Over excited and snatching reins

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EarlRonan

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My horse gets terribly excited when hunting and for the first time on Saturday I decided to hunt him as a 2nd horse. The meet was near where he lives and we got quite close to the stables while hunting. Apparently he was a nightmare to tack up and then when I came to get him (hopped on at the stables as hounds were v. close and only on their way to 2nd horses) and he was neighing his head off, shaking, rearing and plunging in his stable.

I then hunted him and he was quite strong, and has never been this strong before but the worse bit was that when we had to que for a fence he wouldn't and snatched the reins out of my hands and plunged forward so therefore, every fence I jumped I was ontop of the person in front of me, not fun! When I didn't need to que he seemed to be fine (from what I can remember).

I'm hunting him again on Wed but as my one and only (I have a 2nd horse once in a blue moon). Do you think he behaved like this because he got himself terribly wound up and, therefore, just wanted to go. He generally does want to go, but has before always qued. Or what? I am hunting him on Wed in his usual vulcanite pelham but with a metal curb chain rather than the elastic one I have been using until now as I have always had plenty of breaks on him and haven't wanted anymore.

Many thanks.
 
I expect it was the waiting around and the anticipation of going, if he usually isn't like that then hopefully it was a one off.

I have a horse that snatches at the reins, he is a nightmare, he used to snatch then tank off with his head on the floor nearly!

I had to use a standing martingale on him - that has mostly stopped him, but he does hate to queue up for the jumps, I have a pelham on him to hold him and the martingale to stop him getting his head to far down :rolleyes:
 
I would agree... Ron gets like this when he's frustrated at being held up (and I have to be at the front if we're jumping! :eek:) but a double bridle has mostly stopped him yanking the reins away!

Also, when we're going I'll push him on if I can so he doesn't fell held up, then he's happier to come back when I ask him to.
 
Sounds like just the excitement and anticipation getting to him. As has been suggested, assuming he's a reliable jumper, I would get to the front and let him settle so that you don't have to queue. Also, make use of any good stretches going uphill to give him his head and kick on a bit; that way you won't always be on his mouth trying to get him back to you......gives your arms/back a rest too!!! :)
 
Thanks everyone.

He was a good boy on Wednesday and actually behaved the best he has done all season! No snatching of reins and queued for the fences.
 
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