Help speeding pony !!!

[sueandtoto]

My daughter who's 13 but very small and lightweight took her 14.2 pony to a pony club XC rally today and he was very naughty! he kept tanking off after jumps and she found him difficult to stop, he is in a cheltenham gag with cavesson noseband which the instuctor said was fine , when we took him by herself last month he was fine so I think a lot of it was just his excitement ,would a change of tack help ( he leans down on her hands) or is there any advice that anyone can give her,or should she have some XC lessons, sorry its a bit long

 

[Mollymillymoo]

My horse tends to tank off when we go on rallies/xc lessons with other horses, it's usually just excitement and lots of practise should get him used to being in big fields full of horses and jumps, go as much as possible would be my advice!
I don't know about a change of tack, but the bit I use is a dutch gag on my 15hh cob(all sholders and bl**dy strong!) who also leans and I can stop him in that on the middle hole, I'm not petite but I'm not very strong... It might work for you

Good luck!

 

[Harlequin_Ro]

i wouldn't change tack to mask the problem. make sure back teeth etc are all checked and then do lots of schooling to improve him cross country. heavy on the hands means he isn't working properly so might need some flat work lessons before you invest in some cross country lessons.