Problem that needs solving

Millzwoolz

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Hello,

Could anybody help me?
When ever I do cross country or in a open field my horse becomes very strong. She wants do everything at 50mph, is there anything I can do?
Willing to try anything! I love cross country :)

Thanks
 
Hello,

Could anybody help me?
When ever I do cross country or in a open field my horse becomes very strong. She wants do everything at 50mph, is there anything I can do?
Willing to try anything! I love cross country :)

Thanks
 
You do not give much info really but a few questions to get started, what does she behave like generally, in the school, jumping on a surface out hacking on roads, is she good walking and trotting in an open field or does she get on grass and think gallop? What do you ride her in? is she well schooled and experienced? how old is she?

Many people and horses think xc means galloping so the horse learns to associate the two and becomes over excited, the rider needs to go back to basics, walking on grass, trotting, schooling in an open field and not allow the horse to assume grass under it's feet means going fast before introducing the jumping aspect, even then it should be small fences done from walk and trot, coming back to walk afterwards so they do get get back into thinking they have to jump everything at speed, it will take time but most horses can be reeducated to become sensible about xc.
 
Sorry I'm new to this.

Generally she is very well behaved with hacking, jumping. When we go in a open field we can walk and trot and no silliness.

She is 10 years old.
I've had her just over a year now, I know it's not long...

All I have is fields where I keep her but I've taken her to schools and she's perfect :)
What do you mean by what do I ride her in?

Thanks
 
It's all correct, it's all new... wintect general use saddle, martingale

As tff has said I wanted to know what bit you ride in, the fact it is new is hardly relevant, you should really know what type the bit is and whether you use a flash or not, maybe some lessons would be the best way forward for dealing with the xc problems as well as get to the bottom of why your horse no longer loads well, I am afraid the two may be linked and that some help would be better than advice on a forum.
I have made suggestions in my first post that will work if you have the patience to work through them, if you just want to go out and go xc then you will probably find the horse gets stronger until you get help to sort it out.
 
It's a Kincade cavesson bridle, with a Kimberwick Bit with Curb Chain. Sorry that I didn't know what the name was, I had to find my names in my purchases book.
 
Is this your horse or a riding school horse? 99.99% of people who own a horse will know what bit the horse is wearing. If you don't and it is your horse, it may be time to do some homework on what types of bit are available.
 
Why you being so rude? I just put the name of bridle and bit in my last comment. This horse is MY horse. Like I said I needed to find my purchases book as I make note of everything I buy for MY horse.
 
The two problems are not linked, I've tried this morning to load her and she was prefect... Walked straight in so I suspect she wasn't used to it as it was a new trailer
 
Hey sorry we get a LOT of kids making nonsense posts here, that is why people are responding to your thread like that. It's just it didn't give much info, they're being wary not mean :p

You sound like you're quite new to horses, I would SERIOUSLY recommend reading this: http://www.amazon.co.uk/The-Manual-Horsemanship-Pony-Club/dp/190727913X
It has the BASIC info that EVERY horse owner should know. Sorry for the capitalisation but it needs emphasising. It really isn't safe to be owning an animal like a horse without understanding a little more about it.

A kimblewick is a harsh bit. So if she is tanking with that, it is something you need to work on through schooling. I would get a basic snaffle bit (google it) and do some work in the arena. Ideally you should be able to bring a horse back using your seat, but that is something that takes time. You could get someone to lunge her whilst you ride so you can practice aids without the reins.

One of the basic principles of riding is pressure and release. If you are hanging on her mouth, she will hang back. If she starts to tank off, and you give a half halt and she slows, even just a tiny bit, RELEASE the pressure! So many people don't seem to have grasped this concept, and it will confuse the horse and cause issues in every sphere of interaction with your animal.

I would find a good instructor and get some lessons :) And don't be scared off from posting on here, it's a great resource, it just takes a bit of time to get used to.
 
I'm not a kid making nonsense posts, it's fair enough to be wary but it's the bit I got given and told to use by the pervious owner.

I understand horses I do, this is my first horse that's all, I've been riding since I was 3.
I've been doing the pressure and release thing but it didn't seem to work...

Practically round horses my whole life. Every thing else we do, jumping, hacking, dressage etc she is absolutely prefect.

I thought I would just post on here to see if people have other ideas on how to sort it?
I'd like to emphasise that I am not a kid.
 
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I'd look for lessons. If the previous owner also recommended a kimberwick (also known as kimblewick) and curb because she was strong for them too, it suggests she needs more schooling. It doesn't matter whether you bought the bit or were given it (your posts are unclear on this); it may not be right for her/you or it might be after some lessons, but the only way to find out is to have those lessons. I genuinely do NOT want to come across as rude and I am really struggling with how to word this, but it is concerning that despite being around horses most of your life you could not recognise a reasonably common bit. I think, therefore, the only real recommendation any of us can make it to learn as much as you can on the ground - read all you can, including the Manual an earlier poster has linked to - and, to improve both your knowledge and your horse's way of going, have some lessons.

On a forum we can suggest exercises etc., but these recommendations should never replace an instructor who can see your horse and the response to the exercises suggested. In the grand scheme of horse owning, the cost of lessons is not much but can be invaluable.

My mare used to rush and be incredibly tense - a few people on the yard even commented on her 'wonderful medium trot' but they were missing that she was powering along on the forehand and setting her own pace. Like you, I knew the problem; I knew the cause; I couldn't solve it on my own and I don't feel any shame at all in admitting that. The difference was visible after two lessons (with the right instructor, who was the third one). I could have struggled on for months/years on my own, but a good instructor really did change both of us and make our ridden sessions much more relaxing and enjoyable for BOTH of us. Get to some XC clinics and do some XC schooling with an instructor. Good luck :).
 
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