Ideas please - horse very excited passing horses in fields

sjp1

sjp1

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Question in the title really. My Appy gets really over the top when passing horses in fields and it is really knocking my confidence. On Sunday managed to pass horses in three different fields. Happily for me, two lots didn't move, but a yearling went loopy. I took deep breaths, didn't hang onto him and didn't let him stop. Luckily that field didn't go on for too long along the road and after he decided he actually was neither an Arab with his tail right up, was actually 15.3 and not 18hh, and not a stallion with his clarion snorts he calmed down. Previously I have got off passing fields of horses and he has reared, tried to climb a hedge and been an absolute nightmare. Unsurprisingly, I now have a real issue about it too. Advice ... PLEASE!!!
 
I have a similar problem and I am trying not to make an issue out of it with my horse, there are 5 horses in one of the fields we regularly pass. They charge up to us and cause a right fuss! My horse can be very nappy going past them. There are others in other fields too from time to time.
I try to sit calmly and look past the horses, trot past their field if possible and do it as often as possible so my horse sees it as a normal occurrence.
 
I think you are right. I am being a right wuss at the moment about it all. So much so, that instead of returning the same way, I went 4 miles out of my way, along main roads and past the dump with the Viridor lorry crashing about!!! Am thinking really, should spend ages going backwards and forward past them - perhaps he will get bored, but he really does scare me with it all.
 
Hello there:D

If it helps, I went through this with Arnie. It eventually settled but it was pretty scary for a while. He doesnt bother now.

I used to get him to stand still till the other horses had run up - then we would creep along the road stride by stride - usually having to stop and start several times.
 
Sometimes My mare does this.
Does he have company at home?

Usually I try to trot past so she and they dont have time to notice - Hoewever sometimes this leads to a right mess of excited horses!

I presume your on your own? Is he the same with a lead?
Repetition is the key - Could someone ride him past a few times for you - Thus getting him over it a bit more - and then working on your nerves?

(I cant talk, I took a 3 field detor to avoid a bridge I saw a horse slip on once - My mare probably wouldnt give a hoot and walk right over it!)
 
Wish I had some words of wisdom to impart but sadly I dont - only solidarity as mine is the same. She's still young and this is really the only thing that sets her alight. She's at the bottom of the packing order in the field and gets bossed around all the time, so i think she's genuinely worried about other horses in the field charging around.
 
A gelding i've just started riding does the same. I wonder if it could be something to do with pecking order? Max (new boy i'm riding) is rising 5 and is right at the bottom of the order in his field- everyone picks on him. He gets quite uppity when passing other horses in fileds-even when they're stood still grazing. Thankfully none have ever been playing around as i have a horrible feeling he'd gallop off with them regardless of what i was doing on top! My mare on the other hand is also rising 5 and quite happily passes others without a second thought- we've had them gallop up to the fence, rearing, bucking etc... and she doesnt bat an eyelid, but is also right up near the top in her field and won't be bossed around by others. Funnily, Max is a usually ploddy cob and Lola is a TB, i'd have expected it to be the other way around with the way they behave!

Other than what others have said though i've no other ideas for you. Keep breathing (sing if you have to!) and look away from what he's focusing on and keep calm and hopefully he'll follow suit.
 
My mare does this...all i can say is patience is a virtue!!! when ever passing a field of rowdy horses i used to get a sideways scuttle, a couple of flying bucks and maybe a rear then cue the tail lifting slut and snorting T rex!!! I used to panic, now i just sit there and laugh and let her get on with it.... by doing this now I just get a snort and the whole "Hey boys look at my lady bits " :D Figued the more tense i get or if I get off and lead the more "het" up she gets...if i leave her to her own devices i get less of a reaction :)
 
Thank you all - am glad I am not the only one with psychotic horse!! This is with my friends bombproof cob beside him!!! Lord knows what he would be like alone. I think one Sunday we will just ride up and down the same stretch with all the horses there til he gets bored. He is the leader of our two, but if horses are being ridden past his field he gets very excited too. Am going to have to persevere because I am running out of riding areas with no horses at all along it!!!
 
