His jogging is driving me insane!

yaffsimone1

yaffsimone1

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As the title.

I have a Welsh Sec D gelding. He is a pleasure to school and hack, forward going, responds to everything i ask, a very good boy....untill we are heading for home!

On the way home from a hack he will start off with a fast walk, which turns into a fast jog, he doesnt have many bad habits but this is driving me nuts!

Once he gets a jog on there is no stopping him, if i ask for a half halt he just throws his head in the air. If i ask for a full halt he gets a proper strop on. If i turn him in circles he will then go 2 strides in a walk before he is off again.

I cant walk behind another horse as he just pushes them up the backside, his manners in this situation are digusting.

I have tried putting this extra energy to good use an school him on the way home, but he just doesnt want to listen, all he is looking for is any excuse (light leg touches) to run off with me. Asking him to trot on is out of the question, we will go from a jog to a flat out gallop in literally seconds then to stop him i have to resort to a one rein stop.

he is a very strong horse but with a very soft mouth and i try so hard not to fight him and ive been too scared (silly i know) to give him the reins. Ive read posts on here that giving them the reins helps

I get back home and i am knackered, any ideas??
 
I know just the welshy strop that you get! Tom my sisters horse does this (especially with OH) - he throws his head about, stamps one foot, and the tongue comes out and slaps him in the face which starts the tantrum off again! I also know how irritating an incessant jog can be!

My sister says that the best way to stop Tom doing it is to essentially give him the aids for piaffe... she asks for more and more collection until either she's happy he's done enough (and you take your leg off and release the rein and he drops back into walk), or he decides it's just too hard work then walks. Once he walks, you take the pressure off, and give him rein to stretch his neck and back. You have to make sure that you are sitting deep in the saddle, and that you are sitting straight up, not leaning forwards.

Can you do more work to help tire him out?
You says he's strong - what bit is he in? Could you look at something a bit stronger to help you hold him? Tom is also very sensitive in the mouth, and we've found that actually a scawbrig bitless bridle is brilliant to hold him when he's in a mood to jog.
 
It's a Welsh D thing! Mine is exactly the same (except for the galloping). The only thing that works with Molly is dropping your reins & riding on the buckle. I know u say you're scared to, but maybe just go a tiny bit away from home initially? Do u have to turn back on yourself on hacks or are they all loops, so u don't have to go back the exact way u came? Can u ride him on the buckle AWAY from home?
I know what a pain in the ass it is, so i feel for you! Im sick of getting a stitch in my side!
 
As JenHunt says,ask for piaffe and then start practising the buckle end stuff as advised my Itsonly me.
Another thing that you can try is the minute he starts jogging turn around and make him trot away from home.Once he's calm again,turn back for home. You may have to do this a few times,over many days,but it does work.
The key is; if he's being a tw$t make him work hard,if he's being soft and sweet let him stretch and take it easy.
 
Interestingly, I was told that my horse got very strong on the way home and would trot or even canter past companions to get home. She has never tried to do this with me. She was ridden in a Dutch gag with a French link mouthpiece, which I changed to a NS Universal. Her bridle was too tight and I changed that too (in fact I changed that first). I do think that horses tend to do what they think they can get away with. In your position, I wouldn't let the fast walk develop. At the first sign, I'd sit as heavy as possible, relax and try not to use the reins to slow him down.
 
Oh I feel your pain, and not just a Wesh D thing, our 12.3hh NF does it and we've had him 10 years, he knows every trick in the book lol.

Best thing as most have suggested is ( and it does work eventually, but you have to be consistent ) sit deep, loose rein, let him put head on the floor if need be, or even eat a hedge, bit of grass etc; breathe deep, I've tried stopping him and waiting a few minutes ( makes him worse as even more of a hurry to get back! ) turning around and going back for at least 100 metres ( now this does work but you have to be patient and not get mad lol )


Most of the time I have to take him out on a long fast hack ( at least two hours ) so he is tired by the time we go home and he is better :D Good luck!
 
