Pleasure Ride Schooling?? Possible...

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Jazzy B

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I took my lad on our second pleasure ride today, he turned himself inside out and quite frankly thought it was the most exciting thing ever. He didn't cope when people over took us (he likes to be at the front) and when we cantered well he got totally threw his toys out of the pram at this point and just stood on the spot leaping and bucking :eek: So my question is, do I just take him on as many pleasure rides as possible and hope he "gets used to it" (don't think his really done this kind of thing before) or will he just carry on getting worse and worse as clearly he knows what its about now :rolleyes: Can horses be schooled through this kind of thing?
 
I actually think pleasure rides are a nightmare! Its like going hunting with nobody in charge really. If you have a hot horse I wouldn't bother. I would take my horse somewhere like Somerford Park in the north, which is open all year round, not just on free for all weekends once a month. It would be possible to school them out of it, but difficult!
 
Really wish I hadn't just read that! Taking my boy to a fun ride tomorrow for the first time, and its his first outing anywhere! Hope he doesn't behave like that!
Sorry, getting back to your post - could you practice just boxing up and hacking out in different places to see if that helps?
 
Irishbabygirl - I'm sure your boy will be fab tomorrow! Have a lovely time Mine is a numpty on pleasure rides but totally brilliant when his own or with a couple of others, loads beautifully and nothing really phases him even did a long weekend riding with four mates and there was a lot of going fast on that :D its just when somebody over takes him that he doesn't know - turns into evil pony!! :eek:
 
Honey08 that was a fairly accurate description of today's ride - have never seen anything like it in my whole horsey life which is getting quite long :D
 
I hope so :-) he's great and nothing really phases him either but will worry now if we get overtaken!
Maybe we should all wear those hi-viz vests saying "caution, please pass wide and slow" and change it to "caution, please don't pass at all!"
 
Taking your horse with a steady companion that they know well, will usually prevent too many antics. That and just going out and doing it often enough it's not exciting any more. Take the horse to xc courses too for exposure to open fields with fun jumps!
 
Honey08 said:
I actually think pleasure rides are a nightmare! Its like going hunting with nobody in charge really.
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Agree with this!!!

Only thing I can suggest OP is what my trainer would do: and that is to, if you can, try to replicate the situation of a pleasure ride, i.e. get some friends together (not a big group to start with, suggest three or four, then work up to maybe half a dozen, and so on) and basically go for a ride together. Stay in walk, then the horse behind trots up (past everyone) to the front, and keep going like that. So the lead horse & the one behind is constantly changing, and the ones in the middle can't get too cosy either! If yours hots up at this and/or its too much, then everyone stands still and the horse behind walks up to the front slowly, and you proceed. Get the idea?? You can then do the same thing in trot - when you're ready; and then in canter. But working it up gradually not letting anyone's horse get steamed up.

THEN, at some future stage, when your horse is ready and not before, you can do stuff like asking him to leave the main group, like trot or canter away, and then return to the group politely without stampeding. You can also vary the thing by the lead horse peeling off and walking back past everyone (do the thing in reverse basically).

This is what my trainer does non-stop with horses who hot up in company and it really is the only way. If your horse is a total fruitloop with others, then OK start simple with just one other horse, and go for a ride together and experiment. There's no easy way or shortcut, you just have to persevere with it and you should end up with a really well mannered horse who can cope with anything.

Good luck!
 
Or go for the easiest option and be the last group of the day to set off! Then no one will pass you!
 
Irishbabygirl said:
I hope so :-) he's great and nothing really phases him either but will worry now if we get overtaken!
Maybe we should all wear those hi-viz vests saying "caution, please pass wide and slow" and change it to "caution, please don't pass at all!"
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hee hee! tho of course you cant ask people not to overtake at all on a pleasure ride as there is a min/max time and some peeps will be using it as a training for more serious endurance rides. Its not like a sponsored ride thing. Although you could do the wide and slow bit on a tabard but dont be cross if some of the more competitive types dont completely take heed.

I think the tips about training are the key and also as suggested going in a later group.
 
Or get yourself to a more low key event to start with.

I know I'm biased, but the local level training/fun/pleasure rides that we organise as part of Endurance GB are ideal for babies/novice horses as they are very informal and relaxed and don't tend to have 100s of people out there riding like maniacs. The riders are pretty spread out on the trail, and people are (usually) very polite about passing. If you let the organiser know you're on an excitable novice they will be able to advise you on the best time to start. The organiser may even be able to find you a safe riding buddy. A green ribbon in the tail signifies a novice at our rides.

