Sammii1990x
Member
Hello,
I'm more of a lurker and observer than a poster, but I'm looking for some input on a stumbling block I have come across with my new boy, please
Firstly... let me introduce you! Meet Bobby...
Bobby is an 11 year old ex-racer (hurdler), having been retired after his last race in December 2013.
He only arrived with me last weekend, so VERY much still settling in, not trying to rush or push him in anyway shape or form - but want to know that I'm on the right track to success from the start, really!
On the ground, in his stable and in the field he has been a 300% gent, took him out for a hack the day after he arrived and he went the whole way round a circular route (about 1-2 miles) didn't bat an eyelid at a thing, brilliant temperament. Due to work restrictions, I can only exercise him in the school mid-week (both ridden and lunging), he was a bit wary about being ridden in the dark in the flood-lit school and was a bit on his toes but after a couple of sessions he (once again) was going nicely.
Took him out for a hack in company on Saturday, and this was where I started to see the issues arise. We hacked for about 2 miles on an extremely busy road, where he passed everything possible - lorries, tractors, other horses, motorbikes etc. Again, foot perfect, striding out nicely with little to no rein contact. We then turned on to a bridleway which was a narrow grass path with hedges either side. He understandably was a bit edgey, prancing and jogging thinking he was back in racing mode. I had no intention of cantering him up the path as didn't want him to think that he could do that everytime. When I wouldn't allow him to move forward at the pace he wanted to (anything faster than walk), he started rearing. After the 2nd rear, he went to take off but literally came back to me immediately (within a stride). He chucked in a third rear and then calmed down brilliantly when realising he wasn't going to win - I also think I'd sorted out my breathing/communication issues thanks to my friend who was with me telling me to breathe and kick when necessary
He walked like an angel for the majority of the way home, until we got to a lane where there were fields either side intermittently down the path. All of the fields had open gateways, leading to basically the open green, green, grass! He would walk past them absolutely fine, not trying to take off into the openness however when we had walked past it he would then start napping, rearing up and trying to spin around to go back. His rears were getting fairly big and scary at this point, and as we were heading down a fairly steep hill I did have to dismount as I was feeling uneasy. When we got to the bottom of the hill, he stood rock still whilst I mounted again, and walked off as if I was making a fuss over nothing! Walked past a horse going in the opposite direction, no issues. Walked past a field with the gate propped open, I could feel him tensing up so growled at him and told him to "b****y" try it, and he walked past OK, still abit edgey but at least we had all four feet on the floor! Got to the end of the lane and went to turn to go back on to the main road to head home (yard literally 300 yards away) and he completely flipped out, rearing and spinning about 3 or 4 times before I dismounted due to safety concerns.
Took him out today by himself, as the company of the other horse yesterday had no link to his behaviour (he acted up whether in the front or behind) Walked off the yard confidently, no issues. Was a bit "bouncy" when we got to the end of the road and turned right, but calmed down with some words of warning. When we got to the end of the lane where he flipped out at the end of the ride yesterday, we had exactly the same reaction as I tried to ride him past the entrance to carry on up the main road instead. Again, due to safety concerns and the traffic I had to dismount - I then continued the rest of the hack on foot, encouraging him to learn to stand still as and when I asked him and then to walk on without any issue. When I got back to the yard, I took him in the school and worked him so as he knew it wouldn't get him out of work and he was really good, although did feel somewhat like a ticking time bomb!
My plan moving forward with him was continue the ridden work in the school, getting to know each other and how we tick/ride and do all hacking work out in-hand, make them as boring as possible, especially where fields and grass are concerned. Would you say this is the correct thing to be doing, please? Also, any other advice and opinions are greatly received!
Sorry for the long post...!
I'm more of a lurker and observer than a poster, but I'm looking for some input on a stumbling block I have come across with my new boy, please
Firstly... let me introduce you! Meet Bobby...
Bobby is an 11 year old ex-racer (hurdler), having been retired after his last race in December 2013.
He only arrived with me last weekend, so VERY much still settling in, not trying to rush or push him in anyway shape or form - but want to know that I'm on the right track to success from the start, really!
On the ground, in his stable and in the field he has been a 300% gent, took him out for a hack the day after he arrived and he went the whole way round a circular route (about 1-2 miles) didn't bat an eyelid at a thing, brilliant temperament. Due to work restrictions, I can only exercise him in the school mid-week (both ridden and lunging), he was a bit wary about being ridden in the dark in the flood-lit school and was a bit on his toes but after a couple of sessions he (once again) was going nicely.
Took him out for a hack in company on Saturday, and this was where I started to see the issues arise. We hacked for about 2 miles on an extremely busy road, where he passed everything possible - lorries, tractors, other horses, motorbikes etc. Again, foot perfect, striding out nicely with little to no rein contact. We then turned on to a bridleway which was a narrow grass path with hedges either side. He understandably was a bit edgey, prancing and jogging thinking he was back in racing mode. I had no intention of cantering him up the path as didn't want him to think that he could do that everytime. When I wouldn't allow him to move forward at the pace he wanted to (anything faster than walk), he started rearing. After the 2nd rear, he went to take off but literally came back to me immediately (within a stride). He chucked in a third rear and then calmed down brilliantly when realising he wasn't going to win - I also think I'd sorted out my breathing/communication issues thanks to my friend who was with me telling me to breathe and kick when necessary
He walked like an angel for the majority of the way home, until we got to a lane where there were fields either side intermittently down the path. All of the fields had open gateways, leading to basically the open green, green, grass! He would walk past them absolutely fine, not trying to take off into the openness however when we had walked past it he would then start napping, rearing up and trying to spin around to go back. His rears were getting fairly big and scary at this point, and as we were heading down a fairly steep hill I did have to dismount as I was feeling uneasy. When we got to the bottom of the hill, he stood rock still whilst I mounted again, and walked off as if I was making a fuss over nothing! Walked past a horse going in the opposite direction, no issues. Walked past a field with the gate propped open, I could feel him tensing up so growled at him and told him to "b****y" try it, and he walked past OK, still abit edgey but at least we had all four feet on the floor! Got to the end of the lane and went to turn to go back on to the main road to head home (yard literally 300 yards away) and he completely flipped out, rearing and spinning about 3 or 4 times before I dismounted due to safety concerns.
Took him out today by himself, as the company of the other horse yesterday had no link to his behaviour (he acted up whether in the front or behind) Walked off the yard confidently, no issues. Was a bit "bouncy" when we got to the end of the road and turned right, but calmed down with some words of warning. When we got to the end of the lane where he flipped out at the end of the ride yesterday, we had exactly the same reaction as I tried to ride him past the entrance to carry on up the main road instead. Again, due to safety concerns and the traffic I had to dismount - I then continued the rest of the hack on foot, encouraging him to learn to stand still as and when I asked him and then to walk on without any issue. When I got back to the yard, I took him in the school and worked him so as he knew it wouldn't get him out of work and he was really good, although did feel somewhat like a ticking time bomb!
My plan moving forward with him was continue the ridden work in the school, getting to know each other and how we tick/ride and do all hacking work out in-hand, make them as boring as possible, especially where fields and grass are concerned. Would you say this is the correct thing to be doing, please? Also, any other advice and opinions are greatly received!
Sorry for the long post...!
