What to do? Reversing and spinning out hacking

[HBII]

Aloha HHO

Need a little bit of advice if that alright?

Hacking out down the road I am having a few issues, get to a certain point on a certain hack and madam decides something is FAR too scary to carry on. She will try to spin around and walk off to home [to lazy to trot or canter], or just plant herself and reverse up the road.

The more leg I use the quicker we go - backwards

and this results in some wobbly manouvres

.

So what on earth do you do??

I have tried to pat her and ask her to carry on, she spins. I have tried tapping her with a stick and she just grunts and spins. Then Ill ask her again and she will go past it.

Sometimes to get past something takes one spin, other times it is like being on the magic roundabout

.

Teeth are fine, back and saddle is fine and not in season.

Any tips, ideas would be very gratefully received.

HB

 

[jesterfaerie]

I have had this issue with my ex-racer. He would plant himself, spin and walk backwards and sometimes it would take up to 20 minutes to get him going again.

I had to get off him and lead him past then remount and carry on - as cars would get fed up of waiting.
I have several very short circular hacks, so when I had to dismount and take him past it I would carry on my hack but then go around again and 8/10 he was better to go past the scary spot.

Getting off was the only option as he would stress and worry himself even more spinning and acting the fool and nothing would work, kicking, smack with a whip etc would only make him worse.

Doing this slowly made him better and he wouldn't nap as much the first time around and this eventually led to me just being able to sit on him and wait for him to pack it in and carry on.

It has been a slow process but now if he stops and spins he will only do it once or twice and move on as he has leart that I will just sit there and wait for him to stop it.
I always make him face the way he is meant to go, he eventually gets the idea that no matter what he does he always ends up facing MY way so he caves in and gived up.

I have found several times that letting him back up into a prickly bush helps a lot.

 

[HBII]

Thanks jesterfaerie - its soo frustrating isnt it?!!

You have made me feel better

its just like they switch off and say "yeah right on your bike".

Right Ill get off and start leading her past it, shame it isnt on a short route, but Ill have to get out every night and just go for it.

It is good to hear you have had positive results doing that, as I have exhausted my ideas.

LMAO at the pricky bush

Thanks again

 

[ladyt25]

I have a 23 yo pony I've had for 15 years who STILL tries this tactic! Mind you he is generally neurotic anyway.

When he does do this - reversing, getting faster and faster and won't go forward no matter how much I kick, growl or try be 'pleasant', I will reverse him past it instead! Normally this works and we can turn back round opnce past and carryu on the hack. If he will not reverse past or for any reason it is not an option and all else fails I will have to get off and lead him past. I think providing they don't 'win' and get their way, howver you resort to getting them past is up to you - whatever works!

 

[Supanova]

Let me guess is she a warmblood?! My mare does exactly the same thing and I have heard from a lot of others that their warmbloods do this too. With my mare it is mainly a security thing because they don't want to leave the herd (even though she is going hacking with other horses!).

I think the best way of dealing with it, is to keep quietly insisting and keep facing her in the way you want to go and quietly putting your leg on. Like you I have found a big kick doesn't actually work as she might go forward one stride but will then do a big spin which is more dangerous. Also practice doing rein backs at home and then when she starts going backwards actually ask her to go backwards. When you are actually making her go backwards and she is having to work, she will think twice about it. Also I have found that really engaging the stomach muscles and trying to push them forward with your lower back has quite an amazing affect. However, if none of the above work I agree with the others that it is better to get off and lead past so that she doesn't think she has won!

 

[Chavhorse]

My ex racer used to do the same thing.....we got to a 'you can reverse if you are scared but no way are you turning round mate' stage if he was scared of something he used to reverse back and stand snorting getting his courage together then he would walk on past.

When I first had him first ride on his own we went through the whole 'i'm not going on' back spin arrrgh then stood and refused to move. I got off led him past and got on again. Next day he did it again....so we just sat and sat and sat until buster realised that if he did not go on then he would be standing there come night time. He gave a huge sigh and walked on never did it again as I think he realised I was a far more stubbon cow than he was.

