Overexcitable mare on hacks

[Dnd20]

Hello, I'm looking for some advice for my ISH mare - she becomes very excitable on rides out when in company. She didnt have the best schooling when I bought her, so as soon as we start trotting the head comes up and in canter work the head rises even higher. She's ridden in a jefferies precision bit (similar to universal) with a flash noseband. With canter work on hacks shes a wound up spring-begins to bunny hop and give small bucks or go sideways - she forgets canter and just wants to go flat out - which then over excites the other horse.
Shes ridden everyday - approx 40- 1hr hacks a day-
And shes fed chaff + little speedibeet to carry supplements & mins. We don't have access to a school but did in the past and this helped.
Looking at getting a running martingale to help stop her giraffe neck but wondered if there is anything i can do to stop the eagerness to go full speed and gain some more control/ brakes

 

[The Xmas Furry]

Have you got part of a field you could utilise to lightly school in?
This could be a big help with even getting obedience in walk, then trot for even 15 minutes and then finish off by a 10 minute walk out after.
Keep it all slow and steady and build on it.
Forget about cantering on hacks till you establish better basics at walk, then trot.

A running martingale wont cure it on its own.

There are other aids you could add but I'd be loathe to advise these till basics have been re established.

 

[Dnd20]

Have you got part of a field you could utilise to lightly school in?
This could be a big help with even getting obedience in walk, then trot for even 15 minutes and then finish off by a 10 minute walk out after.
Keep it all slow and steady and build on it.
Forget about cantering on hacks till you establish better basics at walk, then trot.

A running martingale wont cure it on its own.

There are other aids you could add but I'd be loathe to advise these till basics have been re established.

Yes there is a field I could use, it's their turn out field but could use the top end which isn't as wet. Will try and incorporate schooling days and build slowly. Thank you for your advice. We were previously at a livery with a school and having lessons which helped, but have since moved and no lessons due to covid.
I also add linseed to her feed and wondered if this was not helping, but reading other posts it doesn't seem to make horses fizzy

 

[Lois Lame]

I think your horse needs more work because she clearly has energy to burn. If she were mine, though, I'd stop the linseed to see if that makes a difference. I have read on here than some people have had horses that were a bit fizzy on linseed (or was it linseed products?).

If it proves to not be the linseed, I suspect your mare is more suited to a rider who enjoys the tiz. I'd like to be that sort of rider but am not [drops bottom lip]. I'd LOVE to be devil-may-care. Those sort of riders cope with their seat/position and confidence alone, and both horse and rider thoroughly enjoy the experience.

If you cut out the linseed and it makes no difference:

Do you know of a skilled rider who you trust who could put some miles on your mare? Maybe all your horse needs is one or two really great, long, big, wild rides per week and is then happy to go out on non-wild rides with you.

ETA: And that skilled rider will also be inadvertently teaching your horse what she doesn't yet know.

 

[Dnd20]

I think your horse needs more work because she clearly has energy to burn. If she were mine, though, I'd stop the linseed to see if that makes a difference. I have read on here than some people have had horses that were a bit fizzy on linseed (or was it linseed products?).

If it proves to not be the linseed, I suspect your mare is more suited to a rider who enjoys the tiz. I'd like to be that sort of rider but am not [drops bottom lip]. I'd LOVE to be devil-may-care. Those sort of riders cope with their seat/position and confidence alone, and both horse and rider thoroughly enjoy the experience.

If you cut out the linseed and it makes no difference:

Do you know of a skilled rider who you trust who could put some miles on your mare? Maybe all your horse needs is one or two really great, long, big, wild rides per week and is then happy to go out on non-wild rides with you.

ETA: And that skilled rider will also be inadvertently teaching your horse what she doesn't yet know.

I agree she does need more work. In our previous livery we had an indoor and outdoor school and had access to show jumps. So her mind was more occupied and I reckon the short hacks aren't stimulating enough. Even after an 1hr of hill work, I let her have a good gallop on the field and she felt great.
Hopefully when covid restrictions are lifted we can get out to schools a bit more . But I'll try her in the field for schooling for now. I'll drop the linseed and see if that affects her. And I'll see if someone can ride her out a bit more

 

[The Xmas Furry]

My current mare can get over stimulated when hacking particularly in company and can be a moose on rare occasions these days. I find that adding schooling (I too have no arena) in a paddock and a short hack after really benefits her if she's getting daft. I wouldn't be increasing time out hacking until shes back to being responsive to you.