A very old technique to try that has always worked for me is to pull the martingale strap so it tightens into his chest and release when he stops jogging, whilst just maintaining a light rein contact. If you dont use a martingale then a neck strap would probably have the same effect.
 
So does my Dales x.
She knows exactly 'half way' is out on a hack and the moment we head towards home, she changes her outlook from 'slightly bored' - to 'enthusiastic'.

If she wants to jog, then we do lateral work. She gets fed up and then will walk.............until she gets bored and starts again :D

I also stop and rein back where it's safe to do. If I'm in the fields, we do tiny circles until she stops. And I wish she's realise that walk goes 1,2,3,4....not 12..34. Not quite a walk, but not quite a trot.

It's irritating isn't it.
 
Zerotolerance said:
A very old technique to try that has always worked for me is to pull the martingale strap so it tightens into his chest and release when he stops jogging, whilst just maintaining a light rein contact. If you dont use a martingale then a neck strap would probably have the same effect.
Click to expand...

this works for me too, my old pony was a complete nightmare jogging with lots of head throwing when asking for half halts etc - neck strap worked. Currently using it for my new horse to improve his brakes
 
JenHunt said:
I know just the welshy strop that you get! Tom my sisters horse does this (especially with OH) - he throws his head about, stamps one foot, and the tongue comes out and slaps him in the face which starts the tantrum off again! I also know how irritating an incessant jog can be!

My sister says that the best way to stop Tom doing it is to essentially give him the aids for piaffe... she asks for more and more collection until either she's happy he's done enough (and you take your leg off and release the rein and he drops back into walk), or he decides it's just too hard work then walks. Once he walks, you take the pressure off, and give him rein to stretch his neck and back. You have to make sure that you are sitting deep in the saddle, and that you are sitting straight up, not leaning forwards.

Can you do more work to help tire him out?
You says he's strong - what bit is he in? Could you look at something a bit stronger to help you hold him? Tom is also very sensitive in the mouth, and we've found that actually a scawbrig bitless bridle is brilliant to hold him when he's in a mood to jog.
Click to expand...

It did cross my mind that he is not getting tired enough, his problem is that he doesnt know when enough is enough, he will push himself to the limit. He is in a D ring snaffle (single joint) with copper rollers, normally he goes very nicely in it, hence why im trying to avoid putting him in a stronger bit
 
itsonlyme said:
It's a Welsh D thing! Mine is exactly the same (except for the galloping). The only thing that works with Molly is dropping your reins & riding on the buckle. I know u say you're scared to, but maybe just go a tiny bit away from home initially? Do u have to turn back on yourself on hacks or are they all loops, so u don't have to go back the exact way u came? Can u ride him on the buckle AWAY from home?
I know what a pain in the ass it is, so i feel for you! Im sick of getting a stitch in my side!
Click to expand...

Many people have suggested dropping the rein towards home, I can happily ride him like this away from home so im going to give it a go.

Fortunately many of the rides are on a loop and i try to avoid turning him back at all costs. i did start to trick him, getting within half a mile from home and contuning the ride. He didnt like it at first, thought damn im not going home and slowed right down but he soon wised up. Out of all the Welshies i have had you cannot underestimate this one!
 
If they are determined to jog, you might as well trot. Being very relaxed with droopy reins sometimes works, but if it doesn't, I think just trot, at least then you can rise and avoid getting a stitch. Plus, with all the time you've saved trotting home instead of walking, you can trot straight past home and give the beggar some more work to do. I doubt it will fix anything but it might make you feel better. :)
 
All your replies have been really helpfull and all suggesting similar options.

I always turn him in circles when he wont stand still, it could be twice or ten times but that works everytime so i know he does get bored and will listen when made to.

I am open to all suggestions the one requiring leg work in the forward direction, leg yeilds etc i will leave as a last resort, any touch of the leg and he thinks thats the que to run off.

To start i will try the long rein, deep seat and turning him back away from home, and i MUST not give in (im terrible for that and end up being more knackered than him). I will do it when out alone and when we have all day to bugger about if he wants.

