Is this too excited?

[skewby]

Took my horse to a fun ride today, we were babysitting a youngster. He behaved impeccably, but when we pull up at the venue he creates havoc on the lorry, then fidgets and shakes with excitement when I'm tacking him up. He pulls and jogs the whole ride (he is very fit) and then shook with adrenalin when tied up at the lorry when we got back, until we loaded (we didn't hang around, but we're talking at least half an hour). He even kicked out when I was taking his boots off, which is totally unlike him. By the time I got him home and went to unload him he was finally calm, and eating his hay.

He's rising 11 and I've had him since he was 4. He's done a lot of "exciting" things and I just don't get why he never seems to truly get used to it. We were babysitting a youngster and another horse, both of which promptly fell asleep in the sun on return to the lorry, even the baby who was on his first outing ever! Although they are much less fit.

Is it because he has more stuff under his belt so anticipates how exciting it might get? Is it because he's fit? He's always a good boy and well behaved (if keen) under saddle, and never so bad I can't tack up or untack. I'm just concerned that getting quite so wound up won't be doing him much good? Thoughts please. Thanks.

 

[Irishcobs]

My mare shakes with excitment out hunting. As soon as get her off the lorry she starts and doesn't stop until about an hour into it. She doesn't do anything else (she does jog but thats because she walks so slow).
She doesn't do it if I go to things on my own (HT etc) but I don't no what she will do when we go to a fun ride at the end of the month as she may see that as a hunt.

 

[ForeverBroke_]

Would it be possible to maybe box him somewhere really boring just to take him off the lorry, tack up ride around and then come home? Might make things seem a little less exciting

 

[spike123]

I took my 6 yr old on his first fun ride today as well.We had a horse accompanying us round who is 5 days off his 18th birthday.My horse was very well behaved even when horses ahead went galloping off he stayed in a walk until asked to go faster.The other horse pranced round the whole way wanting to go faster than his rider,so I know how you feel.The older horse used to belong to me and I used to compete him so I guess he just found going out for his first party in 3 yrs a bit too exciting lol.

 

[skewby]

Thanks guys! Irishcobs I took my boy hunting for the first time this year, we loved it, he shook like a leaf the whole time but as that was hunting, and his first time, I wasn't surprised! But a fun ride?! He's done about 100 of them!! I too can ht in a snaffle and cavesson. Completely different.

DarcyLu I have done that - a few weeks ago he tanked with me really horribly so I boxed him out with a friend and her youngster to go for a really boring hack, just a couple of canters and lots of walk and a bit of trot. He was better there but even though we were in the middle of nowhere he was still sniffing the air and fidgeting a bit! He seems to find everything exciting!

Spike your baby sounds like a star, well done. I wonder if it's just that as they get older, more memories of exciting times are stored away, to excite them??

I'm just not that keen on seeing him that wound up. Maybe I'm being silly, but I don't like it.

 

[Bay_Beasty]

Could it be caused by the spring grass and him being v fit?

 

[milliepops]

My mare is 12 and she is exactly the same. I can't hold one side of her on a fun ride, she is a complete loony. But out eventing she is usually a bit lit up, but behaves brilliantly. I can't take her hunting cos she just causes carnage. I think she will just be that way all of her life - she just enjoys fun rides a bit too much!

 

[Linzi1]

I may be the bearer of bad news... you saying about them getting older and having the exciting memories made me laugh as I have a 26 yr old thoroughbred who is EXACTLY the same as yours - but unfortunately he has got EVEN WORSE with age!!!

I was reading a post about RAF Halton fun ride - I did this last year and it was anything but fun!!! From the moment I got on him (which was difficult enough as we were spinning in every direction possible) we jogged, we went sideways, we went backwards, if we were going forwards I had my shoulders pulled out of their sockets.
Eventually about mile from the end I had to get off as he had got to the stage that I can only compare to a toddler having a tantrum - in that NOTHING mattered - he want to go flat out and didn't matter what was going on around him, he spun one way, spun the other, dropped a shoulder at which point I jumped off as I knew I would NEVER hold him!!! And I didn't even get to jump the plane

He gets very excited show jumping and cross country, but is manageable - we have retired (dis)gracefully from 'fun' rides now though!! I think the problem is though that I can't help but laugh at him as he is OLD!!!

All of that said - I wouldn't change him for the world. He doesn't bat a eyelid in the heaviest of traffic, lorries, tractors, (scary leaves are a different matter)

I am going to keep an eye on this post to see if anyone has any other ideas of helping in these situations - I also have a 3yr old that I am determined will not turn out the same way!!

 

[skewby]

Lol @ Linzi! And milliepops! This is not what I wanted to hear! I know what you mean. I have got to that point with my lad, but only when I have tried to take it steady. He just won't put up with it and after a while will just give me the bird. One fun ride I ended up doing eternal figure of 8s, all on the right leg and FAST, in front of a gateway as I kept circling to stop to go through it, then he'd take off again coming out of the circle. When we finally got through the steward fixed my eye and tutted loudly. So ashamed!

Bay_beasty it could be. I am hoping that he will chill a bit now he's living out for the summer (from today) and on two calmers! But tbh he is always the most lit up of any group of horses I go out with.

He is a heavy, he is supposed to be chilled!

To be fair I am chuffed to bits with his behaviour under saddle, despite being that wired he always listened. Strong as a baby elephant, but obedient. So I'm not too bothered - I just worry a bit for him that he can't just relax and enjoy it, that he has to get so tense about the whole thing?!