How can it go from fantastic to horrible in 3 days ??

LisaS

LisaS

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I have a weekly private lesson on my boy, as well as joining a group lesson. I've had my boy almost 8 months and we've come a long way together.

Last Friday I had the best lesson ever on him (indoor school), really improving our cantering, as well as a course of 3 little jumps, just cross poles but we enjoyed it and you have to start somewhere :-) I was on such a high !

As well as a small hack that evening with my husband, just a lovely evening walk through the woods, he was mostly great on the hack but did get just a little excited when we trotted for about 50 metres, then he started to canter, I let him canter for about 50 metres and didn't have a problem stopping him. In hindsight I didn't ask for the canter.

Then last night out for a hack the first 30-40 minutes were good, a few short trots where the ground wasn't too hard. Then quite a long way from home (half a mile) there was a small section where I could get another trot in. Then he just absolutely took off with me, cantering wildly, I was trying so hard to pull him up and he just seemed to go faster and faster, he was an absolute speed demon, horse possessed !

I was hanging on for dear life and could not stop him. This was through winding paths, resulting in him coming out on a gravel track between 2 fields at our livery yard. And this was where I finally fell off, a number of gravel grazes, black & blue in places, banged up ribs, knee and ankle. At least nothing was broken !

I did get back on and walk him for 10 minutes, but I am very shaken!

Thanks for listening and any help / advice greatly appreciated
 
Big gin and tonic!!!!! Sounds very scarey and pleased you are not seriously hurt.

My instructor takes Star out occasionallly, to get the 'feel' of what I describe happening to us. Very useful.

Also, we do transitions between the paces, aand the moment it all gets too fast - half halt, and go down a pace.
A bit with a curb chain to give me some brakes and respect.
Changing the direction. If the speed starts to creep up, we do 10m circles until she stops pulling away. OR we lateral work to distract the brain.
 
You don't mention if you were hacking alone or in company? What bit did you have in?

Sounds very scary :( Well done for getting back on though.
 
Aw what a shame youve had a rotten tumble. Well done getting back on and walking home.
We've all been there at some point, it sounds like by "hanging on" you may have inadvertantly been keeping youre leg on, and if youve been really scared
Youve probably been hanging on to try keep balanced rather than effectively asking him to stop.
Speak to your instructor and ask for some pointers of what to do if this happens again, you could ask them to help you practice something like an emergency stop in canter in the safety of the arena and try not to let it put you off, if you know youve got something in your rider toolkit to deal with this you'll be better prepared if you need to deal with it again.
 
dont over analyse or get down about it - when Dex was 5 he bolted with me down the road after being spooked and I came off and it scared the living **** out of me - although I got back on straight away, my stomach lurched literally every time I got on for months - ...... but we got over it...

check your bit, work on your transitions and ask your instructor for advice and if you can try to make cantering a run of the mill non event - find some hills to canter up to take the edge off or if need be lunge before riding so that he is not thinking canter, canter, canter the whole ride

The ups and downs of horse ownership !!!!!

Hope you are ok and not too knocked by it x
 
Thanks for your supportive posts, he's currently in a eggbutt snaffle that has the centre revolver lozenge, and up until now has worked quite well.

My husband was with me on the hack(behind us) and realised what was happening and did not come after me as quite rightly thought that the sound of thundering hooves behind him would have made it worse, and he also didn't want to come around a corner of the path and trample me if we had come off! So he just walked quickly and picked up the pieces.

Marydoll, I was wondering the same thing also about inadvertently keeping my leg on. In my lesson on Friday I had to keep quite a lot of leg on to get to him to canter one whole lap of the indoor school, and I know that outdoors he probably had a bit of a ' yee haa' moment, but I was just so surprised when I couldn't stop at all!
 
Maybe he got bitten by a horse fly! Just a thought, I had lead mine out one night this week as it was too hot to ride and he was grazing, he jumped forward and looked puzzled, I think he had been bitten. Glad your ok!
 
I totally feel your pain, and this exact same thing happened to me with my boy a couple of months back (I posted about it too !). I was so shaken up I got off and weeped in the middle of a field somewhere (Didn't know where the hell I was !) before finally getting back on and walking the whole way home. What made it worse was the fact he is an ex racer, he was galloping so fast and completely out of control, downhill and spooking on the way, I still don't know how I managed to stay on.

I was advised to put a horrible bit in and walk for the next few weeks, although I needed to get back on and do it again for my own sake as I knew I would loose confidence otherwise. I put the most horrible bit I had in (which happened to be a pelham - no roundings, changes from a snaffle !) and took him to the exact same spot he took of at and asked him to canter, I kept a very tight rein and him under control the very next day. I think for me, this was the best thing to do as I would have totally lost my confidence if I waited to canter again although I know we all react differently.

