How to stop horse spinning on hacks? Trees hurt...

Not read all the replies so sorry if I'm repeating someone. My boy has a quick 180 degree whip round in him. I was advised to carry on spinning him round and then re-try. I do mean be a bit harsh - wichever way he spins round keep him going, lock your hand on to turn his head, get your opposite leg right back and kick him round if neccesary - keep spinning 8-10 times, then re-try, if he spins again, spin him round again. In theory they quickly work it out that spinning means more spinning and just going forwards is preferable. Seems to work with my boy who has taken to doing it just to be naughty. Just make sure you do it somewhere safe, I'm having problems as my boy's favourite place to prat about at the moment is next to a ditch so I daren't spin him round as much as I'd like when he messes about.
 
Walrus-mine treats ditches as be naughty zones, best place to run back fast, all roads here are edged with them..E_Lister, we were doing like you said, one day we had a spin due to a bird (it was really there, I saw it) and nearly ended up on my friends lap in fact she literally pushed me back on from the side. Maybe I'll try the turning again (that's if I stay on after the next spin!)
 
My sister's horse can still do this on occasions and it stems from a lack of confidence - when we first got him he did not like leading a hack or going out on his own but he has improved. He still does the odd one every now and again but maybe not as bad as yours. Generally a few good all 'pony club' type kicks seems to be the trick for him!

I would maybe consider swapping your running martingale to a standing as it'll stop him being able to chuck his head up and spin yet it will not out additional pressure onto his mouth as the running martingale may be doing. I would also try a bit with fulmer cheek pieces to help the steering / encourage him to not turn his head.

I do not think draw reins are a bad idea if you use them properly - just to teach them to listen to you a bit more. I wouldn't resort to hitting him to be honest, with most horses this does not work (believe me I have been there with my rather neurotic, frustrating pony and reached that point but it didn't achieve anything!).

I think though at the end of the day you have to be prepared, you cannot ride along on the buckle end with this horse, you have to actually ride him when you're out, give him the confidence and if you feel him waver then you have to be there BEFORE he reacts by driving him forwards. My sister's horse is similar, quite idle really and ambles on but he can just decide he doesn't like something and suddenly spins. You have to ride defensively really - he will get his confidence from you. It doesn't sound like naughty behaviour as such just more a bit panicky.
 
PLEASE do not ride out with side reins on *shudder*

Mine does it, he does a great line in canter to stop and spin and then rear too :D If you beat him he doesn't react, you could beat him all day and he would just plant and do nothing. I always ride with a schooling whip and I constantly *ride* him, so we do flexion, leg yield, half halts, shoulder in, travers, half pass, etc, to try and keep his mind on ME. I also work on trying to always have him moving forwards (I HAVE to trot to my school, if you try to walk you won't get there unless you get off and lead him) so I tickle with the schooling whip to try and keep him in front of my leg at all times.

I also generally 99.9% of the time hack out with someone else as it is kinder on him, he really does have *issues* with separation anxiety and he gets himself so worked up that he stops breathing....yes, he is special.

If I know he is going to be a git (i.e. if it is windy) then I always stick draw reins on him.
 
I have a horse that started doing this. He is a 17 hh thug to be polite and once he started spinning I could not stop his neck from turning. Every time he spun I would spin him back, but it never worked as he was too strong and started cutting his mouth. I posted a similar question here and got some good replies, but in the end I purchased a dr cook bitless bridle dt his cut mouth. I would never believe that I could stop my horse from spinning in that, which I had no chance of doing in a bit!!! :eek: Everyone at the yard thought I was mad taking him out hacking in a "headcollar", but it worked. ;) He could not get away from me and I knew that if he spun I could really pull the rein with this, without feeling guilty of hurting his mouth. After several attempts on the next few rides he gave up as couldnt get away from me and since then have had 3 happy weeks of hacking.

May be worth a try especially as they have a 30 day guarantee, if it doesn't work. I now will only hack in his bitless, but school in a normal bridle.
 
Thanks everyone, I'm still reading replies and taking it all in :) It seems like it's not an uncommon problem though!
Going to see how we get on, hopefully in a few weeks I'll be able to post a 'Happy hacking report'! :D
 
One of mine used to do this, sharp as a knife, I put up with it until he injured me and then tried a harbridge and market harborough after being very anti-gadgets. Both helped and he is now ridden with a martingale only when hacking.
 
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