"Plunging" horses, anyone else experienced it?

[KatB]

I have the joy of riding a horse who "Plunges" eg throws what feels like its whole weight into its head and neck and kind of jumping forward throwing its head down as it does so. It will also intersperse this with head twisting/throwing, anything basically to get you to drop the contact so it can do what it likes. Anyone had any experience of this?! How have you dealt with it?!

Using my leg strongly was my instinct, but that almost gives it the green light to run off, which is generally what it's tryng to do anyway....

 

[annret]

I have this out hacking when my mare's not allowed to canter when everyone else is...It quickly escalates into bunny hops if you're not too careful...

The only thing which basically works is pulling the horse round, so lots of inside hand and leg and drop the contact on the other side by grabbing the neck.

You can just sit on it and ignore it and keep a hold on the mouth, which works for less determined instances but if rearing is the next stage then obviously you have to drop the contact when they start to go up so I wouldn't advocate this tbh.

Good luck, anyway!

 

[KatB]

Thanks, yeah it does escalate into rearing/stag leaps etc if you're not careful... and it doesnt get its own way!! flexion could be a plan though, thanks

 

[Ziggy_]

Mine used to do this when she felt restricted in front - generally when someone tried to tell her what to do in front of a jump or such like. She never did it with me on her back, only with someone else who used to ride her occasionally so I'm not entirely sure exactly what the solution was - I *think* it was to drop the contact and ride forward strongly as you suggested - it did result in bombing off round the school though!

She is very funny about her mouth in general - she has to be ridden almost entirely from the seat, not easy when she's a big fizzy thing - and also had quite bad teeth problems - has this horse had its mouth checked?

 

[hellybelly6]

My horse does this too! I use my leg lightly and half halt and try to stay on at the same time.

 

[KatB]

Yep the horse has had its mouth checked, gets done by a very good EDT every 6mnths, and was last done about 2/3mnths ago. Only does it out hacking, so dropping the contact isnt really an option.... thanks though!

 

[Flame_]

I have, on a couple of horses. Flame used to do killer plunges if you held on for too long when she got buzzy. I learnt just to sit still and how much I needed to let her go forward and how much I could afford to check her before she'd leap. She went everywhere sideways too, swinging her arse from side to side.

I expect, if you've not been riding the horse long, you'll soon just get a feel for it and you'll stop the plunges before they happen.

 

[Starbucks]

Caffrey does this when he's excited and being a little sh*t. It's really annoying isn't it!!! It really hurts too!!! Whip lash and it pulls my fingers over his breast plate and grazes them!

Not sure how you can stop them doing this! We just let Caffrey get on with it.

 

[KatB]

I've actually been riding the horse a LONG time... its just the plunges have graduated to happening on the roads out hacking... previously Ive just been sitting them out and letting it sort itself out, bit scarier when on tarmac so think its about time I looked into "solving" it.

 

[Flame_]

Oh well, shows what I know then.

Maybe stick the horse behind a cob's massive backside, so if he does plunge it is pointless and he doesn't get anywhere?

 

[hellybelly6]

Here is an idea, what is the horse plunger fed on? Could it be feed related?

 

[fornema]

My pony is doing this as shes coming back into work, its a bit from overexicitement i seem to find which my girl is easily exited

 

[KatB]

I'm thinking it might be... will look into its feed... spring grass aswell maybe?!

 

[dwi]

Its not logical I know but have you tried a nose net? D doesn't do it with a nose net on.

 

[hellybelly6]

Wow have you got spring grass already? I am dreading it being grass season again.

 

[MrsMozart]

Tight circles. Thelwell kicks. Usually works on the Dizzy one

, though the middle of my back is sore due to a silly session a couple of days ago when I wasn't quick enough to correct it

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

That's exactly what Sunny did that ended up with me in hospital. Got excited at being out in spring sunshine for the first time in ages. Trotting along happily in front when a friend's little mare came alongside to make it a race. Sunny was well up for this and when I held him back he plunged his head down between his knees then threw it back up again (cue hat getting knocked off) then plunged back down again and stuck in a text book couple of bunny hops. He'd never rear coz he's too flippin lazy but the bunny hops got me off.

Memo to me: no matter how much you're enjoying yourself and no matter how safe your horse is, you have to stay a split second ahead of what your horse is thinking of doing and stop it before it even starts. Should have done a very firm half halt + growl and if this was ignored a clonk on the teeth or whatever it takes for ned to take you seriously. Once it's under way, you have little chance of stopping it lol!

 

[ihatework]

I had a 15hh'er when I was a teenager that used to do this big time.

Like you he'd do it when he basically wanted to bugger off, and I held onto the front end (as is natural instinct). Basically all his energy then went up and into a huge plunge, as soon as I'd lost the contact he'd then bugger off.

I eventually found an instructor that made a difference. We didn't do anything radical, it was a case of finding the right bit (enough to hold him in front without over bitting - in his case this was a kimblewick), and then using ten times more leg than you would imagine! Theory being that you are kicking it forwards into an acceptable contact and chanelling the energy forwards rather than up !

 

[dotty1]

I had a tb that did this, he was bad in traffic and did it to get away from tractors and also if we were in company and he wasn't in front on grass. It was horrible, he used to go so high and he used to do one after another, prob til I fell off!!. Never managed to stop him doing it just avoided the situations he did it in.

 

[Nickijem]

Ooh my back! Yes - I experienced it this morning with Jerry. We were out on a hack then got to a bit where we usually canter so Jerry stuck his head between his knees and bronced away! I did sit them, although he had snatched the reins from me so I wasn't in much control.
I managed to stop him then asked for canter again - this time with some good old thelwell kicks to keep him going forwards - just about worked.
I would be interested if anyone has had more luck by changing the bit. Jerry is ridden in a french link eggbutt snaffle.

 

[Pearlsasinger]

QR
In order to stay safe while hacking, I make sure that we vary where we change pace so that the horses do not anticipate and so get strong at the'cantering place' etc. I also only hack with friends who will keep control of their horses and not let them try to make the ride into a race.

KatB, I agree with the suggestion of using a stronger bit, so that you can use less hand while riding very strongly up to the contact to keep the horse moving forwards at your chosen speed. It can be a bit disconcerting at first but the horse will only fight you if you fight it.