So close to giving up

[J_sarahd]

I had a lesson on my Welsh Section D today and he's usually quite strong anyway. But today, he barged through the gate, nearly took off and then once he walked through the gate properly and I managed to get on, he wanted to spin and tank off. My instructor thought he was going to rear. He's been really naughty recently; tanking off, not listening to anything....

I'm just getting frustrated because he can go really nicely but I just feel like we have hit a brick wall as we were progressing nicely and now this...

He's ridden in a Pelham with a high port and curb straps.

I just need tips/advice/exercises to do

 

[milliepops]

Sorry you're having a rough time. what did your instructor suggest when this happened? They are in the best place to give advice, having seen the horse

 

[be positive]

Is this the horse you have only been sharing a short time? if so slow down a bit you have hardly had time to get to know him let alone feel like you have hit a brick wall, it takes months if not years to get to really know a horse.
I suspect the bit is part of the issue as it is a sharp bit and unless you are very experienced it is likely you are not using it appropriately and even if you were is is still probably too much bit for him however strong he is the port will be going into the roof of his mouth and will be at least uncomfortable at worst painful, certainly enough to make him want to rear to get away from it.

If he is too much for you there is no shame in moving on and leaving him for his owner to sort out, otherwise try something less severe that will still give you brakes but will less risk of doing harm that will enable you to go back to the basics he has probably missed out on and take things a bit more slowly, it may mean just walking and halting until he listens and relaxes, then introducing short controlled trots using your weight and seat rather than hands to slow him down and bring him back to walk, far better to tackle the issue from a correct training point of view than to stick serious bits in his mouth in an attempt to fix it.

Frustration will get you nowhere but patience might make a nice horse out of him and a better rider out of you, you will need an instructor that is patient, prepared to take the long term route and an owner, if they also ride, who will not undo all the good work you put in.

 

[J_sarahd]

Sorry you're having a rough time. what did your instructor suggest when this happened? They are in the best place to give advice, having seen the horse

She basically said to sort out the ground work as his owner is a proper softie with him so he walks all over her

 

[J_sarahd]

Is this the horse you have only been sharing a short time? if so slow down a bit you have hardly had time to get to know him let alone feel like you have hit a brick wall, it takes months if not years to get to really know a horse.
I suspect the bit is part of the issue as it is a sharp bit and unless you are very experienced it is likely you are not using it appropriately and even if you were is is still probably too much bit for him however strong he is the port will be going into the roof of his mouth and will be at least uncomfortable at worst painful, certainly enough to make him want to rear to get away from it.

If he is too much for you there is no shame in moving on and leaving him for his owner to sort out, otherwise try something less severe that will still give you brakes but will less risk of doing harm that will enable you to go back to the basics he has probably missed out on and take things a bit more slowly, it may mean just walking and halting until he listens and relaxes, then introducing short controlled trots using your weight and seat rather than hands to slow him down and bring him back to walk, far better to tackle the issue from a correct training point of view than to stick serious bits in his mouth in an attempt to fix it.

Frustration will get you nowhere but patience might make a nice horse out of him and a better rider out of you, you will need an instructor that is patient, prepared to take the long term route and an owner, if they also ride, who will not undo all the good work you put in.

I think I'm just annoyed because we were progressing really nicely and doing some really good work and then out of nowhere he's started being an absolute idiot.

He started when he was in the Waterford, a bit I've got some really nice work out of him