 

[AmyMay]

When horses nap like this, I tend not to make an issue of it (if possible).

If she starts, make her stand - sit there for 5 mins - and then ask her to walk on. If she goes in to reverse, make her stand again and so on. But it must all be done quietly and without fuss from the rider.

Even if it takes you all day.

Been there with a previous horse, and she never napped again.

 

[HBII]

Ah so the "your 11 years old you should know better" line will have no affect

.

Ill try reversing her past it - thats a good idea

.

Thank you

 

[miss_c]

I had this with Mazzie when I first got her. She wasn't used to hacking and so would just plant herself and try to turn around. Smacking her would result in her getting stroppy and cow kicking, so I would end up turning her to face it again, standing there for a little while, and then asking her to walk again. However one day I got really fed up and used the reins 'cowboy style' on either side of her neck. She walked past and I never had such a battle again!

 

[HBII]

Thanks supernova - she is g*tbag X Irish Sports Horse

Arent they so clever lol! Ok Ill quietly insist from no on, and when I want a rein back Ill make the s*d work for it.

I will also try to use my lower back more too - I am pretty sure I must do something with my body to make her worse.

Cheers

 

[HBII]

Cheers Chavhorse

I am just so desperate for her to go past it I probably make it worse Ill sit it out more and ignore her - Ill take a snack pack in case it takes all night LMAO!

Hb

 

[HBII]

Thanks AM

Your right she was worked me out a treat

.

Thanks for your advice it will cerrtainly be put into affect!

Looks like the rider has been getting her knickers in too much of a knot [

].

Hb

 

[Chavhorse]

[ QUOTE ]
Cheers Chavhorse

I am just so desperate for her to go past it I probably make it worse Ill sit it out more and ignore her - Ill take a snack pack in case it takes all night LMAO!

Hb

[/ QUOTE ]

A very good friend of mine once took a book with him sat at the end of the drive for 4 hours! he just sat calmly reading as if the horse did not exist (we took him the occasional cup of tea) horse got so pissed off it went in the end and never ever napped again.

Quiet, calm and as stubbon as hell is the way forward

 

[Ranyhyn]

It took me a few months to get this out of my old gelding, he tried me out for a fair few times when I first had him.

Ultimately I won the argument, every single time. Mainly managed to sit quiet so he'd stop going backwards then nudge and cajole and use my leg to get him going again. When he did I allowed him the rein and forgave him if we went sideways/skewiff while he faced whatever demon was hidden in the bush etc.

Eventually he got bored and he may have hesitated, but he knew he'd lose in the end, so he gave up quicker, and quicker until it stopped happenning.

 

[spookypony]

The spooky pony was very inclined to do this when I first got him. Usually, waiting him out sorted him. A few times, I've had to get off and lead him past, and a few times, a quick smack on the bum got him past. The good news is, he plants quite rarely now.

 

[arwenplusone]

what is she like with company?

 

[HBII]

Cheers fihunt I have tried the rein trick didnt work lol!
I will persist with patience

 

[HBII]

Thanks TDD and spookypony

Will sit her out and swallow my pride and get off and lead her past if needed.

 

[HBII]

[ QUOTE ]

what is she like with company?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi MF well we have been hacking with a youngster who plants and just stands there, when that happens madam just throws the towel in, spins and thats it.

I dont have anyone else who has a confident horse to go out with.

So I am hoping to cure this out hacking on my own.

I am going to drag OH to walk in front down the spooky bits so he can be sacrificed to the horse eating monsters first and see how we go.

Hb

 

[jesterfaerie]

[ QUOTE ]
Thanks jesterfaerie - its soo frustrating isnt it?!!

You have made me feel better

its just like they switch off and say "yeah right on your bike".

Right Ill get off and start leading her past it, shame it isnt on a short route, but Ill have to get out every night and just go for it.

It is good to hear you have had positive results doing that, as I have exhausted my ideas.

