'Ride it like you stole it'

[Mahoganybay]

Don't recall on which thread i saw this but bloody hell, am gonna be saying it my head over and over next time the gelding gets a bit nappy.

Brilliant bit of positive mental attitude!

 

[LittleBlackMule]

It's probably quite a good theory; I find most problems arise because people instinctively hang on to the horse, even when they think they aren't.
Getting the horse moving out, at speed if necessary, has solved many issues for me.

 

[Shantara]

Haha, that's what goes through my head when Ned is napping!

 

[mandwhy]

Haha I love this phrase also. I agree with LBM, I find with horses that tank off especially it can help to practise canter transition in a big space, and become comfortable working at speed rather than getting in a panic when they go above a controlled 'lope' and obviously with the sluggish nappy ones they can 'wake up' a bit!

 

[hogged2trot]

Definitely need to know your horse though. One of mine you have to ride like that otherwise he can get dangerous when napping. But the other, you put too much leg on when they nap and suddenly they think there really is something to be scared off and gets into a HUGE state. End up just having to try and persuade them to stand still and then can slowly ask them to move forward and they will. I tried the whole getting them moving but we ended up moving upwards.

 

[kellybee]

I print this slogan on tshirts (with a pic of a rodeo cowboy mid buck).

Had a comment on my website once that said this shouldn't be promoted as humorous because riding horses so aggressively isn't the way we Brits do English riding or some such nonsense.

 

[Equilibrium Ireland]

I use it to term a positive confident ride. That may mean different things depending on the horse underneath you. But sometimes it gets people to relax and thus the ride becomes much better.

Terri

 

[1stclassalan]

Hahaha - I've just congratulated cpTrayes over the splendid leap she pictures and her lovely mount - I had the loan of a 17.2hh that his owner made me as consolation for losing my mare. Took him out on some stuble - I could feel his anticipation on the approach track and as soon as we were off-road ......zooooom! He was like a very powerful automatic gearboxed car - no gear changes - just continuous acceleration - and of course being more than a hand bigger than my old dear - none of the hedges would put him off!

Managed to calm him down to a canter after a while but on the homeward journey - he jumped the sunlight coming through a gate! No points for style but I stayed with him.

 

[limestonelil]

Where can I see the picture, I want to be inspired cos I am a bit of a wuss at times but like to be brave.

 

[AmyMay]

The best thing I've ever read. It was on a post about a napping horse and was quoted by maesfen.

 

[VickyP]

I like that!! Very much.. The next time Fridge has a wobbler I will do just that. I hope..

 

[asommerville]

heard this the other night in a lesson as my horse sas being a bit spooky...totally aounds the opposite of what you would do but it worked!!

 

[mil1212]

I print this slogan on tshirts (with a pic of a rodeo cowboy mid buck).

I've got this t-shirt Definately something that goes through my head before I leave the start box on an xc course!

 

[Binkybex]

OH has this tattooed on his arm, allways makes me smile when I see it

 

[Maesfen]

I use it to term a positive confident ride. That may mean different things depending on the horse underneath you. But sometimes it gets people to relax and thus the ride becomes much better.

Terri

That's exactly what I meant when I wrote it Terri!

The best thing I've ever read. It was on a post about a napping horse and was quoted by maesfen.

PS: it was started by bikers but just as relevant for us!