I dont mind pi***ing him off as he isnt a nasty horse never bucks, rears, spins etc, just has Kevin like moments and gives me evil looks when he doesnt get his own way. The evils are actually the funniest part!

This particular Welshie has certainly been sent to test me but i wouldnt change him for the world
 
It sounds like you're already trying it but I was just going to suggest that you let him jog (or not if you can help it) right home and then carry on past the gate on another short hack. Or, if you have a school, go home and then school. So that going back to the yard isn't always a preparation for relaxing.

Good luck with your cunning horse... they can be more of a pain but I do love the smart ones!
 
My welsh D will do this! Not all the time though, normally when she gets a wind up her bottom but the cheeky monster will tuck her head right into her chest. I just sit like a sack of sh it and half halt. Loose contact also helps cause then we are both relaxed! :)
 
I'd be inclined to keep on going past the yard entrance until he is walking sensibly. Only take him in when he is calm. Even if you end up spending an hour riding back and forth over the same short stretch.
 
my cob used to do this. my solution was as soon as he started to jog i made him trot. straight past the entrance to the yard & up the hill. i would then take him round the estate so we would end up back on the road that goes past the yard entrance. would walk towards the yard then if he starts to jog, he has to trot again. it took a while the first time but after a few rides doing this he got the message & now walks home. however you have to do this everytime you ride out. if you're in a rush & let him jog home without doing this it just undoes all the work you have done previously
 
My Welsh D cross (chestnut mare!) jogged incessently when I first got her. I got bruises and blisters on my calves from the stirrup leathers despite full suede chaps. I think it was a nervous habit like us biting our nails, and she didn't really know she was doing itl. I used to keep saying walk, and you could practically hear her saying "I am blooming well walking" while she carried on bouncing me all over the place. Half halts and the like just made it worse. One day though as we were jogging along the river bank I spotted a kingfisher and was watching it closely and when I turned my attention back to her ladyship she was walking quite happily. She didn't jog all that much after that and I found that riding one handed helped to keep her relaxed too although I have absolutely no idea why.
 
I ride a ISH/TB cross and he also likes to jog home if he can, trouble is if we trot then it's super fast trotting, and a break into a canter if not held back in trot.

Sometimes I have to ride with the brakes on continually just to stop him from changing up a gear, and any full stops and he flicks his head and steps about as if he is on hot coals!

I have tried the circling thing, and as we're in woods also diverting off on small tracks with halts and transitions, but he still jogs on. I did try the relaxed rein after recalling reading here that some horses pick up on a tight rein as "lets go", and it seemed to help but he was still very keen, and would pop into a jog if not checked.

He has had a loose ring snaffle with a rolling peanut, and have just tried the same with a french link and it didn't make too much difference, especially if he was head strong in a canter and still took a lot of effort to stop. Maybe I need to try a slighter harsher bit, but i don't want to go overboard as he normally good, he just gets a bit excited.
 
I thought i would post an update on my progress.....

Riding on the buckle, turning back in the other direction, leg yeilds, trotting for home, circling, giving up and singing instead....none of it worked.

I started to avoid riding my horse because this jogging was getting so bad, and frustrating as he has never been like this before and i was clearly doing something wrong to make him suddenly think he has this power over me and could do as he chooses! I was becoming lazy in my riding

I was out on a hack with a lovely, 'older' lady (60ish, im 32) very experienced. Suddenly she said 'i've had enough of this, your completely taking the mick out of your mum (it took me a second to realise she was talking to the horse!'

' Yaffsimone i want you to deepen your seat as deep as you could possibly go, strengthen your core, lean back, knees into the saddle if you have to and tweek the reins and stay there'

Well would you believe it within 10ish strides he was on the bit, rounded and going at a snails pace, problem was i had to maintain that position for the rest of the hack, it may be unconventional and he was looking for every opportunity to get me forward and jog again, but he knew exactly what he was doing and he knew what i wanted of him.

Ok i might have been heavier on his back than usual but not once did he get the hump, ears forward all the time and he became so soft that he started spinning the copper rings in his bit which i havent heard for a long time.