LMAO at the pricky bush

Thanks again

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly mine has that attitude with me far too often!

I understand your frustration I have sometimes thought I would be sat up there ALL day, once especially when he napped to go down the road then came to a pipe so he was too scared to go the way he wanted to go but then wouldn't go the way I wanted to go.

I really do hope you find a way that works for you both so you can have a nice hack out together.
Let me know how you get on

 

[Chavhorse]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]

what is she like with company?

[/ QUOTE ]

Hi MF well we have been hacking with a youngster who plants and just stands there, when that happens madam just throws the towel in, spins and thats it.

I dont have anyone else who has a confident horse to go out with.

So I am hoping to cure this out hacking on my own.

I am going to drag OH to walk in front down the spooky bits so he can be sacrificed to the horse eating monsters first and see how we go.

Hb

[/ QUOTE ]

Just had a thought....now I don't know if this is applicable or possible where you ride but the big poof of an ex racer was much better when I took my dogs out with me and they ran in front....sort of,

'ohhh my god its a puddle I'm gonna drown or slip into the big hole under it OMG!' then 'ok so the little four legged yappy thing is still alive..mmmm maybe it is ok'

My three came out with us a few times and it really helped him even the first time I asked him to walk into a stream, the dogs went in and he realised they were ok so maybe he would be as well......well up until he looked down and saw the big scary horse staring back at him it was very like a Tom and Jerry cartoon all four feet off the ground at once. But eventually he even overcame this demon.

 

[HBII]

[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Thanks jesterfaerie - its soo frustrating isnt it?!!

You have made me feel better

its just like they switch off and say "yeah right on your bike".

Right Ill get off and start leading her past it, shame it isnt on a short route, but Ill have to get out every night and just go for it.

It is good to hear you have had positive results doing that, as I have exhausted my ideas.

LMAO at the pricky bush

Thanks again

[/ QUOTE ]

Sadly mine has that attitude with me far too often!

I understand your frustration I have sometimes thought I would be sat up there ALL day, once especially when he napped to go down the road then came to a pipe so he was too scared to go the way he wanted to go but then wouldn't go the way I wanted to go.

I really do hope you find a way that works for you both so you can have a nice hack out together.
Let me know how you get on

[/ QUOTE ]

OMG I would have melted into a red haze at that point lol! I thought my madam was bad, mid spin she will try and eat the hedge or take a mouthfull of whatever is edible

.

Ill let you know how it goes

Hb

 

[arwenplusone]

Occasionally, when I get bored of sitting & trying to coerce my horse to go the way I want, I let him walk forward, which ever waay he wants to go, so long as he will go somewhere, and then, when he has forgotten about it (doesn't take long) I whip him round and go the way I want to go after all.

But then my horse isn't the sharpest tool in the box so this works sometimes.....

Personally I wouldn't get off and lead past, but I can see why people do it!

 

[Puppy]

Personally I wouldn't get off and try and lead on a horse that is trying to spin for home

Too greater chance of being caught by flying feet

What I have done before with quite a bit of success is when they try and spin, keep spinning them. Make them spin round and round - not hughely aggressively, just keep your leg on and and open the rein up, asking them to keep going, round and round. Then when they no longer know which way is home, THEN, ask them to walk forward

 

[chestnut cob]

I have this problem occasionally with the big pony so will be interested in the replies. It always happens with M either thinks something is *far* too scary to go past, or if he just thinks he should be allowed to do something he isn't doing. We had it a few weeks ago when we'd been out for 1.5 hours and were less than 5 mins from home. Had to hack past some sheep (he hates sheep!) and he just decided he would rather walk back the way he'd come, 1.5 hours, than walk past the sheep to home that we could actually *see* from where we were. Stoopid horse

I find, like you, that more leg just translates in to "please go backwards faster" somehow. I tried reversing him in to a prickly hedge but he just revered along it and scratched his backside. The only thing that worked with mine was getting off TBH. The more we fight while I'm on board, the worse he gets. I think I have the only horse in the world who can canter backwards