Sorry your boy lost it, It is truly terrifying, isn't it !
 
Please don't fret over this incident, it may not happen again.
If riding in company make sure he is not in front especially when going home!
Vary the route and make each ride out a bit different.
Keep alert at all times and ride with your seat, keep a finger looped round the neck-strap when trotting.
If things are happening quickly, grab the mane four inches above the withers, try to keep centrally positioned, think about having a nice deep seat when hacking, slip feet out of stirrups every so often to let legs "grow"
Make sure your lessons are more geared to your seat, sitting trots, no stirrups, a series of small jumps, you need to gear up a bit, make your reaction times shorter, and keep your weight in the stirrups.
 
HI hun what a horrid thing to happen.

I know how scary it is. It happened once in the woods and I tried everything and in the end had to steer into the trees and close my eyes. GOD I way mad and gave him a good smack, then turned him away from home for another 20 mins which I knew I MUST do if I wanted to have any hope that he would not start bolting for home on every ride.

Sometimes they just get carried away. My last horse Beacon was a strapping 16.2hh WC x TB I am no lightweight but when he got carried away he just didn't even know I was there, if I pulled he pulled against me (I am really weak) It was not the same as the one in the woods, I knew on these occasions he was just having fun so I didn't panic

So I taught him to listen to my voice. So much so it almost became a joke on the yard that when he cantered out hacking I could not use aids to stop I would just shout 'Beacon TROOOOT' and he always did yes it took a few strides but that was because he would get on his forehand and could not help it

There is also the fact like above that they get so on the forehand they CAN'T stop. you need to put a lot of leg on and push them into the bridle, then ask them to stop. That takes a huge amount of courage when you are being run off with, BUT it DOES work

Personally I would teach the voice aids, that is the best way as long as you remember to help them balance when you ask

Don't lose too much sleep over this, it happens but doesn't mean it will again.

Do remember tho he sounds like a smart lad so EVERYTHING must be your idea and if he does try to take off or trot off towards home, turn him around and make him go away from home for at least 5 minutes

more hugs
 
If it is a case of the horse taking off with you out of naughtiness if you can - and this takes some balls - point him up a hill and kick him on. Eventually he will want to stop but don't let him! Make him go on some more and then tell him to stop so it's on your terms. My welshy had a habit of this but after 4 runs up the hill she soon stopped - but the hill I use is very steep!
Alternatively I would put a stronger bit in and use a one-rein-stop. When he has got the message that you won't put up with it, you can then put your eggbut back in.
By the way what type of horse is he?
 
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I've had this happen and it's horribly scary. My boy ran for 3 miles downhill with me - and he was the type who would trip at a walk. I was terrified he'd stumble and I'd simply be killed.

We were on a dirt road and it was too narrow to try to circle or turn - going to fast to do a one rein stop. I eventually hauled him left knowing that I might very well kill us both - he ran a short way into the trees and stopped.

That's when I learned the pully rein technique which I used to good effect the next time he tried it. Because he did try it again.

Basically, a pully rein is when you slide your hand down one rein and pull it as tight as you can and anchor the fist of that hand against their neck, HARD. Then you slide your hand down the other rein and pull back and up with all your weight. Unlike the one rein stop, it doesn't pull the head around but it provides the leverage you need.

Not sure how well I've described that but you might ask your instructor about it or look it up - I never had another problem with him after that but he did need the lesson.

Hope you're okay after your fright and fall. It is an AWFUL feeling to be run off with.
 
Angelz said:
Maybe he got bitten by a horse fly! Just a thought, I had lead mine out one night this week as it was too hot to ride and he was grazing, he jumped forward and looked puzzled, I think he had been bitten. Glad your ok!
Click to expand...

^^^This was exactly what I was thinking as I read your post. Pop on a body protector, ask a friend with a calm pony to come along and go for a quiet walk and see how he feels now. Also put on a neckstrap so you have something extra. If you can have a short ride on another quiet pony first to get any tension out of your body first that will also help.

If you haven't already done so it may also be worth checking your numnah and girth in case there is something sharp which has wiggled it's way to the surface.
 
Sounds like something spooked him and he scared himself. Usually when they bolt they become unbalanced which scares them even more and it's a vicious circle.
Personally I would work him hard in the school or on the lunge before you next hack him out. That will take the edge off as he won't have as much adrenaline and he will feel more relaxed which will make you feel more relaxed.
Cantering out hacking can be quite exciting when they don't do it much. I bet after 10 minutes of cantering round the school non stop, going on a hack straight away and cantering won't seem nearly so exciting!

