Out of Control

[vermillion94]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum, but I'm not necessarily a novice rider.

Please take the time to read this.

Currently I’m part-loaning ahorse and I’ve been working with this mare for 3 months now. We’ve only beenriding in a paddock which has been going well. She has been totally responsiveand an angel in the paddock. I’ve just been doing general exercises with her,transitions and some jumping. So far she’s not put a foot wrong. However, sheis a strong horse and if you don’t have your reins short she’ll not listen atall.

So the other week I felt I wasconfident enough to go out on a hack, there are a few trails around the privateyard she’s on. So the owner took me out to show me one of the routes. I rodeher along the road and up to this field and the owner explained the route andtold me to go across the field and whatnot. He did mention that on the way backshe can be a little pacey and she tends to trot her way home as she’s excited.I thought nothing of it and felt I’d be fine on the way back.
Anyway I got across this fieldand she wouldn’t go any further, her owner had walked back home and she keptlooking across the field. She responds better to vocal commands rather than legso I told her to walk on but she wouldn’t. So I did a one rein stop and had herspinning around for 3-5 minutes and she still wouldn’t continue on the route.
She then turned back home and canteredacross the field, she wouldn’t stop at all, I was pulling on the reins, tellingher to woah and walk but she did not respond. She then proceeded to canter downthe road, and she began to gallop. (I do understand how dangerous this is and Iam well aware of there could have been cars, but the road is quiet and I amgreatful that no cars drove up while this was happening). We then passed herowner who had not go to the end of the road yet, and I said to him as I rodepast ‘she’s not stopping’. He put hisarms out to try to stop her but she just flew past him. We then reached a leftturn in the road which was near to where the yard is. I knew she wasn’t goingto be able to turn, so I pulled my feet out of the stirrups and she skid over.I fell off and landed on my arms, but I got up and grabbed her reins, then ledher onto the pavement out of the way of the road. The owner caught up with meand took her off me, (mainly because I was a bit cut up and sore). The horsehad some minor cuts on her back legs but that was it.

My question is, what could have caused this and how would anyone suggest Icontrol her if I were to go out again. She has been on those trails many timespreviously with her owner.
I’ve lost a little bit of myconfidence with riding due to this.
Please don’t’ send any hatecomments, I want genuine advice and answers.

 

[Pinkvboots]

Your both fairly new to one another and she may lack confidence with a new rider on her own, can you not hack with someone for a while ir have someone walk with you? Failing that I would do very short rides to start with even if its just a fifteen minute walk then back, dont turn round for home though do a loop ride as turning around can encourage them to run for home, then just build them up and once she is happy just go for a bit longer.

 

[vermillion94]

Your both fairly new to one another and she may lack confidence with a new rider on her own, can you not hack with someone for a while ir have someone walk with you? Failing that I would do very short rides to start with even if its just a fifteen minute walk then back, dont turn round for home though do a loop ride as turning around can encourage them to run for home, then just build them up and once she is happy just go for a bit longer.

The problem is there is no one I know around that area that could come ride with me. I think once her leg is healed I will start working her a bit more in the paddock then get a friend to come with me and she can have a lead rope, so I know she can't gallop off again.
I think she may have separation anxiety because she's awfully close to a little pony she lives with, so that might have spurred the sudden urge to go home.

Thanks for the reply though.

 

[be positive]

If her owner, who presumably knows her well and is probably more experienced than you, cannot make her walk home in a sensible and relaxed manner then it is not surprising that she took off with you, any horse that takes control by insisting and being allowed to trot home is likely to go faster when upset, you are lucky that you were not really hurt.

This horse requires some serious reschooling so she learns that she goes at the pace set by the rider, especially on the way home , if the owner continues to let her race home at trot you will have a hard time changing that and it may be better that as you have no one to ride with you that you stay in the paddock unless someone can walk with you, otherwise if you want to enjoy hacking it may be worth looking for a share horse that is better educated.

 

[STRIKER]

Short reins, is pressure, pressure a horse will run from, you need to learn to use your seat, give a bit with the reins, relax and definitely reschool, agree short hacks to start with but unless you change the way you have to ride her, i can picture the short reins which would mean you leaning forward which to a horse is a go faster signal, its not a nice picture, can you get a few lessons not putting you down but we all benefit from lessons. Glad you and horse are okay, could have been worse.

i take it you have insurance.

 

[vermillion94]

If her owner, who presumably knows her well and is probably more experienced than you, cannot make her walk home in a sensible and relaxed manner then it is not surprising that she took off with you, any horse that takes control by insisting and being allowed to trot home is likely to go faster when upset, you are lucky that you were not really hurt.

This horse requires some serious reschooling so she learns that she goes at the pace set by the rider, especially on the way home , if the owner continues to let her race home at trot you will have a hard time changing that and it may be better that as you have no one to ride with you that you stay in the paddock unless someone can walk with you, otherwise if you want to enjoy hacking it may be worth looking for a share horse that is better educated.

I don't want to necessarily look for another share horse. I'm not experienced enough to reschool her though. I'm getting my friend who has kept horses and broke horses in to come and have a look of her while I ride or she can ride her to see if there is anything that needs correcting.

 

[vermillion94]

Short reins, is pressure, pressure a horse will run from, you need to learn to use your seat, give a bit with the reins, relax and definitely reschool, agree short hacks to start with but unless you change the way you have to ride her, i can picture the short reins which would mean you leaning forward which to a horse is a go faster signal, its not a nice picture, can you get a few lessons not putting you down but we all benefit from lessons. Glad you and horse are okay, could have been worse.

i take it you have insurance.

