Hi!

[brbc]

Hi im new on here so im sorry if this is in the wrong place.
Just a question about a very nappy horse whilst out hacking my boy finds it fun to rear leap and bolt with me whilst out hacking i have him in a eggbutt snaffle but i cant hold him back he realy gets hold of the bit and just goes does anyone know what bit would be suitible for him that i would be able to hold him back but not to severe and any advice on preventing him rearing leaping and bolting with me?
Many thaks sorry its so long i couldnt type what i was trying to say also sorry about the spelling i have dislexia.

 

[muckingoutmum]

Hi, I'm new on here too! I have just spent three years rehabilitating a welsh section D who used to freak out just leaving the yard and her response to any slightly scary situation was to spin round and run for home.

I would suggest that there is always a reason for this sort of behaviour so, first, check out all the usual culprits: saddle, teeth, back so that you know nothing else is causing trouble. Secondly, go back to basics: get someone to walk with you (additional help and safety) and just do a small route where he feels comfortable and safe. You want him to be calm and relaxed. Once he can do this hack quietly then you can move on in baby steps and gradually change the route, add a little trot, maybe bring along another quiet horse. Gradually build it up. If you have a setback then go back a stage and rebuild his confidence. Try never to end up in a battle with him.

There is no quick fix, but it is so rewarding when you start to see results. Endless patience and understanding is needed!!

 

[brbc]

Hi Muckingoutmum i have had his teeth back saddle check and everything is ok. My friend comes out alot with me walking as you say i brought him back to basics but now i want to hack him out on our own but he wont even go out the drive way he is an absolute angle in the school not strong atoll but its just hacking that i cant get around what he does and the strength of him. xxx

 

[muckingoutmum]

Poor you! It's so frustrating, isn't it? You just want to go out and have a pleasant hack, but they won't co-operate.

Loads of horses are naughty leaving the yard as they don't want to leave their "comfort zone". Is he ok if someone walks out of the yard with you?

What are the situations when he plays up the most? What does he do? What makes him rear?

 

[brbc]

It is frustrating and upsetting too! I would just like to go for a nice ride! If someone walks out with me and i carry on and they dont he will rear up spin round leap then bomb off untill someone gets him and walks with him on the lead rope.
If i box him out and take him for a sponsered ride he is fine!
What he will do for no reasson what so ever he will be walking along fine then he will suddenly spin round rear then he will leap if you try to make him turn round and go forward then he will spin round and canter off with me. He is quite strong whilst hacking so i cant really stop him but he is very soft in the mouth whilst schooling! I do have a running martingale on to prevent him putting his head up but that doesnt seem to work!
sorry its soo long i really apreciate your help!
xxx

 

[muckingoutmum]

That's really interesting when you say that he is fine when you box him away from home: we discovered that too. I think because they don't know the way home they are reliant on you for guidance so have to stay with you. We used sponsored rides as part of our training - she even went through fields of goats and past pub gardens with bouncy castles, whereas at home she would try and bolt home if she saw a plastic bag!

Has anything bad happened to your pony out on a ride? It sounds as if it is a fear reaction and because he knows where the "safe" yard is, he doesn't want to leave it. Is he ok with another horse? Is there anything else you can do to give him confidence to go forward? What is he like if you get off and walk past the scary thing and then get back on? Sometimes if our pony is nervous I get off so she can see me and feel safe (or more likely, she thinks I'm going first so am more likely to be eaten by the monster in the bush). Then I pat her and get back on board.

You can add harsher bits and equipment, but it won't tackle the root cause of the problem. Another suggestion is to do a ride with someone on foot and then the same ride on your own and keep a notebook of what happened and where and then try to work out what causes each reaction in your horse and work on each problem in turn.

For the getting out of the yard problem people at my yard have had success a) by going out backwards if the horse won't go forward and b) the sit-there-and-read-a-book until the horse decides to move forward. The kicking and hitting method hasn't been terribly successful!

Kelly Marks book "Perfect Manners" is also worth a read. (It's all so easy giving advice from the sofa, isn't it? Not so easy when your horse is on it's hind legs in the middle of the road.