What will help - strong horse out hacking

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sjdress

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I'm just bringing my horse back into work after time off for some soundness issues... She is obviously feeling very well now after treatment! However out hacking she is being quite difficult. When she gets all excited she pulls her head down and launches forward - often followed by a buck or a bit of a bronc! Having an excited buck is usual for her but usually I can push her on through it but at the moment I can't.
She is very light in the mouth and all the power seems to come from her neck and back end! So if I use a stronger bit she usually just drops behind it and gets even bouncier. Someone suggested a market harborough but I'm not sure if this will work as the head goes down and not up! Any suggestions until we are back in proper work??
 
I would do whatever it took to lift her head back up (probably raising your hands) and make her work laterally as it's harder work for her than just walking along then exploding.
 
I tried to lift hand but she pulls so hard and then drops the contact , launches forward and then balls up like a coil. I tried leg yeild and shoulder fore but just seemed to make her even more wound up. The only time she chilled was when I had her on a long rein but that was a bit eeekkkkk with her being a madam on the end of it!
 
Can she have more turnout and have you cut her food down to hay and nothing else? If she's not normally like this then I suppose you just have to ride through it.

I've just got to the other side of 7 at times scary months with a broken (mentally and physically) horse I bought. I rehabbed her in walk for 6 weeks, that bit was actually ok it was once we started introducing trot she wanted to do a flat out Welsh trot everywhere. However she's in full work now and is behaving beautifully even in highly stressful situations so stick in ;)
 
She is out everyday (unless very very wet) 6:30 - 3:30 and I have cut out all of her hard feed so she is just having hay. She does have a lit of grass so that would contribute to her behaviour!
She is very well behaved in the arena so think it is just high jinks out hacking and very rude pulling trying to b***** off!
She is in a jointed snaffle at the moment but will drop behind the contact to avaid if she can which is why I don't think a stronger bit will help! Almost want to tie her head up!!!
 
You could always fashion a Daisy rein.

The other thing I did with mine was feed some chaff right before I ride and also a high dose of mag ox. This was a tip from the physio who reckoned it gives their stomach something to work on and keeps the lid on. I wouldn't like to stop doing it to find out if it is that which works tho 😂
 
as long as there is no other underlying issues which is causing the behaviour, id look to swap the bit to a Waterford. That would help stop her from snatching downwards which is allowing her to bring up her back end. if that fails, maybe a tom thumb bit, something with a slight gag action which will only come into force if she decides to yank down (you need to remain soft with your hands if she is light in mouth) Id also keep her doing forwards and as others have said, make it interesting, leg yielding and changing pace (if the soundness allows)

Not sure how long she has had off, but also lunging long and low to build the back muscles back up wouldn't hurt

Good luck x
 
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