Mare tanked off with me today

[Desert_rider]

I have been part loaning an older mare for 2 years. She is a real sweetheart and an angel both on and off the ground, a real confidence giver. She can be joggy coming back from a hack and can be strong in canter, but always stoppable and is hacked in a pelham with roundings.
However today we rode one of our usual routes. It is a circular route, where you ride along the bridle way and then loop round back accross the fields to join the road. Once she got into the fields she become extremely strong and took off with me. She was not listening to the aids and became faster and faster. There was lots of mud and standing water in the fields and I was terrified she would trip. Thankfully once we got near the road she began to tire a little and I managed to turn and stop her.
This has left me quite shaken as it is totally out of character. She has had the dentist and saddle fitter recently and all fine. Has anyone got any idea what could have caused this and how to prevent it going forward? Her owner is aware of the incident but doesn't ride herself at the moment for health reasons.

 

[View]

More information would help. Did she seem distressed when she stopped listening to you? Or were her ears pricked and she was enjoying herself?

 

[Desert_rider]

She was not distressed by anything and it did appear she just wanted to run!

 

[Muddywellies]

Too much energy? (too much feed, not enough work)
Anticipation? (always cantering in same place)
Hormones?
Nip in the air? (try using a quarter sheet)

I wouldnt over analyse too much after just one incident. They are animals with their own brains and sometimes it's anyone's guess why they behave a certain way. Just check the calorie/ energy intake versus exercise (incl hay/haylage) and either reduce energy intake or up the exercise. If it starts to be a regular occurrence they you'll need to investigate further.

 

[View]

Do you always canter in the same place on each route? If so, please don't. Transitions, transitions and more transitions. Keep her listening to you. Leg yield, rein back, shoulder fire, turn on the forehand are all useful to keep her focussed on you.

 

[Mrs C]

My old mare is full of it at the moment. She's usually a lamb. I'd probably take it as time of year, reduce any hard feed, and make sure she's getting enough exercise. Mine needs to let off steam in the school

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

Did something startle her to set her off and then she just took hold and wouldn't listen? Or was it that she is used to cantering on grass/in that particular place? You really need to work out why she did it, in order to be able to take steps to ensure that it doesn't happen again. Certainly don't have 'cantering places', although I know how tempting that can be when you have to hack on roads.

 

[Desert_rider]

Thanks everyone. I will take your suggestions on board.

She did just take hold and wouldn't listen, not startled by anything.

I do try and do transitions with her whilst hacking, but will up these. I will admit that there are 'canter spots'. This really comes about as there are limited safe places to do it. I do often make her walk or trot in these spots and not allow her to canter however.

Hopefully it was just a blip. Think I will avoid that route for a while incase it is a trigger and try and mix up the canter places a little.

 

[Muddywellies]

Thanks everyone. I will take your suggestions on board.

She did just take hold and wouldn't listen, not startled by anything.

I do try and do transitions with her whilst hacking, but will up these. I will admit that there are 'canter spots'. This really comes about as there are limited safe places to do it. I do often make her walk or trot in these spots and not allow her to canter however.

Hopefully it was just a blip. Think I will avoid that route for a while incase it is a trigger and try and mix up the canter places a little.

Just one more point, you really don't have to canter. I can't canter my Welshie on hacks as I can't hold her. She's well schooled, training at medium, but she finds cantering on hacks far too exciting. So our hacks are always quiet and sedate.