I was leaning back for the beginning of the canter/gallop. But her head was down and I couldn't do anything after that. In hindsight I should have pulled over in the field. But I didn't know she was going to bolt like that.

Im getting lessons in July once I've finished college. So hopefully I'll improve on my riding, and then maybe it'll make everything a bit easier.

 

[be positive]

I don't want to necessarily look for another share horse. I'm not experienced enough to reschool her though. I'm getting my friend who has kept horses and broke horses in to come and have a look of her while I ride or she can ride her to see if there is anything that needs correcting.

Getting someone experienced to help is a good idea but do be open minded about whether it is the right situation for you, if the owner has no real control and is not helping matters things may not change for the better, the work you put in can be undone each time she gets away with rushing home, it is not easy to deal with a horse that is ridden by more than one person with different ideas to what they consider acceptable behaviour.

 

[vermillion94]

Getting someone experienced to help is a good idea but do be open minded about whether it is the right situation for you, if the owner has no real control and is not helping matters things may not change for the better, the work you put in can be undone each time she gets away with rushing home, it is not easy to deal with a horse that is ridden by more than one person with different ideas to what they consider acceptable behaviour.

I know what you mean. The owner seems very capable when I've seen him ride. He's had her for 8 years and so he knows her like the back of his hand.

Just for extra information,
She's a thoroughbred x Irish draught and she isn't as worked as she should be. So she tends to have tonnes of energy. This may have contributed to what happened.

In an ideal world I would like a calm all rounder that I gain confidence on. But I do love working with this mare. She's a dream to ride in the paddock.

 

[Pinkvboots]

I know what you mean. The owner seems very capable when I've seen him ride. He's had her for 8 years and so he knows her like the back of his hand.

Just for extra information,
She's a thoroughbred x Irish draught and she isn't as worked as she should be. So she tends to have tonnes of energy. This may have contributed to what happened.

In an ideal world I would like a calm all rounder that I gain confidence on. But I do love working with this mare. She's a dream to ride in the paddock.

Thing is some people will find it acceptable for there horse to jog/trot all the way home so they get used to doing it, which is what sounds like has been happening with this set up, you have then come along gone out on the horse she has then realised that maybe she can get away with a bit more than a jog and has just gone for it, I would stay in the school for now and only ride her out if you have someone on foot with you, you dont want it happening again might not be so lucky next time, but to be honest you may have to accept that you may not be able to hack out alone for some time or ever on this horse. I think asking your experienced friend is a good idea though get her down and take it from there.

Also meant to say how often is she being ridden by her owner? Find this out as it will make a huge difference to her state of mind, and is she turned out for a good part of the day? This also will have an impact on her, he cant really expect you to ride a fresh horse everytime which is what you are probably doing now which will not help.

 

[vermillion94]

Thing is some people will find it acceptable for there horse to jog/trot all the way home so they get used to doing it, which is what sounds like has been happening with this set up, you have then come along gone out on the horse she has then realised that maybe she can get away with a bit more than a jog and has just gone for it, I would stay in the school for now and only ride her out if you have someone on foot with you, you dont want it happening again might not be so lucky next time, but to be honest you may have to accept that you may not be able to hack out alone for some time or ever on this horse. I think asking your experienced friend is a good idea though get her down and take it from there.

I do like hacking, but if it comes to not being able to go out, I don't mind just being in the school. I'll just have to think up some interesting work out/exercises.

I know I'm incredibly lucky. I'm thankful that no one drove down the road. Since the accident she has been slightly more affectionate in regards to actually coming to me in the field and me giving her a pat and a cuddle.

I just hope her cuts heal well. She doesn't seem sore when walking as she's happily cantering around the field.

 

[vermillion94]

She's turned out every morning at 8am until 6pm, I think she was being ridden twice a week by the owner and I was riding her twice a week as well. But I don't know for how long he was out with her for.

 

[LessThanPerfect]

We had very similar experiences with the first pony we bought 40 yearsago now. he was sold as a first pony for three kiddies aged between 7 and 11.We were never able to ride him outside the paddock and even there he had a habit of suddenly taking off without warning towards the nearest solid object (usually the dry stone wall around the paddock) before doing a last minute stop, spin and shoulder drop combination.

We tried reschooling for a while as, like you, we were attached to him and he was lovely to handle on the ground and the trainer said that the pony had just been allowed to gallop everywhere and would take A LOT of work, we ended up selling him after he threw my sister off head first into the stone wall. We were honest about his problems and he went to an older, much more experienced teenager for whp classes where he did very well.

I guess what I am saying is that if this horse's behaviour is entrenched there may be little you can do to change it and you may need to accept that this is not the best match for you. Please don't read this as criticism, there is no shame in admitting that a horse is not right for you at all. I accept you like the horse but I really think you are risking losing your confidence entirely with this horse which may take a long time to get back.

Good luck with whatever you decide

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

owner is being irresponsible

 

[Fides]

Please consider your safety. These are issues for the owner to sort out and not your responsibility. Could you find another, schoolmaster type horse, who will build your confidence, rather than risking pulling It apart?

 

[Rosiejazzandpia]

Please make sure you have correct insurance- at least BHS Gold standard or the equivalent