Sponsored rides and cantering past

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CobsGalore

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So my new boy is perfect in every way, I cannot fault him!

The only little thing is that when my friend has cantered past us in the field a few times he has taken off too, in an excited way, not a dangerous way.

I want to do sponsored rides and things with him soon but worried he is not going to cope very well with people cantering past, which un doubtably they will.

How can I get him used to this? Or is it just eneviatable that he is going to be like this, as in it's in his nature?
 
Get practising with your friend, both you cantering past her and her cantering past you until he is so used to it it doesn't worry him, it will be time well spent. That's not to say he'll be perfect the first few times it happens with strange horses in a strange place but it will help if he's been used to it beforehand.
 
Be brave and take him on as many rides as you can - he will improve. If you are nervous for the first one or two - maybe ask someone with a bit more experience to ride him for you?
Or try aiming to be one of the last groups through? Most people are courteous these days, and will ask if it is OK to overtake you? It was not like that in my day - everyone just went hell for leather!
 
My mare was like this the first couple of times I hunted on her. The call of "Whip on the left!" made me feel sick, as I knew that as soon as the Whip was level with us, he'd be joined at speed by a red-faced girl on a fat coloured pony saying "sorrysorrysorrysorry!" :p Luckily our hunt are very friendly, and when she indulged in some acrobatics in an attempt to follow the master who came past, and I managed to cling on as she went 'bronc-rear-levade-bounce-canter on the spot-bounce-levade', I got several impressed sounding cries of "well sat, lass!", and not the telling off I deserved for overtaking the field master :D She is fab now, though! She just got used to it after a few times out :)
Is it possible to arrange for a friend to meet you out hacking, and get them to overtake in walk as you are stood still, then build up to them trotting past as you walk, and then cantering past? x
 
Thanks everyone, it's reassuring to hear that with practice he may not get as excited! I think we will do lots of practices in the field first, both trotting and cantering past, and then try out hacking.

He is young and not long been backed so hopefully it will be an easy habit to change :)
 
I dont mean to sound negative but my horse did not get used to it and actually got worse.
I used to do every sponsored ride I could on my last horse and when I took my current horse to her 1st one she was fine until horses went past her and would then trot or canter in front, she was hysterical. I tried everything I could to calm her down but she was covered in sweat and was leaping around like a gazelle. It is lucky for me that she doesnt react by bolting, she leaps and broncs, which whilst isnt much fun is much better than being bolted with.
It was not a fun 15 miles for me or her, I thought I would try again on another smaller ride but she was so ready to anticipate people going past she was a nightmare the entire way and I couldnt even turn around and go back as we would have been confronted with even more horses passing.
I can only do them on her now if I head out before anyone else so that there are minimal horses going past.
If you could go in a small quiet experience group and tuck your horse in a bit to see whether he adjusts to the situations.
 
I stopped and gave my boy polos every time a horse passed us. He very soon changed from "oh, theres a strange horse, lets go mad" to "oh, theres a strange horse, I'll stop for my sweeties". He also thinks that tractors are polo mint dispensers ;)

Now, he is fab and I have no problems but my first couple of outings were not particularly fun!
 
Skippys Mum said:
I stopped and gave my boy polos every time a horse passed us. He very soon changed from "oh, theres a strange horse, lets go mad" to "oh, theres a strange horse, I'll stop for my sweeties". He also thinks that tractors are polo mint dispensers ;)

Now, he is fab and I have no problems but my first couple of outings were not particularly fun!
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What a great idea!!

If he doesn't get better with practice am definitely going to try this!

What happens if you are trotting along and someone canters past? Its Ok if you are walking, but does he stop for a polo when trotting as this isn't really very practical!?
 
This is in my thoughts today as my daughter & her friend will be doing the Kirtlington Sponsored Ride tomorrow, both on first timers!

People really shouldn't be passing you in canter on these rides, that is rude & can be dangerous. They should call ahead to you, asking if it's ok to pass & then if you agree, they can trot past whilst you are walking. If they can see that you are having trouble, most people will slow right down. You can always stop & pull over to let people pass but don't be afraid to ask them to move down a gear, just thank everyone profusely when they do :-)

Get out there & start doing some. Good luck, have fun.
 
Thanks. I would like to think people would ask to pass but I doubt that everyone would. I think he would be ok if I stopped and let him see them come past, but it's when horses come up behind or on the inside that he doesn't like.
 
practise makes perfect, keep going to them he will eventually get used to it, you on the other hand are aware he will do this so you can be prepared for it and all will be well, try maybe doing a very slow canter for a few paces before your friend comes past and keep the slow canter pace, at least then you will be moving and this make him settle more.
 
CobsGalore said:
What a great idea!!

If he doesn't get better with practice am definitely going to try this!

What happens if you are trotting along and someone canters past? Its Ok if you are walking, but does he stop for a polo when trotting as this isn't really very practical!?
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I just made sure I was back in walk by the time anyone came past. He was a real sod and used to try to kick other horses and spin till I came off. He is brilliant now and can go first, last or in the middle with no problems at any speed. We also have a handy default "whoa" setting now. All I have to do is let him here the noise of velcro and he stops:o
 
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