My old mare was like this when she was in season. It was particularly scary when going past fields alongside the road, or on a bridlepath with a sodding great big ditch next to it. What worked best was trotting on past and getting away from the hoolying horses as quick as poss.

I wouldn't recommend getting off - one day I'd had to get off to open a gate cos there was a fallen branch jamming it. Mine was fine with the branch until cue very interested audience of horses in field next door, not only was there are horse standing where there wasn't usually one, there was a branch wielding human! One minute they were peacefully grazing, then one noticed us, then another and they all ended up charging around. Didn't worry too much as thought I could hop back on and trot past before all hell broke loose. The path was very narrow and couldn't get back on to my ususally very sensible horse who was now snorting, prancing and had grown to 18hh. Led her along the path a bit to where it widened, but every time I put my foot in the stirrup she tried to spin and kick out at the other horses. Couldn't turn her round for same reason. Tried to lead her past but the situation just got worse as the path was so close to the field the horses would lean out and touch her. We weren't far from home, bridle path all the way and in the end I had to let her go otherwise I was gonna get flattened - she took off bucking and squealing at 900 mph, followed by the 12 horses in the field. I know I shouldn't have let go but really had no option.

She came down as she crossed the yard so when I finally got back to the field she was waiting patiently at our gate, bleeding from both back legs which despite immediate attention from the vet ended up infected. That turned into an expensive hack!
 
I have this problem with my lad, but that's because he gets excited in other ways :rolleyes: the only way you can get them use to it is just presenting them with the same situation as much as possible, so going past this area until it not so exciting anymore and also reminding him that you are on top and get his mind back on you, not gorping at what is in the field, easier said than done but if you work on it I in time hopefully he'll settle.

Hopefully the youngster that set your lad off will also get used to him passing and not create quite as much every time you pass.

Good Luck.
 
Hmm, interesting that lots of you say trotting on past them is best. I was a bit concerned that encouraging any movement may result in movement of either the front or back end going up!!! I will give it a go - perhaps at the end of a field! Can also try singing, although just concentrating on breathing seems hard enough! I wish I could find someone braver to take him past - have got a lovely little friend who is young (lucky her - nothing bothered me when I was her age), and she has worked in racing yards and latterly worked for 'Team Fredericks', doing the breakers, so can't imagine his posturing will bother her.
 
Yea Spot does the same thing, he seems to be fine if they stand there looking at him but as soon as they move and start charging around, he's on his toes, eye balling them and skitting around all over the road! Sometimes hes worse than other times, but I tell him to stop being a twit, get on with it and give him a good old kick on. He does listen and goes past coz I stay calm.
Just think to yourself hes being silly and drive him forwards, I wouldnt recommend trotting past tho, you need less speed and more control. I never trot past a field with horses charging round, coz he just turns himself inside out more!!
Also following a more experienced horse that isnt bothered by it may help too :)
The more you do it, technically the better he should get with it! (thats the plan anyway!! :) )
 
Is it just me or is it Appaloosas who seem to be famed for doing this sort of thing!

I have appy x and he can get quite excited seeing other horses in fields

I'm now very nervous about going to shows

Does anyone who has posted on this thread horses act the same at a show with ridden horses?
 
Hmm, interesting that lots of you say trotting on past them is best
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No - you don't want to do this. They key is to not let it become too 'exciting' upping the pace to a trot will do just this.

Your horse is acting perfectly normally - they key thing for you is, to a certain extent, anticipate what may happen, and just be prepared. If you have horses in a field running around, ask your horse to quietly walk forward, or stand still until the field have calmed down.

Try not to tense up or grab for the rein and breath.
 