I'm getting my 6yr old TB fit for eventing at the moment and I've upped his fast work quite a bit. I'm not doing loads but I am giving him a good canter round and round his field a couple of times a week as well as cantering on hacks more and cantering him around on the lunge for a while.
I took him out for a ride this morning, and thought I'd have a little trot and canter round some grassy gallops, normally he would be a little excited and be a bit strong or have a little buck but he's had enough of cantering now! I had to boot him along and all he wanted to do was have a sigh and come back to walk for a sleep lol.
So yes I would do more work with him to take the edge of freshness off :).
 
Think its happened to most of us at some time or other, and as already metioned, it could have been a horse fly or something spooky you didn't see.
Certainly makes your legs wobble when you get off. Well done for getting back on, that takes courage.
Tactics to try, some may be useful to you, some not;
Neck strap or balance strap to hang onto instead of pulling on the reins.
Voice aids.
Riding past the yard on return or turning off for a slight detour to prevent him anticipating going home.
Don't increase speed near home until you are sure of your breaks.
Once back on the yard, stay mounted and standing still for a few minutes.
Don't feed or turn out immediately after riding.
If you can, canter often both in the school and on hacks, if you feel comfortable. If possible canter uphill and never where there is no barrier between you and a road.
Canter him until he's desperate to stop and then canter more.
If he's fresh, ride in school then hack or vice versa and go for a long chilled ride or trot actively to use excess energy. Whatever feels right.
Stick OH in front on the way home and use his horse as a block.
Only ride at the pace you feel comfortable at, until you have confidence in your boy.

Good luck, hopefully it was just a blip because of a misunderstanding and as you continue to get to know each other, loopy moments won't be such a problem.
 
You have on'y had him 8 months, which is a drop in the ocean :)
Your OH was right in what he did, another horse cantering after him would have made it much worse.
On your way home next time practice halting then walking. As a rule I never trot towards home because the clever buggers know its the home stretch!!! Stay behind your OH's horse (providing it doesn't kick.).
If your OH is a good rider perhaps ask him to ride your horse on the home stretch and see what happens? :)
It was probibily a one off.
My mare when I first bought her bolted with me on her way home. Thankfully I didn't come off but she has never done it again, it was just "one of those things" :)
 
Ok, I know it doesn't feel like it but actually this isn't horrible. :-)

There are lots of reasons a horse can take off out hacking but they mostly boil down to
- fear
- pain or
- excitement

And none of those are horrible (except for the horse!).

There is loads of good advice (and some ideas I wouldn't go with just yet such as the fierce bits) on prevention and how to stop above so I won't repeat it all. But I wanted to say you should practice some fast work.

Either with your horse (ideal but possibly scary just now) or another you trust (OH's, riding school horse, whatever) get an instructor/experienced friend who knows you (and thinks you're ready for this, I'm not sure how long you've been riding) to take you out somewhere safe and do some nice long fast canters.

From what you describe there wasn't a reason you fell off (e.g. no bucking/getting swiped off by a tree branch/sudden stop/whatever) except that you were feeling out of control and going faster than you are used to.

If you learn to ride fast canters FOR FUN then when you get one unexpectedly (and with ANY horse there is always the possibility if they get a fly bite/get scared by a random person shooting pigeons next to their ear/whatever) then it won't seem so scary at all. :-)

I know it is probably the last thing you want to think about just now but knowing how to, and that you CAN, ride at least your own horse fast (VERY fast, but with some influence on speed and direction!) is both fun and much more relaxing when out and about.
 
Blimey if I had a pound for everytime my fella has ran off with me I'd be a rich woman!!! My cob is a speed freak and unfortunatley so am I so combined I did create myself a bit of a monster because everytime I found a bit of grass or we'd go to the beach I'd let him go!! So of course it wasn't long before he'd hitch himself onto grass verges and bog off, or I'd barely get him through the gate into the fields and we'd be off and running! Makes life very difficult and not pleasant for anyone riding with me!!!! He dumped pretty much every other person who rode him because they'd try to stop him and he's protest..big cobs can spin on the spot you know!;)

Basically I had to go right back to the beginning and now allow any canters (boo boring) and certain non at all in any of the fields I ride in!! I had to do beach rides in walk (try doing this when it's miles of sandy beaches, blue seas and not a soul around...takes great will power to not kick on and gallop!!), go to the forest and walk the tracks and generally be a very very boring hacker!!! I then introduced some quiet trotting (usually take a companion along to control the speed) and then some collected canters, with lots of transitions to trot and walk to ensure control at all times. It took around 3 months of 'boring' stuff to reestablish the rules and now we enjoy lots of gallops and canters...but when I ask for them not when he wants them!! Doesn't mean he doesn't bounce when we get to something exciting but I trust him enough now to know that bounce is all it is and he won't bog off until I let him go.

