Tell me how to ride my horse..am I doing right!?

[poiuytrewq]

As a follow on from my afraid of being bucked off thread!
I was going to bring my TB back into work but was worried about his behaviour as I've had a confidence bashing and he can be hard work.
So I decided chances were as so many of you guys pointed out that he wouldn't chuck me off but may be very fizzy.
Hes actually been great but is starting to get very boisterous on the way home. I keep him down the bottom of a dead end lane so have no choice but to come back down it to get back home!
He gets joggy, starts squealing and leaping a bit (not totally gone off on one yet, this I am keen to avoid!)
Ive been sitting v quiet and giving him the reins as I find contact when he's like this sends him over the edge. If I can't keep him to a steady walk I push him into a trot but slow it with my seat by rising as slow as possible still not touching his mouth too much. I also ask him to bend and try to distract him.
Like I say so far he's not had one of his real leaping ans shrieking sessions which do worry me and I have been genuinely calm feeling on him. Am I doing right? Is there anything else I can do to avoid real conflict?
He's so so good for the rest of the ride, we are on busy roads etc and he's perfect until the lane home!

 

[showpony]

I would say you are doing everything fine!
Only advice would be to put a neck-strap on him so you do have something to grab if he does have a moment!
He is just excited about getting back to stable - couple of taps from a whip to re-inforce your leg & ride him through " The moment"

 

[Foxhunter49]

Watch what you are feeding him!

Might sound silly but if he gets tizzy the last part of homeward bound, why not get off and lead him? This should keep him a bit calmer and then after a few days of doing this you can ride him a few yards further with him (hopefully) keeping calm. Gradually you should be able to ride him all the way.

We dismount about quarter of a mile from home and lead the last part home. A habit I got into when working in a racing yard.

 

[showpony]

Thats a very good tip! ! thankfully my own Mare just does the most beautiful extended walk when we are near home ( never in the Arena though )
Will suggest that to a couple people I know having similar probs to the OP

Watch what you are feeding him!


Might sound silly but if he gets tizzy the last part of homeward bound, why not get off and lead him? This should keep him a bit calmer and then after a few days of doing this you can ride him a few yards further with him (hopefully) keeping calm. Gradually you should be able to ride him all the way.

We dismount about quarter of a mile from home and lead the last part home. A habit I got into when working in a racing yard.

 

[Emilieu]

I think you are doing right - when my tb gets fizzy I consciously take a deep breath, relax and give with my reins. Seems to work but much much harder than it sounds to genuinely relax your seat when you are tense!

 

[timetoride]

Everyone else's ideas sound good and I'm sure you have already tried this but also maybe work him a little bit harder so he's a bit tired before you get back for a couple of days just to break the habit? Obviously I don't mean too much as you say he's just coming back into work but just enough that he doesn't still have bundles of unused energy at the end of the ride!

 

[poiuytrewq]

Hi Thanks,
he's a fatty so currently fed about a scoop of healthy hoof split into two a day and hay. He's out as much as possible. I am bringing in if its absolutely vile as my field tends to flood.

I used to smack him sometimes and it makes him significantly worse (a friend once tryed to sort him out and gave a good wollop.....he deposited her quickly!) so it doesn't work with him.

In the 5 years I've had him I've never known him feel worn out! Even after a good couple of hours he can still dance round and do acrobatics! I have advertised and think I may have found someone to help with riding him so he gets to do more as I'm currently riding him one day and my other horse the next. I will certainly increase his work load though but we are only on week one and due to a past fracture I try and bring him into work steadily but it's also a case of what I have time for, He'd never make a quiet hack ;-)
I had thought of leading him if he got too bad, guess I was scared of looking a chicken! I certainly will if I feel it's getting out of hand. He wears a martingale as can get a bit giraffe like sometimes so always have a neck strap!

Thank you all x

 

[padderpaws]

How about teaching a one rein stop. this worked well with my horse. I stress that it does have to be taught you can't just do it or you will have a disaster on your hands. Once you have taught it and are competent at using it, when he starts to go a bit fast bring it into play wait for calm and then gently move off. Repeat as necessary. They learn that they get home faster if they stay calm and walk nicely rather than jog jog and getting silly. No need for argument, or whip and you can stay calm too which is a very big factor.