what am i doing wrong?

[asbo]

jay has been a star to handle on the ground & be ridden all summer.

he is still great on the ground but i am now back to sitting on the jogging / spooking / try to tank off horse i had last winter

i try to sit quiet , keep my legs off & hands soft , i don't flap or stress when hes pratting about.

he almost had me off down a ditch today when a squirrel came out a bush

i don't mind him twating about as such, its just dangerous when he suddenly jumps 4 ft to the middle of the road when a cars coming

never does it in the school, only hacking.

is it me? am i setting him off?

i do have a hot bum & can make a donkey bolt

 

[Bossanova]

My older horse is much worse through the winter too, I blame the cold. Try an exercise sheet on him maybe?

 

[asbo]

he goes out with a mark tood fleece wrap around one.

yesterday he pratted so much he came back dripping in sweat

considering he is fully clipped thats quiet bad

 

[checkmate1]

Is he having enough turnout?

 

[carthorse]

As you have clipped him out I presume you give him plenty of exercise each day .I would not bother with an exercise rug,work him more and faster and tire him out.If the ground is hard and you have to do slow work then use an exercise rug but if the ground is ok then get on and work your horse well to tire him out and I agree ,wrap him up and turn him out.
Check your feed as well ,some hay is very heating

 

[sarahwilkes]

i agree with carthorse.
get him moving straight away, doing some trot gets them thinking about what they are doing and not what is around them.
although my horse is worse in summer as he was cut late he like the ladies and cant concentrate on his work!!!!

 

[asbo]

he is out from just after 6am till around 5pmish depending.

thanks everyone

 

[Nudibranch]

A couple of things helped my spooky mare - 24 hr turnout, though I admit it's not the best time of year for that! Sheepskin noseband to narrow her field of view - cheekpiece covers are also great. Long reining out and about, and also a valerian calmer in her feed. Not a huge dose, just to take the edge off. She was still sharp as a razor but her reactions became more manageable.

 

[Mavis]

My horse was spookier than a witches convention until I stopped feeding him speedibeet - is there anything you can cut out if his diet?