The last time it happened (above) I got off and he still wouldn't go past. I tried being nice, I tried coaxing him, I tried a bit of the IH stuff I was taught. Nothing worked. In the end I just got so mad that I screamed and shouted at him that he could find his own way home if he wanted. I know he can't understand the words but yelling at him actually seemed to shock him out of the silliness and he walked quietly past the Sheep of Doom, then I got back on the other side. Since then he's half heartedly tried it again a couple of times so I've just sat very quietly...it seems that if I don't make a fuss about it, he doesn't go backwards and then he eventually gets bored and walks on, pretending nothing had happened.

So basically, if you got through the long winded post (which I knew you wouldn't mind

), I'd try getting off and leading her past whatever it is. I have no shame in getting off, though I do have trouble getting back on my beast!

Hope you get it sorted

 

[flyingfeet]

I've 'cured' this in a number of horses

Use a massive pair of spurs - I use polo mexican style spurs with smooth rowels. They are kind, but darn heavy, so when you put your leg on they certainly know about it

Also if they spin, their nose goes to my foot and they keep spinning until they think its a rubbish idea and halt.

If horse was super quick I would also cheat and use an aussie stock saddle if dislogement may be on the cards!

 

[karenjj]

I have this with my TB X as well, he only does it on the way out on the hack though at various points for the first 5 minutes, once he's realised we ARE going on a hack and that's that he just gets on with it! It's a shame because my mare loves hacking and would never complain it makes me feel like I'm forcing him to go out!! I'm sure he enjoys it reallllyyy?!!!

 

[Riverboy]

My little lad is the King of going backwards, spinning and mini rearing... doesnt have to be on a hack - the first time i tried to ride him in the school after buying him we did this for 45 minutes!!!

We've tried everything over the last 5 years - we've shouted, we've sat quietly, I've even been chased by a friend with a lunge line. Eventually I've found just sitting him out and giving him voice aids is the best way round it... getting into a battle just results in him getting more and more stressed out about it...

I feel your pain its VERY frustrating... the other thing i learnt with him - is to never give him an inch - once I've given into something even a mm - allowed him to be led through a stream - pick his own route, the battles can continue at that point for a couple of months!!!

Good luck - you've just got to be more stubborn than them!!

 

[wench]

If the horse is just being naughty, try a good sharp smack on the backside, often helps them to snap out of "stupid" mode.

 

[Azabache]

First thing is not to get frustrated - easier said then done, I know! When my boy tries to get me into a battle with him, I start singing, I'm not going to play, la la la la la. If you get wound up, then it's game over. My boy was always silly with a particular spot and still has the odd moment. The really important thing is not to give up and turn round as otherwise you're educating him that if he plays up he can go home.

There are a number of things you could try. I tended to get off as kicking and turning him round and round just ended up winding him up even more. I would lead him back and forth past the spot til he got bored and then get on at the start of the problem spot and make him walk on. If he didn't then back off I hopped and start it all over again. It can be very tedious for you, but it will be for him too, but that's the point of the exercise. They get so bored, they give in. Be prepared though to see it through properly, you should only have to do it a few rides before they get the idea. I do agree with one persons point though in that getting off may not always be the safest thing, you'll need to judge the situation.

Another thing is when they start going backwards / spinning is to let go of the reins as they've nothing to fight then. Then sit v quietly and let them think through what they're doing, wait til you're really bored of waiting and hopefully he's really bored too, before asking him to walk on. Again though, judge the situation as to whether it's safe to do this or not, especially letting go of the reins.

Another one as others have said is if they are continually walking backwards see if they'll walk backwards past the problem spot.

It depends on the situation, environment and your horse as to how you deal with it, but remember to stay really really calm and not end up in a battle. Try to make the option of walking on much more preferable, ie it's boring being led 10 times past the thing / boring just sat here doing nothing / being beaten is not very nice / etc. Stick with it, and you will get there. Good luck!