 

[sjdress]

Yes there is a field I could use, it's their turn out field but could use the top end which isn't as wet. Will try and incorporate schooling days and build slowly. Thank you for your advice. We were previously at a livery with a school and having lessons which helped, but have since moved and no lessons due to covid.
I also add linseed to her feed and wondered if this was not helping, but reading other posts it doesn't seem to make horses fizzy

Linseed made one of my horses very sharp and reactive

 

[LEC]

Linseed is 23% protein vs most conditioning cubes/mix which will only be 12%. The difference is that it’s practically minimal starch, so low in sugar, hence you will get consistent behaviour. It’s 35% fats which is where the calorie impact is.

 

[Jenni_]

Be aware that it might just be her... I have an 11 year old ISH and sometimes she is a twit out in company (and sometimes alone!) She is 99% fine is she if hacked on the buckle and left alone for the duration, but hell mend you if you pick up the contact! She immediately just wants to go flat out. And if you let her she is safe as houses and can be pulled up- but its the explosive period until you get her going forward that's the issue. She then might spend the rest of the hack jogging / leaping / head tossing / cantering sideways.

Hacks at home / hunting / common riding / beach - she's the same anywhere. Schooling before and after makes no difference, level of feed makes no difference... and there's only one time of the year where she is noticeably sweeter, and that's spring (now). Keeping her in regular, hard work keeps it manageable and stops it teetering over into dangerous, but it can still be unpleasant and I can imagine there are some people who I couldn't pay to sit on her.

 

[Skib]

Even the best behaved mares given to novice riders and old ladies like me, have it in their genes to be lead mares. I cant say what is right for you but in my ignorance I expected to be able to hack my share as I would drive a car - a comparison made by Richard Maxwell. One needs brakes and steering. And should check both.
After mounting, I always waited for her head to drop before moving off. I was taught in my first riding lessons to check my girth. We would walk off, halt at the road, turn right, and then make another right or left turn onto the bridle paths. I would then halt the mare, to check the girth. Then move off again. As soon as practical and safe I would steer her and do some halt, walk and trot transitions. After this I was happy to hack her.

The yard said that I schooled when I hacked. I never actualy just sit on a horse. Any more than one would just sit in a moving car and hope for the best. And most horses enquire whether one is leaving decisions to them. Steer a foot six inches and the message gets through.

 

[Dnd20]

Be aware that it might just be her... I have an 11 year old ISH and sometimes she is a twit out in company (and sometimes alone!) She is 99% fine is she if hacked on the buckle and left alone for the duration, but hell mend you if you pick up the contact! She immediately just wants to go flat out. And if you let her she is safe as houses and can be pulled up- but its the explosive period until you get her going forward that's the issue. She then might spend the rest of the hack jogging / leaping / head tossing / cantering sideways.

Hacks at home / hunting / common riding / beach - she's the same anywhere. Schooling before and after makes no difference, level of feed makes no difference... and there's only one time of the year where she is noticeably sweeter, and that's spring (now). Keeping her in regular, hard work keeps it manageable and stops it teetering over into dangerous, but it can still be unpleasant and I can imagine there are some people who I couldn't pay to sit on her.

Blimey she sounds very similar to my mare - also 11yo and has the explosive first part . What bridle / bit do you ride her in?
My mare had similar behaviour last year . She would be over eager and want to do more. So I experimented with the bit, she came with a thick French link- I've since tried her in a thinner bits including Dutch gag, hanging cheek and now a jefferies precision bit (with flash). She also has a very annoying habit of head tossing so I've tried different bits,got saddle looked at and back looked out. Holding her back frustrates her even more. The main problem is her head height as soon as I shorten the rein- sky high, then I feel I'm just hanging on her mouth. In company she starts off fine and then when moving up the paces she just wants to go - she doesnt buck or anything nasty - but I struggle to hold her back. A friend of mine suggested a kimblewick but I want to try and avoid bitting up as she can have a sensitive mouth ( but more notable when head not sky high)

 

[Dnd20]

Even the best behaved mares given to novice riders and old ladies like me, have it in their genes to be lead mares. I cant say what is right for you but in my ignorance I expected to be able to hack my share as I would drive a car - a comparison made by Richard Maxwell. One needs brakes and steering. And should check both.
After mounting, I always waited for her head to drop before moving off. I was taught in my first riding lessons to check my girth. We would walk off, halt at the road, turn right, and then make another right or left turn onto the bridle paths. I would then halt the mare, to check the girth. Then move off again. As soon as practical and safe I would steer her and do some halt, walk and trot transitions. After this I was happy to hack her.

The yard said that I schooled when I hacked. I never actualy just sit on a horse. Any more than one would just sit in a moving car and hope for the best. And most horses enquire whether one is leaving decisions to them. Steer a foot six inches and the message gets through.

