How to gain horse's respect whilst riding - i.e. stop bad habits?

PinkFairy

PinkFairy

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This might sound a numpty question really but I've started riding a horse who is lovely, and goes really well for me when in walk and trot and at the beginning of canter but after a while the horse seems to think it's ok to b*gger off round the school with me either whilst we're cantering or in trot, despite my heels down, weight shifting, pulling the reins back, and sitting down deep in the saddle. I would just like to be able to have a controlled canter when it's asked for, rather than just fizzing around the school. I am working on my balance and position, so that side of things is being worked on, but I sometimes feel like I'm literally being taken for a ride and I'd like to stop this kind of behaviour before I lose confidence in riding the horse. The other thing he does is grab stems from a bush which goes round the school, and I have been able to control this a couple of times, but other times, my efforts were ignored. I have tried half halts and circle work in regards to the bombing off. I am never scared on the horse, but I get fed up of the horse continuously going faster and faster and being harder to slow down. I even use my voice. Any tips?
 
"Don't let him do that" was my first instructor's only real instruction that I can remember, we didn't!
Every time he begins to quicken bring him back to trot, or if you prefer, to walk and then ask him to start again. He'll soon get fed up and get the message. Praise him when he does what you want. If he is snatching at bushes, pull his head away, just before he gets to the bush, you will have to be alert though.
 
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Pearlsasinger - There's my problem though, when he does quicken and I try and bring him to a slower pace, he ignores me and we end up bombing around the school. I worry a lot about pulling too much on his mouth, so I do hesitate sometimes, and try pulling back then easing, then pulling back and easing the hold, like I was taught in college.
 
I would give him a sharp boot for the snatching at bushes accompanied by 'oi' or 'no' - it's just bad manners, he wouldn't do it with your instructor. He'll soon get the idea.
We went on a trail ride while on holiday in Texas - western saddle, on a loose rein, the lot. When we got back one of the wranglers asked if my OH's horse had been snatching for grass all the time, as that it what it usually did with clients. The horse had actually only tried once, and soon realised that this client was not having it!

The charging off in canter may be as much to do with his balance as as anything, so lots of transitions and circles to improve his paces and keep his attention will be helpful. Pulling him up rather than letting him tank off if he does go too quickly will reinforce the idea that this is not what you want.
 
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Ironhorse - I try to pull him away or circle away from the bushes before he gets the chance to eat them, in my pics in the pic gallery, you can see him munching away on them! With regards to the pulling him up when he gets too fast, I do try, but I get ignored and we end up having a tug of war and it can sometimes take a few minutes for him to slow down. When he does tank off, and eventually slows down and I do some walking, circles, half halt work, I then ask for trot again and he tanks off again after a few strides of trot.
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Let him run. Just sit there and let him go, when he wants to stop don't let him, make him keep cantering even when he's tired, as he slows start making him turn circles and change hand etc. If he tries to stop on his own ask him to keep moving and then tell him to stop and give him lots of praise when he does. May not be text book but I've seen it work.

Alternatively, longe him before your lesson to get the tickle out of his toes.
 
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Pearlsasinger - There's my problem though, when he does quicken and I try and bring him to a slower pace, he ignores me and we end up bombing around the school. I worry a lot about pulling too much on his mouth, so I do hesitate sometimes, and try pulling back then easing, then pulling back and easing the hold, like I was taught in college.

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In that case try turning him in a fairly small circle (not so small he falls over but enough to make him think about keeping his balance). You could try planning to canter for a few strides, until the time he would normally be thinking about quickening and then either bringing him back to trot/walk or riding a circle in canter. I am afraid you are being too polite. He is being very bad-mannered and you have to let him know that this is not acceptable and you are in charge. Whose horse is this? Would the owner let you use a stronger/different bit for a while until he realises you mean business?

ETA, the trouble is when you ease the contact, he thinks you are giving in/letting him do as he pleases.
 
Speaking as someone who has ridden horses like this one, it sounds to me like you're not being assertive enough - I don't mean that you should be horrible, just more pro-active... easier said than done I know!

I would recommend not allowing the horse to get into the position where he can run off. Keep asking for the unexpected - ride a square so you have to use your legs properly. Do lots of transitions, don't just let the canter run on. Also try to do exercises where you have to use your legs more. I expect you're getting pulled forwards so that you can't keep your leg on and I've found cracking this is a major step to keeping control. Once you've established a nice canter ask for the downwards transition (perhaps after only a few strides) so that you're asserting your control. You should gradually be able to increase the time in canter as he learns to behave.

