MiJodsR2BlinkinTite
Well-Known Member
Someone else has suggested you have some professional help with yours; invaluable IMO as an outsider/expert will see things from another perspective.
You say OP that this started when a dog started to jump up and claw at your horse? OK some will say this was an excuse, BUT IMO there's a lot more to this and basically it sounds like your horse may just have lost confidence which is why, in wide open spaces and/or on hacks, HE is dictating the pace and also the direction (i.e. homewards, to keep himself safe = primitive response pattern of behavour, which is fast becoming established).
You have to break this pattern! Personally I'd go right back to basics and be doing groundwork. For now, stay in the school - and get your expert in and take their advice. Thereafter, lunge, longrein, and/or follow your expert's schooling pattern UNTIL such time as your horse has learnt to respect YOU as herd leader. This may take a while and you will have to be patient before going out solo hacking again.
When you do start to hack him out again; it would be good to just have one other horse with you - and that needs to be a really steady companion who will give him confidence. You need to avoid going in big groups who just want to tank off as all that will do is teach him bad manners.
I agree with others; this isn't a bitting issue - its a confidence one. He's lost his confidence in you as herd leader which is why this "flight" reaction is setting in. And the only way you can restore it is to set out clear boundaries, starting from on the ground and then progressing to ridden work in the school.
But you need a professional to work with you on this. I'd be inclined to ask around your friends/neighbourhood to find someone and/or on-line. You do want someone with the right approach however; so personally I'd look for someone of the Intelligent Horsemanship sort of ilk (please note: NOT Parelli!!!!
).
Good luck!
You say OP that this started when a dog started to jump up and claw at your horse? OK some will say this was an excuse, BUT IMO there's a lot more to this and basically it sounds like your horse may just have lost confidence which is why, in wide open spaces and/or on hacks, HE is dictating the pace and also the direction (i.e. homewards, to keep himself safe = primitive response pattern of behavour, which is fast becoming established).
You have to break this pattern! Personally I'd go right back to basics and be doing groundwork. For now, stay in the school - and get your expert in and take their advice. Thereafter, lunge, longrein, and/or follow your expert's schooling pattern UNTIL such time as your horse has learnt to respect YOU as herd leader. This may take a while and you will have to be patient before going out solo hacking again.
When you do start to hack him out again; it would be good to just have one other horse with you - and that needs to be a really steady companion who will give him confidence. You need to avoid going in big groups who just want to tank off as all that will do is teach him bad manners.
I agree with others; this isn't a bitting issue - its a confidence one. He's lost his confidence in you as herd leader which is why this "flight" reaction is setting in. And the only way you can restore it is to set out clear boundaries, starting from on the ground and then progressing to ridden work in the school.
But you need a professional to work with you on this. I'd be inclined to ask around your friends/neighbourhood to find someone and/or on-line. You do want someone with the right approach however; so personally I'd look for someone of the Intelligent Horsemanship sort of ilk (please note: NOT Parelli!!!!
).Good luck!