I even got a nice collected, controlled trot rather than a mad rush sideways down the road!

On day two, i still had to tweek the reins constantly on the way home and still maintain a deeper seat than normal but i found i didnt have to lean back so far as on the previous day...so maybe he is learning...and me!
 
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The horse I ride has started doing this lately after something has spooked her or wounded her up in someway.

I will try sitting deeper in future like you've said yaffsimone1 but the problem I have is stopping, if I halt her she starts going sideways swinging her bum outwards and into the traffic and throwing her head into the air.
Happened yesterday at a opening into a garden center, tried to stop her mutiple times and stand properly to let the car go in but she just kept going sideways so I just carried on and made my apologies before I caused an accident!

How do I stop her hindquarters going out like this? has happened once before also after she was spooked by a lorry and I entered up cantering down a road ( but luckily I was on a grass verge ugh) when I got her back into control she was trotting and jogging sideways until I calmed her down.
Not entirely sure how to correct her when this happens, any suggestions anyone ? ♥
 
midi said:
The horse I ride has started doing this lately after something has spooked her or wounded her up in someway.

I will try sitting deeper in future like you've said yaffsimone1 but the problem I have is stopping, if I halt her she starts going sideways swinging her bum outwards and into the traffic and throwing her head into the air.
Happened yesterday at a opening into a garden center, tried to stop her mutiple times and stand properly to let the car go in but she just kept going sideways so I just carried on and made my apologies before I caused an accident!

How do I stop her hindquarters going out like this? has happened once before also after she was spooked by a lorry and I entered up cantering down a road ( but luckily I was on a grass verge ugh) when I got her back into control she was trotting and jogging sideways until I calmed her down.
Not entirely sure how to correct her when this happens, any suggestions anyone ? ♥
Click to expand...

I found that if i went even further and 'melted' into the saddle he would just stop without being given any other ques, when it first happened he took me by surprise as i have got used to fighting him to stop.

Only on the route home will he try and stick his bum out at passing traffic, i can forsse this and just gently hold my leg slightly back (same position for a leg yield) to keep his bum in, it seems to work
 
My exracer used to jog trot everywhere i hate it iv got a bad back. I used to make him walk backwards everytime he did it we did half a mile one day until he gave up. Even now if he starts i shout enough and he will turn round and start walking backwards to punish himself then when he feels calm he turns back round and walks nicely. To be fair to him now its very rare.
 
midi said:
The horse I ride has started doing this lately after something has spooked her or wounded her up in someway.

I will try sitting deeper in future like you've said yaffsimone1 but the problem I have is stopping, if I halt her she starts going sideways swinging her bum outwards and into the traffic and throwing her head into the air.
Happened yesterday at a opening into a garden center, tried to stop her mutiple times and stand properly to let the car go in but she just kept going sideways so I just carried on and made my apologies before I caused an accident!

How do I stop her hindquarters going out like this? has happened once before also after she was spooked by a lorry and I entered up cantering down a road ( but luckily I was on a grass verge ugh) when I got her back into control she was trotting and jogging sideways until I calmed her down.
Not entirely sure how to correct her when this happens, any suggestions anyone ? ♥
Click to expand...

He will throw his head up at every opportunity to pull me off balance / forward, its tedious but i just keep 'tweek tweeking' the reins, the head does come down eventually.
 
Thankyou yaffsimone1 we're both novices really and I shall heed your advice if I run into that problem again, which I'm sure I will ha! See how it goes :)
 
I too had a jogging problem a few years ago, but have an arab not a welsh. Bach Flower remedies were suggested. I tried Impatiens which is ideal for impatient horses. It worked wonders! Just a few drops in his water at night or in the water in the field is sufficient, it can take 2/3 for you to notice a difference, but worth a try?
 
midi said:
Thankyou yaffsimone1 we're both novices really and I shall heed your advice if I run into that problem again, which I'm sure I will ha! See how it goes :)
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I'm back in the saddle after 15 years away and its like learning to ride all over again. In my mind i know what to do but my body thinks otherwise!
 
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