If he does get away, rather than getting into a tug of war, use a very sharp and definate pull on one rein, switching to the other one if he doesn't listen. If none of this works, try to make the experience unpleasant for him by immediately asking for complex trot work whenever he is naughty. (I'm thinking spirals, loops and lots of transitions to get him really listening)

You need to take the initiative so that he hasn't got time to think up naughty things, rather than trying to control them once they've happened.
Good luck! I hope you get some progress soon!
 
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Thanks for all the advice, I'm riding him tomorrow so will try all of the tips I've been given. He was quite slow in the beginning, once I'd got on, so I was given a schooling whip, after a tap with that, he'd picked his feet up and so I gave the whip back as I didn't want him to think I wanted him to speed around the school. He also chomps on the bit prior to being ridden. The horse belongs to the YO, I ride for her.
 
Is this a riding school horse or one that you own/loan/share,etc? Is it normal for the horse to do this with other riders? You could practise getting his body to bend and flex and then when you are approaching the bush he grabs at maybe try flexing his head away from it?
 
Get angry with him and let him know it.
You are taking the soft option with him and he knows it.
Pull him up, bash him, stick a bit in his mouth that gives you the edge ( for a few sessions anyway until he stops taking the p***!)
He is being a pig and you need to show him you are the boss.
If you are not scared of him you can do this in a few short sessions.
Dont worry about being a bad rider and doing it all properly and tactically and all of that, just make sure you are in charge and he knows it.
 
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Get angry with him and let him know it.
You are taking the soft option with him and he knows it.
Pull him up, bash him, stick a bit in his mouth that gives you the edge ( for a few sessions anyway until he stops taking the p***!)
He is being a pig and you need to show him you are the boss.
If you are not scared of him you can do this in a few short sessions.
Dont worry about being a bad rider and doing it all properly and tactically and all of that, just make sure you are in charge and he knows it.

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Or simply ask the owner of the horse to give you some pointers and perhaps a lesson or two on how to ride him affectively????

I actually couldn't stop my horse in the school for quite some time when I first bought him. And would tense up terribly. Relaxing, breathing, and using my seat, rather than hands, ensures that he listens happily to me and we no longer have the same problem.

It's not always about brute strength, or a horse taking the p*ss (although grabbing branches most definately is taking the p*ss) - it's more often about our skills as a rider - or lack thereof.

This horse sounds like a great one for you to have lessons on because he is throwing up different challenges which will really help you to improve as a rider.
 
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AmyMay - I asked for tips, and was told to pull him up if he starts to tank off, which I do, but as I say, sometimes it feels like my strength against his and he's obviously a lot stronger. I don't take lessons on him as it's not a RS, I ride him on the YO's behalf. Thanks for the advice
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Let him run. Just sit there and let him go, when he wants to stop don't let him, make him keep cantering even when he's tired, as he slows start making him turn circles and change hand etc. If he tries to stop on his own ask him to keep moving and then tell him to stop and give him lots of praise when he does. May not be text book but I've seen it work.

Alternatively, longe him before your lesson to get the tickle out of his toes.

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This is EXACTLY the way I got Josie out of the same habbit.

She will still (well when she could be ridden properly) try it with each and every new rider that gets on her.

I also find there are certain spots she'll run at. I just think walk. It does work. Think walk, then ah no keep trotting. Rather than 'dont you dare, stay in trot' Does that make sense?

One instructor told me to drop the reins when I felt her running. Drop them and pat her neck. Actually it work but it scared the wotsit out of me.

Hope some of that helps x
 
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Get angry with him and let him know it.
You are taking the soft option with him and he knows it.
Pull him up, bash him, stick a bit in his mouth that gives you the edge ( for a few sessions anyway until he stops taking the p***!)
He is being a pig and you need to show him you are the boss.
If you are not scared of him you can do this in a few short sessions.
Dont worry about being a bad rider and doing it all properly and tactically and all of that, just make sure you are in charge and he knows it.