We have this problem where I ride. Lots of hedges bordering the road with herds of polo ponies and youngsters behind them!
If they suddenly all start thundering around behind the hedge when in riding my young TB can sometimes get jumpy, especially if they surprise him! I usually just stop for a moment and give him a pat so he has time to realise what's happening and then carry on. He usually has a big look through the hedge at the horses does a big sigh as if too say 'oh only horses!' and then walks on ignoring them. He is top of the pecking order in his field and is generally not too worried about that sort of thing.
I'm not sure trotting would be the best idea with mine however as it may make it all very exciting! I say that but I've cantered round a track with a horse in a field galloping upside and he didn't give a hoot. TB's can be strange creatures sometimes! That sort of thing they are fine but a flapping bird now that's terrifying lol.
 
Shall keep at walk then - stopping seems to give him plenty of time to think how exciting it all is before he explodes - and try to keep him focused on going forward. Really want to get this sorted because I would like to go on some fun rides and have fun not be gritting my teeth all the time!!

I know I don't help, he gets wound up and then I get worried and he is really sensitive to how I am feeling so shall concentrate on being calm. Am sure if I sang that would get rid of them to the other end of the field!!

Love Spotlight by the way, very eyecatching.
 
When i was younger i had a hafflinger who was terrible i never rode him past it was when leading to the field my dad had trouble holding, he would just snort and get stronger and stronger until i could'nt hold him and he'd bolt to the field we got to to take him back to his stable then try again until he got into his head he will go into the field when he walks to the field!
i hope that helps in some way, keep the leg on think positive let him stand and look at them even let them say hello to each other.
Good Luck
 
sjp1 said:
Question in the title really. My Appy gets really over the top when passing horses in fields and it is really knocking my confidence. On Sunday managed to pass horses in three different fields. Happily for me, two lots didn't move, but a yearling went loopy. I took deep breaths, didn't hang onto him and didn't let him stop. Luckily that field didn't go on for too long along the road and after he decided he actually was neither an Arab with his tail right up, was actually 15.3 and not 18hh, and not a stallion with his clarion snorts he calmed down. Previously I have got off passing fields of horses and he has reared, tried to climb a hedge and been an absolute nightmare. Unsurprisingly, I now have a real issue about it too. Advice ... PLEASE!!!
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well i think you are aware of what you need to do ie dont grab hold of him or let him go which is a great start you could try chatting to him talking a load of old rubbish as this will help both of you take your mind of the field i dare say he may be reacting to you and as you tense up he thinks he has to aswell!! the talking to him and also make sure you are not looking at the other horses the talking will help relax you down and divert his attention from the others as he is listening to you you can say absolutely anything you like as its the tone that is needed or sing a song or anything tell him what you had for dinner or that he wont get any dinner ever again if he doesn't behave!! lol thats what i tend to do if i am nervous about any situation and it works in most cases but certainly worth a try or you could try taking a bottle of port and swigging it on your ride out by the time you get to the other horses youll be so relaxed youll be practically laughing at all the commotion!!!! but the key point here is you need to relax which i know is easier said than done!! you could also try cutting out any sugar in his food ie sugarbeet molassed chaff etc this may take the edge of thats if you feed that of course good luck x
 
Really want to get this sorted because I would like to go on some fun rides and have fun not be gritting my teeth all the time!!
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His behaviour passing horses in the field won't necessarily have any bearing on how he is on a fun ride. Two different sets of circumstances entirely.
 
My mare does this. I try to just ignore it and keep her walking on.

On the plus side it's about the only time I ever get elevation from her! Perhaps a dressage arena surrounded by fields of loose horses is the key!
 
amymay said:
His behaviour passing horses in the field won't necessarily have any bearing on how he is on a fun ride. Two different sets of circumstances entirely.
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No, I guess you are right - oddly when we are up on the moor and pass Exmoor ponies he just looks and seems to accept them, but I suppose it is simply the charging around of horses in fields that makes him think there is something to be excited about.
 
bordermare said:
My mare does this. I try to just ignore it and keep her walking on.

On the plus side it's about the only time I ever get elevation from her! Perhaps a dressage arena surrounded by fields of loose horses is the key!
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^ ^ Like!

My mare does the same, at 18years old!

I too try to avoid the field with galloping horse. If I do have to ride past I try to make sure she is bending to the right and concentrating on what I'm asking her..... doesn't help much but makes me feel better! :D
 
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