Little mare took off!!!

[SnowPhony]

I've been so pleased with how well she's been coming on. She'd stopped going backwards and stopping and was going forward very nicely, really listening to what I was asking her.

Up until yesterday we'd only gone to the end of the road and back, just while I got her used to gonig out alone and coming into work again.

Yesterday we went for a change of scenery and went up he grassy track. She really impressed me by not getting silly when the horses in the next field started gonig stupid. We got to the end of the track and turned around where another horse in a field came galloping over. B took a shine to him and started tarting herself up, bringing her knees up to her nose and tail in the air trotting about. I steadied her and she had a mini strop by leaping forward and then settled.

Next thing I knew she was cantering, would not stop and the more I tried, the faster she got.....we ended up flat out gallop all the way home, jumping all the mud and puddles as we went. I was terrified she was gonig to hurt herself!

So she's gone from one extreme to the other, from not wanting to go forwards, to going rather too forward going! I'd rather she didn't do it again, but I'm not sure a stronger bit would be the answer as she is usually perfectly responsive in a snaffle.

Any suggestions? Maybe a flash?

 

[MrsMozart]

As soon as she starts to pick up speed, in whatever gait, turn her, even if you end up with a rein short enough to get hold of the bit ring instead! Do whatever you need to do to stop that movement at a speed and direction you don't want. I once had Dizz's bit almost all the way through her mouth when she was having a 'moment'

.

I wouldn't use a flash, unless she opens her mouth to evade the bit, and if she did, I'd look at a drop or a grackle.

 

[Peacelily]

How about trying cantering out on your own somewhere there's plenty of room, find a field where you can school (so it's not quite a hack situation where you're going in one direction...) and do some canter transition exercises, then put yourself up into jumping/post position and concentrate on having a nice relaxed canter for part of the field, then stop, then do it again, then stop, and again...(you get the picture...!) and keep a firm hold of the reins but reward her with a light contact when you can,
if she responds well try pushing her a bit faster, and slowing down again, and faster again, and slower again, keeping a really even and rewarding rein pressure.
If you're familiar with it try putting your reins into a bridge across her withers to be a bit more secure in your rein contact
(and don't forget to breath!!!)

Worth a try for some education - especially if she's normally fine in the snaffle, so no point over facing her with a strong bit if she doesn't need it.
good luck!

 

[SnowPhony]

Yeah that's what I thought about the bit. Didn't want to end up over bitting her. Owner immediately asked if I wanted her to get a stronger bit but I said not at the moment as its usually getting her forwards rather than backwards thats the problem.

I'm really unsure as to what she has done ridden wise in the past so I'm wary of asking for too much too soon. All I know is that she has been a broodmare most of her life, but going to get her schooling in the fields over the weekend now I know that she most definitely does understand all my leg and rein aids and that her silly backwards behaviour is just naughtiness rather than not understanding! Little monkey! Would have been quite good fun had I have asked for it!!

 

[annret]

In circs like this I'd try a kineton noseband so it disperses pressure over her nose rather than just pulling her mouth because sometimes stronger bitting just exacerbates issues and causes more fright/worse evasions.

http://divoza.co.uk/product774.aspx

They're under £20 here, and only come into play when she starts to run.

A lever noseband could be an alternative aswell if she responds well to facial pressure but crosses her jaw against the bit -

http://divoza.co.uk/product773.aspx

It is strong, so definately try after the kineton, but not as contrictive as a crank or a tight flash...

You've had some brilliant advice here also, definately bridging reins and turning are the way forward in this instance - see if you can 'one rein stop' her.

Also I would really hammer home transitions using seat and voice aids alone and no rein contact for downward transitions so that you have an extra couple of stopping tools if it were to happen again.

 

[blackislegirl]

From what you say, I wonder if underlying this, the little mare is prone to anxiety? The not going forwards behaviour is a sign of tension and nerves - I have had a lot of that over the years with my own little mare. Nerves turning into flight behaviour would seem quite likely. Is your mare more relaxed when she is in company? If so, it might be worth trying these hacks out with a companion so that your little mare gets used to the routes. Then perhaps she will be calmer when she is on her own, but in familiar territory. Just a thought.

 

[Thunderbirds R Gone]

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see if you can 'one rein stop' her

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[annret]

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see if you can 'one rein stop' her

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http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fmpDSbXPtzU

 

[SnowPhony]

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From what you say, I wonder if underlying this, the little mare is prone to anxiety? The not going forwards behaviour is a sign of tension and nerves - I have had a lot of that over the years with my own little mare. Nerves turning into flight behaviour would seem quite likely. Is your mare more relaxed when she is in company? If so, it might be worth trying these hacks out with a companion so that your little mare gets used to the routes. Then perhaps she will be calmer when she is on her own, but in familiar territory. Just a thought.

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This is what me and the owners think. I've only been working with her for a couple of weeks and she has been coming along nicely. Before I met her the owners couldn't get her out of the yard at all without another horse. Apparently out hacking with company she is the quietest most sensible horse you can imagine. I've been building her confidence going out on her own by walking her inhand up the road, then walking her in hand and getting on halfway along. But I wonder if the fact I went a different route to what we normally do without walking her in hand up there a few times first played a part.

Bless her, she's a complicated little thing! Thanks for all of your advice guys!