help - horse running backwards in school

C

condylem

Member
Joined
22 September 2011
Messages
16
Visit site
Hi

I have a young horse who has started running backwards when I ask her to go from halt to walk (only this transition) trot, canter transitions are great.

She hacks alone and in company and will stand for ages whislt I chat to someone with no bother but walking in the arena seems to really hype her up and she jogs slightly for ages before I can get a walk out of her.

She has had her teeth done - the physio is out next week. she also does it whilst long reining even with just a roller on.

She also shakes her head ( like something is irritating her ears in a sideways motion rather than an up and down one)

Anyone any ideas why she might have suddenly started doing this and the best way to combat it?

if pressed ( she has had a smack for it) she goes up high.

Shes backed up so quickly into the fence today she has broken an actual post rather than the rail!
 
Try leaning backwards, this will be uncomfortable for her.
I would not try to walk her if she prefers to jog, just start off in trot.
If you feel it necessary to walk her because she has, for example, been stabled, hack her out at a brisk walk, but no trots.
Obviously teeth need checked every six months on a young horse, also what bit are you using? Did you have full confidence in the Dental Technician?
I am a great one for grid-work and groundwork to identify source of a problem.
 
Last edited:
Did she do this before having teeth done or just afterwards?

I'd prob be nice to her until you've had physio to find or rule out an issue. Also I'd concentrate on what she does well and tell her she has done well to build her confidence. If she is ok to do this transition on a hack then practice them then.

Could be a pain issue with turning? HAcking is straight lines which might be easy but the school has corners and more bending work so even if your riding the outside track she could be finding it very hard to do and anticipating pain.

Also - I'd cut her feed down - unless in hard work, good hay /grass is ok for most.
 
What they say ^^

Plus, when she runs backwards, turn her. Use the rein big and wide to encourage the turn. Don't always turn the same direction. Get her going in a direction you have dictated, not what she wants to do.

Is she trained to voice commands? If yes, what happens if you use no aids at all, but just loosen the rein and tell her to 'Walk on' in the same voice you'd lunge her with?
 
She had her teeth done 3 weeks ago nearly - yes I trust the technician.

She is in a NS snaffle. Cavesson noseband, no martingale.

she did it before I backed her (whnen long reining too.

The dentist did say she had a tight jaw - I wondered if this might be making her tight through her poll, and therefore uncomfortable. the ear shaking thing makes me feel she migt be uncomfortable somewhere.

I ended up trotting her for 30 minutes before I even tried walk as she went in tense and spooking at everything.
 
she walks lovely on a hack.

Strange mare. I'm hoping for great things from her but don't think there is a test where you have to reverse a whole long side!!
 
condylem said:
she walks lovely on a hack.

Strange mare. I'm hoping for great things from her but don't think there is a test where you have to reverse a whole long side!!
Click to expand...

Can i suggest you hack her a lot more until she is going forward really well and nicely. I might also consider changing her bit to something straight barred and possibly synthetic too.
 
BonneMaman said:
Can i suggest you hack her a lot more until she is going forward really well and nicely. I might also consider changing her bit to something straight barred and possibly synthetic too.
Click to expand...

Yes I think your right - I will try a synthetic straightbar.

It's just that I have no problems whatsoever out hacking with her - she really is lovely, (bar the intemittant ear shaking thing she does) but is a really forward hack.
 
condylem said:
Yes I think your right - I will try a synthetic straightbar.

It's just that I have no problems whatsoever out hacking with her - she really is lovely, (bar the intemittant ear shaking thing she does) but is a really forward hack.
Click to expand...
I had a very forward going youngster, ears straight out, discovered he was actually nervous, had to slow him down to relax him.
I think you need a physio or chiro person out to do the neck, sounds to me like a problem there.
 
Sounds like what I believe is called napping to me. I believe horses nap through frustration as they don't know what else to do or something they thought would/should happen, isn't.
Pain as has been said is a starter but what about also having an appraisal of your riding, I am certainly not saying you can't ride btw, you might be unknowingly giving mixed signals eg. taking bit contact when asking for forward or somehow blocking with your seat etc. Are you anticipating halt to trot and tensing for another example?
Have a check she understands fully what you are asking and perhaps run through her responses to basic aids you are using to check she does understand, she should respond easily, without resistance and consistently.
Another reason may be it's all too much for her at her stage, sessions too long or too complicated.

I'm a crap rider and have never had a young horse to bring on so please take my post as it is intended... to give suggestions not to offend.
 
Last edited by a moderator:
Does she do it if you have someone walking beside her just to make the aid clearer?
If it was me I would try circing her evertime she walks backwards, failing that get someone in the arena with you to try and get her to just walk forwards nicely, then a big pat and make loads of fuss of her.
If this doesn't work then definately the physio and saddle check. If she is still young she will have changed shape due to new muscle development and a saddle that fitted her a few months ago may not fit now!
Also get lessons with a good instructor, I find I concentrate alot more when an instructor is telling me what to do and you may not be so focused on her about to go backwards, which means you are not anticipating and tensing, therefore she may not be so bad :)
 
How old is she? How long has she backed?
Once pain has been ruled out, I would maybe be inclined to give her a few months off and start by lunging and long reining again. When she gets it right then I'd start by backing her again.

In the mean time I'd do inland pole work, walking over tarp, and by scary objects. Get her to build up some confidence in herself.

I'd also try a lead horse in the school, someone she likes so she can safely follow.
 
Thank you for all of the responses.

I have changed her bit to a happy mouth straight bar which she seems happier in.

She hacks out alone fine and is very trusting under saddle generally, very forward going and responsive although after the school incident she did jog through the village when I first got on her and bounced back through as we ended up following some racehorses.

her halt to walk transitions are usually good and after getting through the village I did alot whilst out hacking and she was fine.

Thinking back on it I think it comes from her being wound up (i.e going through the village, following the racehorses) as I think if I had asked her to do a halt transitions I would have got the same reaction as in the school.

I have decided to hack her out more and forget about schooling so much for now. I'm going to lunge her in walk a bit as she has a tendancy to do it on the lunge too and hopefully if I crack it on the ground and get her to relax more in the arena it will improve under saddle. I may take her in there for a walk on a long rein once I have hacked to get her used to it.

Also have a lesson booked for next week just for a fresh pair of eyes.

she has only been backed 3 months now and is on her 4th session in the arena - she has done alot of hacking about.

any more helpful hints/thoughts always appreciated though and I willkeep you updated.
 
I have a tb (?tb x) who used to become a spinning, rocking horse when asked to halt for more than a few seconds out and about. If you kept going she was fine. No idea how that response came about as I don't think she was ever a racer lol more a dressage diva.
 
amandap said:
I have a tb (?tb x) who used to become a spinning, rocking horse when asked to halt for more than a few seconds out and about. If you kept going she was fine. No idea how that response came about as I don't think she was ever a racer lol more a dressage diva.
Click to expand...

did you ever resolve it?
 
condylem said:
did you ever resolve it?
Click to expand...
Yes I think so. Lots of in hand walking and rewarding stops often with a treat and pairing that with a stroke and 'good girl'. Initial stops were for a few seconds gradually increasing the time standing and distance from me, in various places starting at home with other horses, then alone.Then out with another horse then alone etc. etc. Then repeated (I missed out some of the earlier steps) ridden and did do a lot of the home stuff ridden while I was dong in hand out and about stuff. I don't ride much these days (creaky sore bones) so haven't done any long rides so can't say for definite she would always be 100%.

I always tried to ensure she was still relaxed before we moved off hence the very short stands at the start. Oh and I made sure she only moved off when I asked as well.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top