't feel tied down and if things do go belly up he's well out of kicking range.was it just a case of over excitement and the wind?
 
Sorry to hear that :(

I second taking him in/out in a bridle. My 4 yr old can be a bit of a t1t at times when just in a headcollar but has so much more respect when there is something in his mouth!
 
Koko used to be a bit naughty leading in and we put him in a dually head collar. Works brilliant and only applies pressure when you need it so you your no tpulling constantly, there a bit pricy but I think worth every penny :)
 
Thanks :D

I dont have a chifney, but do have a be nice head collar that worked wonders with one of my youngsters when she played up being led - so will first of all try that and maybe use a lunge line to lead so that if he does go, he can't actually get away from me altogether.
If that doesn't work then it will be the bridle.
I do have a body protector so will also wear that.

In hignsight the warning signs were there.
He normally plods in and out, but today he was constantly trying to get ahead of me and wasn't walking like a plod.

As for trigger, nothing obvious. It was very windy though but its been very windy before and he's never got upset, he seems oblivious to the wind normally and is a horse you can ride in quite strong winds.

The only thing I can think of is he panicked to be back with his pals, although he's been brought in and out enough times on his own - but that was when he was in his summer paddock and to get to the barn you passed lots of paddocks with horses.
Now with him being in his winter one, its down a track that has stubble fields either side and he can see no other horses until he reaches the paddocks at the other side of the farm x
 
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Put your goloves on-I use a knotted rope halter and long lead rein. My one used to be a right pain leading and running off (learnt behaviour before he came to me) he did it out of the blue the other day and I believe it was the windy weather he hates it and goes loony. So as said above, try and think of what may have been around, for mine it was the weather. When I lead on a loose rein, I try and make sure his heads facing me slightly as if he turns his head theres a chance he may be gone...If he walks ahead of you tug twice and get him back with you.
 
chiffneys are designed to stop horses rearing ?? they also cause jaw spurs when bits of bone breaks off in the jaw because they are such unpleasant bits esp in the wrong hands !! As the weather has been so windy with lots of ghosts coming out on the branches i would put it down to the weather. Be normal tomorrow and dont let him feel you are now scared of him, poor thing you were probably a bit stressed yourself with the weather without realising it.
 
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