Horse taking off close to home

[Gem30]

Hi, looking for some advice please. My horses behaviour out hacking has changed in the last few months. Always been forward going however did listen and use breaks when out.
More recently once close to home he may start to jog, and last couple of times taken off, however managed to stop very quickly. This unpredictable behaviour is making me feel uneasy. Is he testing me? What could be going on?

 

[AmyMay]

Is this a loan horse, or your horse?

 

[Gem30]

Is this a loan horse, or your horse?

Loan horse

 

[AmyMay]

Loan horse

In that case the first thing to do is speak with the owner about what she’s doing, and what suggestions they might have.

 

[Red-1]

Loan horse

I would think your first port of call would be the owner. Do they have this issue?

LOL, cross posted with Amymay.

 

[Landcruiser]

What happens if you try to ride straight past, or turn round and go away from home? It sounds like napping towards home to me. It also sounds like you are slightly nervous about it OP (forgive me if I'm wrong) and possibly tensing and making matters worse. If it were me, I'd teach the one rein stop and use it at the first hint of speeding up. I'd also avoid getting home and untacking etc straight away, add in some "work" at home eg a session in the school ideally, so that home isn't seen as a "reward" for speeding back there.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Dont always take the same track home. Vary it so that it is not predictable

 

[Gem30]

I would think your first port of call would be the owner. Do they have this issue?

LOL, cross posted with Amymay.

The owner doesn’t ride the horse now, but others have fairly recently and they haven’t had this happen…. It’s just me now…. Could it be something I’m doing to cause it?

 

[Gem30]

What happens if you try to ride straight past, or turn round and go away from home? It sounds like napping towards home to me. It also sounds like you are slightly nervous about it OP (forgive me if I'm wrong) and possibly tensing and making matters worse. If it were me, I'd teach the one rein stop and use it at the first hint of speeding up. I'd also avoid getting home and untacking etc straight away, add in some "work" at home eg a session in the school ideally, so that home isn't seen as a "reward" for speeding back there.

To be honest I haven’t tried that yet, I’m not sure what he’d do if I turned him. Yes you’re completely right I am very nervous about it, particularly now. Great idea re work once back. Would excess energy and not exercised enough have anything to contribute towards the behaviour?

 

[Wizpop]

To be honest I haven’t tried that yet, I’m not sure what he’d do if I turned him. Yes you’re completely right I am very nervous about it, particularly now. Great idea re work once back. Would excess energy and not exercised enough have anything to contribute towards the behaviour?

Couple of things- have you changed hacking out routine? Eg going out alone when previously gone with others? Also, you mention not exercised enough as a possiblity- if you are riding less it could be due to the fact that he’s got a bit “herd bound” and wants to rush back to his pals. If you’re feel8ng a bit nervous, obviously that could affect him. Is there anyone that can perhaps try the turning back/ riding past the gateway to help you? Do you have an instructor? Also second what s already been said about the one rein halt. Good luck- hopefully you’ll get through this soon.

 

[dottylottie]

some good advice already, but if you’re feeling nervous (understandably!) i’d hop off whilst he’s still walking sensibly, and lead him back and go a bit past the gate home - horses don’t think “whoop whoop she’s off i won”, so it’s not a soft option, just a safe one!

it seems like it’s a bit of a cycle - he speeds up, you get nervous, so he speeds up more, etc! if you feel safe leading him, hopefully you can kill two birds with one stone and build your own confidence in getting him to walk to and past the way home sensibly, whilst also teaching him he’s not always going straight back to chill with his mates!

 

[Lois Lame]

Hi, looking for some advice please. My horses behaviour out hacking has changed in the last few months. Always been forward going however did listen and use breaks when out.
More recently once close to home he may start to jog, and last couple of times taken off, however managed to stop very quickly. This unpredictable behaviour is making me feel uneasy. Is he testing me? What could be going on?

Loan horse

The owner doesn’t ride the horse now, but others have fairly recently and they haven’t had this happen…. It’s just me now…. Could it be something I’m doing to cause it?

Could the other riders be riding at a bit of a fast clip towards home, and now he expects or wants to do that with you?

If, when you are heading towards home he starts to jog, I would circle him until he is walking again. Jogging = circling. He won't like that and will soon cotton on.

I find talking in a calm way is helpful. "No, that's not what I want." "That's what we want."