Totally gutted

Ride was good, I led out of the yard and down the road a good bit. He didn't stop at all, but I was prob quite nervous and think he could feel this - we led a couple of canters through the forest and he was very good, but then we popped a small ditch (also in front) and whilst he was super,buddy horse behind got excited and tanked off a little and ran past us, so Knobber followed suit... head up again and just ran through the bit. Grrrr! Then, again as we were in front, something behind a hedge was upsetting both of them... Monts just jogged a small bit but didn't really try to run off, then buddy horse took a notion and legged it past us again so Monts did the same thing - head up and run off. We'd just settled them down from whatever it was that was upsetting them in the horse-eating hedge (really don't have a clue what it was) and we met a tractor and huge cattle trailer with a noisy bull in the back and, as it all tried to pass us, a dog shot out from behind the trailor, so Monts span and tried to run for a few strides. He did stop and went past it ok once the tractor was stationary, we just followed buddy horse past.

None of the things were really his fault, but it just wasn't the best day for them to pick to be a bit spooky. I am a little concerned about his new 'head up, mouth open, run off' discovery... will see what he's like over the next few days, will tighten his flash (so it's actually having an effect - it's v loose at the moment) and decide if I need to go down the martingale route.

Still, it was an ok day, not brilliant but not disastrous and although I was definitely a bit nervous with him, we'll just keep taking it handy for a few days :)
 
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Well done you! Okay so it wasn't perfect, but you coped with everything he threw at you, that's great. Give yourself a pat on the back rather than looking at the fact he wasn't perfect.

Maybe consider a drop noseband rather than a flash, & can always use a martingale to control his head throwing. You can always take them off again once he has learnt that these evasions don't work.

Sounds like your doing a fab job with your nerves & controlling your lad. Keep it up, & view each time he isn't perfect as a chance to educate him, so it's a positive experience rather than a negative one.
 
Thanks pip6 :)

I'm not at all upset/annoyed at him for how he was today, just a bit disappointed in myself for being nervous when he did the spooks/runs... thought I was past that. I'm not going to change anything for a few days anyways and see how he is as I'm positive that my nerves were contributing to the running off. Hopefully tomorrow I'll be a bit more relaxed again and if he does run I should be able to handle it a bit better... I've coped before (although he hasn't thrown his head like that before) so want to give him the benefit of the doubt and make allowance for my uselessness!

Will definitely try a drop noseband if he doesn't stop the head throwing though, thanks again :)
 
A properly adjusted running martingale will keep the bit on his bars,he is shifting it off his bars so you lose control,lots try that one.If you cannot give him a wallop ..how about some dummy spurs,a good boot with those could change his thinking to your way.
 
I would def consider a running martingale even just for hacking out as will prevent him getting his head up to that point but also give you a neckstrap if you need to drop your hands, give him a kick and sit into him to ride him on! Equally I actually think it is very positive that your ride today was good but not perfect...he spooked/joined in with other horse messing but you coped!!! Well done
 
I know just how you feel, my pony was very out of sorts the other day and we ended up bronking half way around a field. I have since never set foot back in that field but from your post it has made me realise I need to fight my fears and walk around this field tomorrow.
I also agree with amage about the martingale, the neck strap comes in very useful. Remember even William fox Pitt has a neck strap
 
Don't feel disappointed. To say you had a crappy day the day before you still managed to:
Get back on and go on another hack
Have a few canters
Control him after he ran off with you
Get him past a few spooky objects

Confidence is something which grows gradually but can be broken down in an instance. Don't beat yourself up, you're already on the right track again to gaining it back and the next hack will be one more towards it.
 
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