Horse goes mental when left behind - Advice please !

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itsmyparty

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Here's an example (sorry - a bit long) : Went out in a group of four at the weekend, me riding the C boy and OH riding the new GIANT (who is the calmest hack ever, thank God). Had a polo pony out with us who hadn't been ridden out for about a month so was very fresh, trotting sideways down the road etc. Going through the woods with said pony at the front we were walking down a big dip to go up the other side. Pony started cantering on the spot and eventually her rider couldn't hold her back so she took off. Next horse took off too. My OH managed to hold Big Lad pretty well but he also started to canter. We, meanwhile were still on the downhill part (rutted with roots and very slippy with mud) so I REALLY didn't want to be cantering down this, so I was half-halting like crazy. Then he had a MAHOOSIVE strop and reared up. Sat this one. Reared again so said, OK go on (we were nearly at the bottom of the dip by this point) . He takes this as his cue to bronc wildly, we part company (me into big soft pile of mud, so only minor bruising). He galloped off after the rest, passing all of them and then apparently cantered around them twice, bucking wildly, before stopping finally to eat grass right next to my OH. What a prat (the horse not the OH !)

This is not the first time he has had a bid paddy when prevented from being right up the backside of the horse in front. It's normally a buck or two. It's not usual for him to rear and especially bronc like this (although he does occasionally rear when confused).

Does anyone have any suggestions as to how I can ride him better to avoid this ? I think we'll make sure we ride nearer the front from now on !

Well done for getting this far
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First of all I think it might be an idea to hack out alone, or with one sensible horse for a while. These horses are not helping your cause. I should think most horses would get very heated in the scenario you have painted above.

Hopefully some hacking with a sensible horse or alone will ease the association between hacking=being loopy.

Another exercise I was taught was when hacking with one other, overtake one walking horse in trot then allow the other to overtake you in trot (whilst you walk) etc etc. The idea being that each horse has to tolerate being at the front and back and also being overtaken by another.

My horse never likes to be at the back of a ride and it may be that your horse is the same and may always have this tendency?
 
I am very heartened by your replies ! Was feeling like a useless prat and losing confidence in the boy too. Good idea re the trotting past - will give that a go next time out.
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As others have suggested, go out with a very sane one for a while. I'd canter in front and behind and keep switching round (not whilst cantering but when you do canter stretches I mean). If when you're cantering behind, yours starts to feel as though he may go, come back to trot for say 10 strides, then canter again, even if you're only cantering for 5 strides to start with. Just keep building it up.

Oh and don't canter in the same places!!!!!!!!!!! Good luck!
 
Mickey has some good advice - you need to teach him to go first or last, or in the middle of a hack group.
When you are last, you can practice halting him, whilst the others walk on, then let him walk on, with a little trotting to catch up, then overtake them, and be lead file for a while.
Just playing about with the ride order and speed can get him more used to things happening.
S
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