I'll try the transition work- this has worked previous and should get her listening more

 

[Ellietotz]

My mare is like this in company but it depends who we are hacking out with. Some horses she just senses they are competitive and she wants to race them or won't let them pass her so she has to go full on constantly. Others though she can be an absolute donkey and is just happy to plod behind them which is very unusual for her. It just seems that the other horses that we ride with who are calm and aren't bothered about being silly, she picks up on it. Have you tried her with another horse that doesn't get wound up based on her behaviour and remains calm?

 

[Dnd20]

My mare is like this in company but it depends who we are hacking out with. Some horses she just senses they are competitive and she wants to race them or won't let them pass her so she has to go full on constantly. Others though she can be an absolute donkey and is just happy to plod behind them which is very unusual for her. It just seems that the other horses that we ride with who are calm and aren't bothered about being silly, she picks up on it. Have you tried her with another horse that doesn't get wound up based on her behaviour and remains calm?

I ride out with my partners horse normally- and he is normally very good. But atm they are both acting full of it. They are field companions and they are always together.
I rode out with a different horse the other day and she was sane half way round (took me by suprise), but took off when it came to a canter. I got control of her again and managed a controlled trot after.

 

[Leandy]

Some horses are just hot! So you may never get rid of the excitability. Personally I used to love hot ponies when I was young although that has worn off with age! They can still be well schooled and obedient though and you should work on that. There shouldn't be a need to be out of control. I would definitely advise a martingale of some sort of she gets her head up, but you also need to put in the schooling (which can be whilst hacking, it doesn't need to be in a school) to teach her where her head should be and to accept a proper, consistent contact. Also to accept the aids properly and react obediently to legs, hand and seat. If you can establish that so that a more correct way of going is her default setting, then it will make her much more controllable and rideable. If she is naturally hot, I would counsel against just increasing work (so long as it is basically sufficient for what you want to do and considering turn-out etc). Keep hard feed to a minimum required to maintain condition but be aware that increasing exercise will just make her fitter and not necessarily more sensible!

 

[Jenni_]

Blimey she sounds very similar to my mare - also 11yo and has the explosive first part . What bridle / bit do you ride her in?
My mare had similar behaviour last year . She would be over eager and want to do more. So I experimented with the bit, she came with a thick French link- I've since tried her in a thinner bits including Dutch gag, hanging cheek and now a jefferies precision bit (with flash). She also has a very annoying habit of head tossing so I've tried different bits,got saddle looked at and back looked out. Holding her back frustrates her even more. The main problem is her head height as soon as I shorten the rein- sky high, then I feel I'm just hanging on her mouth. In company she starts off fine and then when moving up the paces she just wants to go - she doesnt buck or anything nasty - but I struggle to hold her back. A friend of mine suggested a kimblewick but I want to try and avoid bitting up as she can have a sensitive mouth ( but more notable when head not sky high)

You’re not going to like this, but I hack my mare out in a headcollar sometimes!

Bitting up horses like that makes no difference - if anything it makes them back off your hand more and encourage the energy upwards / backwards to an explosion.

She’s never in anything stronger than a Myler snaffle at home, because she’s not strong.

Out hunting / common riding I pop her in a continental gag but that’s my seatbelt, it makes her canter / gallop more ‘up’ into my hand instead of being heavy on the forehand. I am very much a happy one handed bandit / buckle end rider so it’s never over used or because I fear lack of brakes.

We get the head tossing too- it’s frustration / evasion. If I’m coming to a fence and I’ve got even the slightest bit of brake on she’ll put her ears up my nose. She’s a mare who knows her job and would very much like you to leave her bloody be to get on with it.



Bridle wise - this is what she likes. Everything needs to be neat and close fitting. Bit is about 1/4 inch too wide - any narrower she doesn’t like it, she prefers wider and higher. I would steer away from the narrow mouthpieces.



for me, hacking is both of our downtime. If she gives me 100% in the school, I don’t mind if she is a bit sassy and opinionated out hacking. She used to be hellishly nappy and we fixed that so I am more than happy with being able to go for an amble round the estate on the buckle on a non spooky horse, and deal with a bit hotness when it comes to getting a run. It’s one of her very few faults!

 

[Nudibranch]

I have a normally sensible, super bombproof lead rein and driving mare who is an absolute moron if ridden off the lead rein in company. It can be a hunt meet or a single other. She just wants to go. I'm not entirely sure about her past but there has definitely been some racing about. She went through Appleby at some point I am told.
I reschooled her as she had a really hard mouth, and she goes much better now. But a kimblewick in company makes for a much better ride. They're not fashionable bits at the moment but they work surprisingly well on a lot of horses. And less harsh than gags or very thin bits.