What do you do......

[Superstar]

when you hack your horse and all is well until you hit a big open space on the way back and your horse decides to plunge, leap, spin, fly buck canter on the spot the leap forward trying to snatch the reins to take off, He didn't take off as I wouldn't let him, but i did have to let him trot forward as trying to get him to walk wasn't an option....as he kept repeating the fly bucks, so trotted through the open space and then walked the rest of the way home and he was fine...a little on edge but fine......It has dented my confidence a bit as he is fine on the raod and bridle paths and i know that open spaces can be a problem with some horses but thought he would be ok as he is usually fairly calm....i'm sure he was all excited which is why he did it but I cant have him doing that.... what if I came off and he galloped all the way home.....from other experiences on here do you think he will get better the more he goes through big fields or will it progressivly get worse ...he has done it twice now...both times when we hit an open space he is like a coiled spring...pins his head to his chest and powers from behind.

I am trying to avoid a fall as dont want to scare him as he is not the most confident any way....do you think it will be wise to stick to bridle paths to build both our confidence and work on his manners....??

Any experiences shared of similar would be great - thanks

 

[Ravenwood]

Personally I would take him to that same place over and over again. Walk, trot, circle, school anything to keep him occupied. Walk half way up and turn back, circle, etc etc. Hopefully he will soon get bored and realise he can't go for a gallop!

He is going behind the bit? what bit are you using?

 

[Superstar]

Personally I would take him to that same place over and over again. Walk, trot, circle, school anything to keep him occupied. Walk half way up and turn back, circle, etc etc. Hopefully he will soon get bored and realise he can't go for a gallop!

He is going behind the bit? what bit are you using?

Same bit he always has french link loose ring snaffle....he isn't particulary strong just pingy and i'm worried his sudden outbursts will unseat me....I thought about putting a neck strap on to get over the hairy moments...

Thanks

 

[narkymare]

Suss out which way he turns - does he turn left or right when he does this?
My horse always bolts to the right so i always keep a tighter, readier hand on his left rein and pull it when he starts - as others have said, aim for circles. Bring him in x

 

[Superstar]

Hiya

He always starts with dog trotting sideways being side ways left eg if round the edge of a field....his bum would be on the grass and his head facing the path....the bronking and leaping can be in any direction...and when he tries to canter off its forward and pingy....

 

[Ravenwood]

Same bit he always has french link loose ring snaffle....he isn't particulary strong just pingy and i'm worried his sudden outbursts will unseat me....I thought about putting a neck strap on to get over the hairy moments...

Thanks

Good idea about the neck strap - it will offer you a bit of security

Can you hack out with someone who has a plod?

 

[Superstar]

Good idea about the neck strap - it will offer you a bit of security

Can you hack out with someone who has a plod?

Thank you - we was..!! Luckily the other horse was very calm and experienced and pretty much ignored his outburst.....I chose the company very wisely if I had been with someone a highly strung type that would have wound him up more i would have definately come off .... xx

 

[piebaldsparkle]

School him to half halt when you put a little pressure on the neck strap. That way when you pickup the neck strap he should start thinking half halt and not bugger off! Also if you can half halt him from the strap, you can use less rein/bit which then will have more effect when you really ask him to whoa!

 

[nixxyz]

when you hack your horse and all is well until you hit a big open space on the way back and your horse decides to plunge, leap, spin, fly buck canter on the spot the leap forward trying to snatch the reins to take off, He didn't take off as I wouldn't let him, but i did have to let him trot forward as trying to get him to walk wasn't an option....as he kept repeating the fly bucks, so trotted through the open space and then walked the rest of the way home and he was fine...a little on edge but fine......It has dented my confidence a bit as he is fine on the raod and bridle paths and i know that open spaces can be a problem with some horses but thought he would be ok as he is usually fairly calm....i'm sure he was all excited which is why he did it but I cant have him doing that.... what if I came off and he galloped all the way home.....from other experiences on here do you think he will get better the more he goes through big fields or will it progressivly get worse ...he has done it twice now...both times when we hit an open space he is like a coiled spring...pins his head to his chest and powers from behind.

I am trying to avoid a fall as dont want to scare him as he is not the most confident any way....do you think it will be wise to stick to bridle paths to build both our confidence and work on his manners....??

Any experiences shared of similar would be great - thanks

my girl is exactly the same!! even use the same bit lol !! with her its sheer excitement and all i do is persist with what i want ie walk through the fields or trot. it is hard but she eventually gets the message that she cant gallop all the time. the neck strap is a great idea tho,

 

[Kellys Heroes]

My part loan mare can be like this - when we want to walk or trot across fields I have to sit very still as the slightest movement from my legs and she's gone - as you say she's like a spring! I started riding her out in a martingale just to give me more confidence tbh but I do without now. A few times I've had to turn her in circles to keep her walking - tbh I don't have a problem stopping her though so I generally let her go I know she will stop eventually. Maybe it's just a persisting thing that will get easier?
Could it be the spring grass? I've been riding my p/l owner's other mare (confusing I know!) lately and she is the sweetest most laid back horse ever and lately she's been a fruitloop! She was broncing with me, kept squealing and kicking her back legs up, head between her knees, when I went into canter it was more like an excuse to turn herself inside out! I daren't hack her out across fields until she's been on summer turnout for a while.
K x

 

[Superstar]

my girl is exactly the same!! even use the same bit lol !! with her its sheer excitement and all i do is persist with what i want ie walk through the fields or trot. it is hard but she eventually gets the message that she cant gallop all the time. the neck strap is a great idea tho,

Yeah you are right - it is sheer excitment i'm sure.....hes like come on mum...we are free... and i'm like - no lets not...! But i dont want the sheer excitment to turn into bad manners or an uncontrollable horse, I have never galloped or cantered him there so its not a habit...as im sure he could be strong if he wanted to go....but today he wasn't strong and listened when i said no but chose to ping around instead which is prob worse to sit to then the fast canter!! When I said no.... he lept about a bit so we compromised with a little bit of trot to get him forwards thinking rather then side or leap thinking...we then brought him back to walk the rest of the way....I know it may seem silly to some but i'm trying to build up my confidence with both of us not dent it...it was our first open field hack for a while....although i'm sure he is now in his stable having happy exciting dreams about the hack and i'm dreading the next one...lol..

xxx

 

[Kellys Heroes]

If it was first open hack in a while and the spring grass is coming through thick and fast, it was probably just high jinks! You are right in saying you don't want it to become bad manners and you did the right thing - perhaps school him before you go out?
K x