pony being an idiot last few weeks and now my confidence is quaking

Firehorse

Firehorse

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i've had my pony for 5 months now. the first few months he has been a dream. fwd going, but never tanks off and always stops, and would generally be happy to walk in canter places. however, the last few weeks he is like a completely different pony. and it is only ever when we are on our way home. if we are on the Downs, he will start to ass about. going backwards, sideways and up unless i let him go....he's tanked off wtih me 3 times now. the first two times HE WOULD NOT STOP! the third time, he stopped, but then would not walk calmly, so i ended up jumping off and leading him till we got to the road. again today, he threatened to mess about, but as i'm now scared to death of being tanked off with, i jumped off and lead him before he had the chance.

now, i thought maybe it was his flash strap too loose, but no, i've made sure its done up properly. i thought it might hve been coz he was eating another horses's food from the floor, but i've been really careful to make sure he cant get to it. and if it was that, then surely he'd be silly for the whole ride and not jst going home. he's the same on his own or with other horses.

i wondered if it was his bit, he came with a dutch gag, which he was wearing the first time he tanked off, he's now in a universal, which he's been in for a while now and has been good in it, up till now.

i now begin to wonder if its jst me. maybe i'm jst not cut out to be a rider. maybe i need a steady plodder, but tbh, i would be bored with that. altho what i do want is something safe.

i feed him on a tiny amount of Happy Hoof, he lives out 24/7 and i hack him out twice, sometimes three times a week. he was a pony club pony before this, so maybe he jst needs more work. but why would he only jst start playing up now? he was competition fit when i bought him and was better behaved then, and was only riding him twice/three times a week.

he's an angel to handle, catch and do everything with. in the school, he plods until we start canter work, then he wakes up. i know he loves to jump but jumping's not my thing. altho i would lunge him over jumps if i thought that might help.

any suggestions greatly appreciated. i could of course jst hack round the roads, or ride in the school, but then that would spoil my enjoyment of riding, i like a good gallop now and then, but only when i choose to!!
 
When you hack out do you do a circular route - or do you go out so far then turn around and come home again? Do you ever canter or gallop towards home? How long do you normally hack out for?
 
I personally think he's got his feet under the table and is feeling comfortable and is probably testing you to see what he can get away with. My cob has tried it on a few times to see what he can get away with. He started rushing home, not as bad as yours, so I make him walk calmly and he's now got it out of his systme. I think you just need to be firm and keep him going out, if you can't hold him maybe a stronger bit for a while will do the trick. Does he still do it if he's out in company.
 
its always a circular route. if i come back along the road, he is ok, still walks faster and if we stop for traffic, he wont stand still. hacks when he's good can be an hour and a half, as he's being an idiot at mo, i cut it short as want to avoid trouble spots so usually an hour. we try not to canter towards home, but when pony takes off, its a bit difficult not too!!! he does it alone and in company. no difference which ever friend he's with. what bit might u suggest? i was actually trying to downgrade his bit as he'd been so good all summer. its the excited behaviour i struggle to control, he will go everywhere except fwd, even little rears.
 
My last horse used to 'wake up' in the winter, quite drastically. He also did this several times the best way I found when they do it towards home is...........as soon as he starts saying he wants to go, circle him firmly saying no first, do that 3 or 4 times. then if he still does it turn him away from home and walk about 2 mins, then back towards home etc each time increasing the time you walk away from home. If he actually takes off, find a way to stop him, either a circle or pulling on one rein, then walk away from home again, this time for at least 15 mins. If you don't manage to stop him when you get home, make him walk 15 min away from home again.

Oh and I would never ever gallop this pony towards home

If you are really nervous do it in hand he has to learn that he cannot go home just when he wants or you will have a VERY VERY serious bolter very quickly

I know how scary it is as I am not a confident rider either, but if you tell yourself over and over starting days before you next hack, 'RIGHT LITTLE [****] IS NOT GETTING AWAY WITH IT, THIS IS WHAT I AM GOING TO DO!!!!!'

Very often just having a good plan before hand helps. Also use you voice A LOT, to start with tell him walk. then NO really loud and firm

Hope this helps
 
It sounds like he's trying to see what he can get away with, especially if you're not very feeling very confident at the moment.

I think I would put him in a stronger bit for now, so that you know you can stop him if he tries to take off. Also maybe just stick to hacking on the roads for a little while, until he's got this out of his system. A lady at my yard has this sort of problem with her mare and it started after the same sort of time as yours, once the mare had got comfortable and was testing her out. She went back to hacking out quietly, all in walk, no trotting until the mare had calmed back down again.
 
10 years ago, when i was doing my exams i went on a 3 month course. Started in September and finished in December. I remember the head instructor telling us that once the weather changes, and the horses have started to be clipped, we had to be aware as they then got sharper. The first few weeks they were angels, then when the weather did change they sure woke up and pratted about! A docile cob started bucking and was told he did it every year mid October to early int he new year!! Still remember what the head told us, and its so true. Sure the weather has something to do with getting them fresh.
If i were you i'd try to do things a bit differently, so fox him. Lunge him over jumps, do a few rides on the road, and a walking ride on the downs. Don't allow him to get quick and if he messes about turn him around and ride the other way? Try to add some 'school movements' to your rides, and make sure say every 5 mins you can halt for 30 sec?
Good luck.
I also am personally against getting off cos I think they think they have won, but please continue if you think its the best way to stay safe. Maybe a bit with a curb chain might help.. kimblewick or pelham??
 
hi, have you thought that it may be the time of year ?? mine always gets a bit more naughty & jolly towards & in the winter. bit harder to control out hacking etc. have you thought of putting him a calmer, i found the Naff one a god send last winter. may be an option instead of changing his bit ? hope that helps a bit. let me know how it goes. kate x
 
ok thx. i'm gonna go for a pootle round the roads tomorrow and maybe for the next couple of weeks. i'm jst feeling cross as he'd made a lot of progess in the summer and i'd got really confident with him, hence wanting to downgrade his bit. i spoke with his old owner, who was really concerned he'd done this. she said he'd never tanked off, jst cud get joggy at times. she used to lead her small son on his pony off mine. and the only time he'd ever looked like he might rear, was when they took him to mounted games and he got v stressed. so i'm worried that maybe he is stressed about something. but what?!
 
I would not think he was stressing just trying it on to get home faster, it is very common. Just do lots of transitions including halt and rein back while your out, remember lots of praise when he does what he is told too
 
i've tried varying the routine when we get back from a hack. i've ridden him right past home and carried on round the roads for another 10 mins, i've gone into the school and done a bit in there. i've left feeding him till later on.....

i'd had a problem mare before him, i mean REAL problem! would rear in response to absolutely anything and everything, ridden or in hand. i've got into the habit of thinking problems thru and trying new things, but am now at a loss!
 
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