Its about setting yourself up for success - once you've done a few quieter ones and lived to tell the tale then move on to the bigger/busier ones.
 
some food for thought! thank you everyone for your answers - took him out today he was so tired from yesterday, he let his mate (who he doesn't normally) trot in front, canter in front ha :D a very nice ride!!
 
Glad to hear he had calmed down! Personally I think instead of pleasure ride it should be white knuckle ride! I have done quite a few over the years and completely agree with the poster who said that hunting is safer (& I have done a fair bit of that too). I have seen total carnage on pleasure rides with out of control horses & ponies whizzing about left, right and centre!

Personally I would try and go and do some xc schooling with a trusted friend for a few times and then see how things go - best of luck!
 
I agree with Esther says. There is a difference between pleasure /training rides that EGB provide and that of say the local hunt.

Endurance is fun, be it a non competitive or a competitive one. Horses do calm down because they learn to pace themselves .

Personally I do not like sponsored rides, too many people charging around ,a lot with no manners at all.
 
My ex used to do 2 solid days work with his horse prior to fun rides, as this was the only way she was manageable in the early days, she did improve.
I would also agree ref EGB rides, the comptitve riders passing you are much more likely to call out to you, and pass safely, and they are just generally not as stressful, plus as they are often a bit longer, people don't tend to be going quite so fast! Oh and there aren't any jumps for people to yeh hah over (pity)
 
"white knuckle rides" you might be onto something for the next Alton Towers ride there! :D thinking about it taking him on a couple of endurance training rides may be the way forward, used to do a bit of endurance with my mare (RIP) and certainly cant' remember any stresses like yesterday :rolleyes:
 
Miss Bean said:
"white knuckle rides" you might be onto something for the next Alton Towers ride there! :D thinking about it taking him on a couple of endurance training rides may be the way forward, used to do a bit of endurance with my mare (RIP) and certainly cant' remember any stresses like yesterday :rolleyes:
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ahhh when you said Pleasure ride in your original post I thought you meant an Endurance one as thats the title they use.

I thought it was a bit odd as although there can be a tiny bit of overkeenness even on those rides at the start gate, it is generally less of a cavalry charge than sponsored rides partly because the distance and terrain is a bit steeper and partly because as with all endurance rides, you ride too fast, you are disqualified, or horses heart rate too high at the end, you are disquaified!

So an EGB pleasure ride or two (or even the 10km ish taster rides a lot of the branches run too now) might be ideal.
 
OP - so sorry to hear that you had a bad experience. I went on the Kingsclere ride today (with Irishbabygirl) which was organised by a local hunt. Extremely well organised, friendly people, lovely ride, amazing scenery, loads of jumps (not that we jumped any!), and noone behaving inconsiderately, although we stopped to let quite a few groups go past as we were taking it fairly easily. All in all a fabulous ride. I really hope your experience is a one off and your horse settles in future, as for us it was a great opportunity to have a good blast on great ground with no traffic to worry about. xx

ETA where are you? Would love to do some endurance - even have the part arab pony already. :)
 
nikicb - just posted Irishbabygirl to see if she had a good time :D I'm in Warks so not a million miles from West Berks (could find a ride in a half way location) that would be good! :)
 
Miss Bean said:
nikicb - just posted Irishbabygirl to see if she had a good time :D I'm in Warks so not a million miles from West Berks (could find a ride in a half way location) that would be good! :)
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Yes we had a great time - I was pony squishing (pony between children, so I get to have the fun!!). Here's a link to a photo: http://www.theimagefile.com/?skin=357240&Action=VF&id=8232299602&ppp=0&ppwd=64563mch

Would definitely be on for something between me and you. Pony loves that sort of thing and is whizzy but sane. :)
 
pony is looking very jolly so not too squished ;) beautiful scenery! we should look into it! - Irishbabygirl r u up for that too?? :D
 
Miss Bean said:
pony is looking very jolly so not too squished ;) beautiful scenery! we should look into it! - Irishbabygirl r u up for that too?? :D
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He was jogging up the last hill even after 8 miles, so I can't squish him too much!! Irishbabygirl will have no choice. I will kidnap her and her horse and bring them with me. :p

BTW Just because Raff is small, don't think he can't keep up!! :)
 
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I love pleasure rides. Just so much fun for horse and rider.

OP just ride round with one other horse on the next one. It will ne much easier for you and your horse to cope with.

Ignore his excitment, and just enjoy the scenery. When you get the opportunity do let him have a real blow out. It will do him the world of good.
 
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