Running backwards - how to deal with it

[Holly Hocks]

My previously reasonably bombproof TB mare has become fitter recently and the new evasion appears to be running backwards - at speed. It's only happened in the last 2-3 weeks - when she sees something on a hack that she doesn't want to pass. She has previously done a spin and mini rear, which was easily dealt with by turning her back round and growling and getting after her. But she seems to know that she can't get away with that, so running backwards is the new evasion - to the point that she is almost sitting on her hocks. I have to stress, this doesn't frighten me in the slightest, but I feel that if I kick her on, she will either run backwards quicker, or might go up into a full rear. Also dont fancy her backing into a car....
What do you think would be the best way of dealing with it? She is really quick to do it - one minute she's going forwards, and before I know it, the reverse gear has been engaged...help please!!

 

[Izzwizz]

Have you tried riding her in a shoulder in position when she does this? If shes not straight and positioned at an angle she shouldnt be able to run backwards. I guess if shes quick to do it you would have to turn a tight circle then do shoulder in, best thing I can think of. My own mare used to do this a bit and I tried this and also used spurs to get after her along with a sharp slap with the whip.


Good luck and its good she doesnt scare you with it !

 

[ladyt25]

My pony can do this - he's always used this 'technique' if he didn't fancy doing something, although mainly with him it's a case o things blowing his brain a bit and it's like he doesn't know what to do with himself so goes in to reverse and, the more you try kick him on the faster he goes backwards! The only thing I have found that stops him is to MAKE him go backwards. I generally try and get him to go backwards though in the direction I want to actually be going in. However, if they start going backwards and you cannot turn them then just put more pressure on them to go backwards. Really make them back up but YOU are asking them to do it as opposed the them choosing this as an evasion.

Once they stop then ask for forwards again, if they reverse again then again force them to go backwards. It does tend to work but it takes some time and patience i can tell you that! I once had a 'disagreement' with mine when we were going up a steep hill - he decided he didn't like something so went backwards very fast down the hill - not fun! I managed to turn him and made hem reverse UP the hill. He'd then stop and I'd turn him back round, ask for walk forwards up the hill, he tried reverse again so again I spun him and reversed him up the hill again. This went on for a good long while but I did eventually 'win' and we continued on the rest of our hack without issue.

 

[SillySausage]

Mine runs backwards in fear on hacks. The best way I find it to sit quietly and give no reaction until he has stopped, let him stand and assess the situation. Then I ask him to move on whilst talking to him, he responds well to being told it's ok.

I have smacked him before, when I thought he was going to hit a car and it just made the situation worse. However, I have done this with another horse when heading for a ditch and she soon got moving!

Think it depends on what your horse responds best to

 

[PoppyAnderson]

This guy is remarkable. He's a jockey in Japan and he can sit to anything! Not saying that this is necessarily exactly the same as you're horse but this little TB runs backwards and it's really interesting to see how Endo addresses it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink#p/u/25/HqQi0rkkbTs

 

[Holly Hocks]

Have you tried riding her in a shoulder in position when she does this? If shes not straight and positioned at an angle she shouldnt be able to run backwards. I guess if shes quick to do it you would have to turn a tight circle then do shoulder in, best thing I can think of. My own mare used to do this a bit and I tried this and also used spurs to get after her along with a sharp slap with the whip.


Good luck and its good she doesnt scare you with it !

I was thinking of doing a circle as soon as I could - I think I might have to start carrying a stick as well - I don't normally carry one. It's a rare occurrence, but I don't want it to become habit - I want to stop her as soon as possible - I hate nappy horses!!

 

[bumblelion]

My tb is very good at this. I find a quick tap with the whip soon gets him going again! It's a confidence boost for him! I tried the softly softly approach and he just got worse, spinning etc We've even been down ditches.

 

[Holly Hocks]

This guy is remarkable. He's a jockey in Japan and he can sit to anything! Not saying that this is necessarily exactly the same as you're horse but this little TB runs backwards and it's really interesting to see how Endo addresses it.

http://www.youtube.com/user/endospink#p/u/25/HqQi0rkkbTs

Good God, if she gets that bad, I'll give up riding completely! LOL!! Pretty amazing to be able to sit to what he did - I've never seen him before. Thanks for that!

 

[PoppyAnderson]

Good God, if she gets that bad, I'll give up riding completely! LOL!! Pretty amazing to be able to sit to what he did - I've never seen him before. Thanks for that!

There's an even better one somewhere of a horse persistently running backwards but I can't just find it. I'll keep looking.

 

[Echo Bravo]

If she's been very good up till now, get her eyes tested.

 

[Holly Hocks]

There's an even better one somewhere of a horse persistently running backwards but I can't just find it. I'll keep looking.

thanks - that would be good to see.....I'll check back tomorrow as logging off now. Thanks again.

 

[mystiandsunny]

Lilly does this - out of fear. She also used to rear and spin and now usually runs backwards.
I've tried running her backwards, but on the road that isn't safe. What I've done is ensure she has road nails, and I spin her round, at the slightest sign of backing hard and fast so we're facing forwards again, then kick her on. If she goes forwards, leave her to it, if she hesitates, kick, if she goes to run backwards, spin and kick on. It's worked for us, and I always have a quick check for footing first. If she was somewhere slippery, I'd let her go back a few steps until I was happy with the ground, then spin.

 

[Andalusianlover]

My friends Lusitano used to be brilliant at running backwards. She cured it by making her go backwards!

 

[Miss L Toe]

I know its not PC, but if you knew where it was going to happen, could you have someone with a hunting crop give her one on the rump, obviously you are pretty brave, but I suggest a soft landing area anyway.
I did this with a lunge whip after seven days of planting instead of just walking in to stable, horse was seven before he was broken [thanks to the owner for telling me he was unhandled btw]
He used to run backwards if I tried to mount using the BHS method, I lasted three months, before the ambulance was needed, new lady owner lasted five days when she bought him [sold out the field as an experienced hack, unfortunately experienced in all the wrong things!