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So your method of ridinh is to 'beat a horse into submission' is it???
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That is totally the opposite of everything I have even been taught and I have got through 16 years of horseriding without ever having to do any of what you said to any horse. Quite frankly I am disgusted about your advice and you really shouldnt give advice such as to bash him, without knowing full history etc etc...maybe the horse is in pain -saddle fit-back problem etc etc Even if the horse is being pig-headed, bashing him will not help.
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Let him run. Just sit there and let him go, when he wants to stop don't let him, make him keep cantering even when he's tired, as he slows start making him turn circles and change hand etc. If he tries to stop on his own ask him to keep moving and then tell him to stop and give him lots of praise when he does. May not be text book but I've seen it work.

Alternatively, longe him before your lesson to get the tickle out of his toes.

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That's what I would do too. If he's going to start fine - but YOU decide when he stops, so canter him until he's puffing.

Re snatching at the bushes - naughty naughty naughty! I would try 'explaining' once - moving his head away with the reins and asking him to walk on. However if this is a case of him taking the p!ss because he thinks he can, I would give him a boot or a slap with the whip to move him forward, as this is one bad habit that really annoys me.
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Get angry with him and let him know it.
You are taking the soft option with him and he knows it.
Pull him up, bash him, stick a bit in his mouth that gives you the edge ( for a few sessions anyway until he stops taking the p***!)
He is being a pig and you need to show him you are the boss.
If you are not scared of him you can do this in a few short sessions.
Dont worry about being a bad rider and doing it all properly and tactically and all of that, just make sure you are in charge and he knows it.

[/ QUOTE ]

Or simply ask the owner of the horse to give you some pointers and perhaps a lesson or two on how to ride him affectively????

I actually couldn't stop my horse in the school for quite some time when I first bought him. And would tense up terribly. Relaxing, breathing, and using my seat, rather than hands, ensures that he listens happily to me and we no longer have the same problem.

It's not always about brute strength, or a horse taking the p*ss (although grabbing branches most definately is taking the p*ss) - it's more often about our skills as a rider - or lack thereof.

This horse sounds like a great one for you to have lessons on because he is throwing up different challenges which will really help you to improve as a rider.

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I like your perspective on that-refreshing! Finally-someone not advising to 'bash' the horse
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If your finding it to be a battle of strengths then remember elbows bent, hands closed, sit up, make sure your not gripping with your legs (which may encourage him forwards) and maybe try bridging your reins? One of you has to be the boss and I advise that its you so get bossy! Easier said than done lol I know! With my new horse everytime I asked for canter he would bomb off and if i tried to stop him he got worse. I just had to sit balanced with my hands quiet and wait for him to calm down then get a few nice steady strides before bringing back to trot. Recently Ive found if I ask for canter with my voice and light aids from my leg he makes a nicer transition and also if I stoke his neck I feel his body relax and we get a nice steady canter! Hope you find something that helps!
 
Thanks for the additional comments, I will refrain from 'bashing' him, he's not my horse, I'd rather try and resolve this as calmy as I can. I'll see how he goes tomorrow, and will (as I say) give the tips I've been given, a go. Thanks again everyone
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To be honest, going by your video in the PG, I wonder if it is not so much naughtiness, as discomfort....
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He doesn't look very happy in the vid.
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Puppy - I have been informed tonight (around an hour ago) that the horse I rode in the vid and pics in PG is now sold, and I will have a new ride tomorrow. I will still bear all the advice given in mind, just in case the new ride has the same tendancy.
 
I've just had a look at the vidoe Puppy mentions. Sorry, but this is a rider issue - not a horse issue.

I wouldn't canter this little horse until your seat and balance is much more established - I think you were very lucky not to have got totally carted, or to have come off.

Do ask the owner of this horse to give you some lessons, or if she's happy get your riding instructor to come over to you.

Super little horse - who looks really genuine. And as I said earlier, could really help you improve your riding. You're just going to need some assistance to get there.
 
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The horse is now sold, and have been given a new horse to ride, so will be seeing him tomorrow. I'm aware my riding isn't without it's flaws, but being tanked off with does nothing to help my confidence.
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Sorry didn't realise he wasn't your horse!!
Neither did I mean for you to bash him literally!

It was a bit tongue in cheek advice - no need for all to over react

It just sounded like he was taking the micky and I thought it sounded like you were giving in to him.

I also agree that push him on instead of pulling up works too.

Sometimes though I think we are justa little too considerate about our horses and allow them to be inconsiderate with us!
 
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