Pushing a horse forward

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Agent XXX999

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I am a great believer in pushing a horse on and forward if they are feeling sharp or naughty. I used to ride a horse that bucked like a rodeo however he never had the opportunity as I used to do an upwards transition as he started to go. Also, if Bruce is going forward in a working trot on hacks he tends to spook less.

When I ride young horses in the school and they feel fresh and flighty I will kick on and do a couple of laps of canter if I need to, then do the downwards transition when I am ready...and when I am at shows and bruce is on his toes I do alot of canter circles, walk to canter, etc, in the warm up.

Am I the only one that thinks kicking on and getting going is the best way of avoiding any trouble?
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I thought that was what everyone did, or isn't it? I had a hairy moment going over an M25 bridge - the fence was higher than me (while mounted) but Ty freaked out when the traffic changed direction - he started to nap, hit the fence and I just booted him into a canter across the bridge....going forward is definately the way!

My friend used to train point to pointers and we'd regularly end up trotting up hills shortly into the hack to 'get their backs down'

Definately a good philosophy!
 
Yep definitely, if i can get Osc going forwards then the bronks are far easier to sit to than when he's doing his rodeo act on the spot!!
 
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I thought that was what everyone did, or isn't it? I had a hairy moment going over an M25 bridge - the fence was higher than me (while mounted) but Ty freaked out when the traffic changed direction - he started to nap, hit the fence and I just booted him into a canter across the bridge....going forward is definately the way!

My friend used to train point to pointers and we'd regularly end up trotting up hills shortly into the hack to 'get their backs down'

Definately a good philosophy!

[/ QUOTE ]

I know I know...but I see so many people pooing themselves and hanging on to mouths etc....

BTW very smexy new horse! Gorgeous in fact...are you going on Sunday - I will be in my very shiny pink new lorry! woop woop!
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yep we'll be there - there's a few of us coming from the yard...can't wait!

PS - I think alot of that is confidence though - we've all been through the hanging on for grim death in difficult circumstances!
 
Yes, it does work!

I recently had to walk my 5 year old for 6 months as he pulled his suspensory ligament, and it was awful! It was SUCH a relieve when the vet said it was OK to trot!

Then you can trot on a bit if they get silly, and it usually calms them down, doesn't it.

And with my older horse, if he's being tense and silly and spooky in the school, then I'll just start cantering straight away, and keep him in canter until he calms down and starts to let me ride him. It usually works, but sometimes takes a while!
 
i've always done this! my gelding is very nappy to hack, so i usually just push him into trot right up the road until he settles. works (almost) every time!
and when he's in a fizzy mood, i just just do some canter transitions to get him listening and calm him down.
 
i do that with one of my loan horses, he is a 4 year old, i think TB who paces inbetween the walk/trot transitions and often bursts into canter, so once i have warmed up (this is about the time when the outbreaks happen) i let him do the transition, but instead of letting him stop i push him those extra few laps. works a treat
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however if i did that with my other loan horse he gets very strong and often ends up behind my leg afterwards. i think it depends on the horse, as this loan horse just mentioned is a cob X TB who is both very fast and very strong and has to be ridden in a pelham! :O
 
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