Good luck, speed isn't something to be scared of as long as you have control and you asked for the speed! I'm sure your horse was just have fun that got out of control, nip it in the bud now and you'll be sorted. Personally I wouldn't fuss with bits etc, just get a friend with a well behaved horse to help you and take it slowly.
 
it's never fun being ran off with! i enjoy a good blast across the field with my girl but the one time she refused to stop until i ran her into a hedge was no fun at all. So well done you for getting back on after you came off, when my old TB bolted and i came off there was no way i could have got back on, she'd legged it home and i was too bloomin knackered once i'd walked all the way after her;)
 
Thanks for all your support and tips, I will definitely try either riding him in the indoor school for a bit and get him all cantered out or lunge him, and then use loads of transitions whilst out. He can get himself a bit excited at times (group lessons...) I was quite conscious of trying to do transitions while out hacking, asking for a trot but bringing him back to walk where I wanted to etc throwing on the odd halt, as he can get a bit nosy and let his mind wander, so I try to keep him listening to me(didn't work the last time though, little bugger!)

My knee is too bruised to ride tonight but I have my weekly lesson booked for Friday so will do that and see how I go. It's in the indoor school and I have no doubt he will be 'Angel'. Actually my lesson last week where we did a load of cantering I had to use quite a lot of leg to get him to canter for a whole lap of the school. I was thinking that if I work him hard for 30 minutes in the indoor school and then my instructor can walk the other 30 minutes with me in the woods, what do you think?

To answer a couple of your questions, he's a ISH, looking at his passport dad is ISH and mum is TB.

I did have a neckstrap on and for the life of me can't recall if I tried to use it or just got frightened and possibly ended up pulling at the reins, you know how your memory plays up !

We have 200 acres of private woods where I am in livery, so it was through the woods and the paths are quite windy, so he was charging off and going around bends at high speed and it was sloping uphill. I started to get really unbalanced when we came out of the woods and fairly sharp right hand turn on the flat towards the yard with wide gravel paths between fields. A mixture of corners and getting unbalanced and me panicking of him losing his footing on gravel.

Once again, thanks for the tips and support. There is a 12 mile charity ride on the South Downs in September that I really want to do, so I'm determined that we get past this.
 
So sorry this happened to u! It hasn't happened to me personally but after hearing so many stories I decided to be prepared. So when I take my boy for a canter or gallop I use my voice to slow him down the same as on the lunge and he now responds. As hard as it is not to get in a flap when they tank off I know if I can stay calm and use my voice he will hopefully come down a gear if I was ever in this situation
 
Scary, but it happens, especially with a new horse (8 months is nothing!) who doesn't 100% trust you, and you don't 100% trust him.

What I would say though, that as you've mentioned he's 1/2 TB, I've never known anything with significant TB blood that wasn't excitable in the open if not fast canter/galloped regularly. My TB used to be a dab hand at what you describe when she was younger - we'd whip round and leg it at the slightest thing, everything being an excuse to GO! I started cantering her more and that stopped it, and now just gallop up the hill several times a week and she's like a lamb. Was the breakthrough I needed with my 1/4 TB youngster too.

If it happens again, think:
- can you stay on a fast canter? Yes.
- if it's true fear, and the horse isn't in immediate danger by carrying on, just go with it for a while - the fear will run itself out once away from the stimulus. Then, when your horse starts to feel calmer underneath you, steady and slow. Then carry on with your hack, calmly, as if nothing happened. So don't go straight home, even if you're nearly there - turn and go away from home for a bit. If on a road, try to steer onto a verge, then into someone's driveway where you can turn sharply into it, then circle.
- if it's naughtiness, and there's nowhere to circle, then repeated sharp tugs with a straight back and heels down usually work. Might take a fair few, but they get the message. Don't take hold, as that won't have the desired effect. You need the rein loose between each tug almost. Then take note that horse is too fresh and needs more work, and do lots of transitions on the way home!
- never canter in the same place all the time, or always trot/canter when you hit grass. Always transition down a pace if you feel the horse getting strong at all.
- don't feel afraid to growl/speak sharply to your horse if fresh/running. I called mine a little git tonight, growled and told her I'd had enough with the kids today and wasn't taking it from her, and she stopped mid spook and decided to behave!
 
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