What Would/Do You Do?

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Forget_Me_Not

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Yesterday was exercising a bit of a hothead warmblood at the yard, he rode out like an angel, me and girl was riding with was very impressed and put it down to me having a cool seat or him now being feed 'Magic' calmer. After going through a gate into a field next to sheep field he tensed up and had a funny five min but he did ride forwards again. Hes ridden through this part a few times a week for year or so*Infact he rode ok around this part twice last week with me. We just about rode through the field but when we got to the next gate he lost it and begain going back or up, It became clear we didn't have a chance on getting through the gate with me mounted, So I dismounted and remounted on other side, He now begins running back, and rearing, asking him forward made him worse, trying to calm him had no effect and tell him to stop being stupid and getting on with it didn't work either. There was a jogger waiting to pass, and I couldn't see us riding through this, so dismounted again and walked for a few yards. Remounted again, now when I asked him forwards he ran back *on narrow path in woods with step drop, so not good* and was rearing upright now, he was getting worse and I decided that he was to close to falling backards, which wasn't going to do either us anygood. Now this wasn't a confidences iussue on my behalf as I wasn't bothered in the least, If fact strange made me feel more confident, and if the owner doesnt I will ride him back around this afternoon, but how would you ride this?
 
Personally would avoid riding it like the plague
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But thats what middle age does to you
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Suddenly the mortgage becomes more of a focus.... Whereas the challenge used to be exciting, not any more...
 
I would ride like nothing had happened and make sure that I kept my leg on. If it is naughtiness I would whack him one with the stick and kick him forward. If he went into canter I would kick on and then pull him back when I was ready - ie dont hold him back too much.

I would also consider not riding other peoples horses, especially if they are not 100% (which I am guessing he isnt as his owner has him on so calm and you said he was flighty) you have got a wonderful ned in Dermot and have already had the ankle setback....imagine how gutted you would have felt if something would have gone wrong yesterday and you would have been out of action again!
 
Personally I would not ride him anymore. Although you sound very confident and if it were your horse you could do something about it but as it someone elses I would not put myself through maybe falling badly or hurting your ankle and then you can not ride for months.

I used to ride a friends horse for her too. It was a whetherby breed horse and an ex-race..was lovely leading and brusing, tacking up etc and occasionally would play up but mostly ok. Owner was frightened of her and I agreed I would ride her.

Rode out a couple of times with no probs but the third time I was in an open field and the horse decided to spin, rear, buck and bolt...she literally did everything she could to get me off her back...in the end, determind and undefeated I stayed on and her final attempt was to charge at a 6ft fence and jumped it!
I was in complete shock and just about again stayed on!! I dismounted her the other side as my knees were knocking and walked her back...by this time she was jogging and sweating.

On returing and speaking to my friend I discovered she had bought her on the cheap due to her past injury - broken pelvis!!
the horse was obviously in huge amounts of pain and I was shocked she had not mentioned it....needless to say I didnt ride her again and had a stern word with my so-called friend!!!!
 
Will also say that I personally never get off as I think it can be more dangerous for both horse and rider.....but that is just me.
 
If a horse is vertical rearing and likely to land on top of you then I woould always be getting off, I am afraid my safety will always come first. On the very few occassions I have dismounted my horse when she has been genuinely scared she has trusted me so much more on the ground. I think it is due to her being handled from very young but not backed til nearly 8!
 
This horse sounds pretty dangerous. I rode something similar out hacking when I was living in Canada. I rode it out twice. The first time it was fine at first then had a paddy and went sideways (avoiding all my aids) and then backwards down a 15 foot drop into a dtich where it deposited me and itself. I rode it out once more and it stopped in the middle of the road. Would not move forwards for the love of God. Then started going sideways and backwards.

Having broken my back (in an unrelated incident) I do not ride horses like this anymore.

Sounds like you are brave but personally I would get some more guidance/help on the ground from a very exp instr/person if you are going to carry on riding it. And I would wear a body protector for definite.

This horse has some physical issue or psychological issues.....And sounds like it has been allowed to get away with this in the past.
 
My horse can do this, not half as bad as you describe but he can nap and have mini rear/buck and running backwards fits. If I get off and get back on again he is 100 times worse, but sometimes I have no option but to get off (for instance if hes doing it in the road).

I know it sounds stupid but I sing to baron, it relaxes him and I am more focused as I am not thinking to myself 'oh god please dont let him nap here'. I dont personally think there is any particlar way to ride through it, as if he is at all like Baron sometimes he kicks up a fuss, somtimes he goes without batting an eyelid.

Baron has got much better the more he has learnt to trust me, but tbh if he wasnt mine there is no way I would have put myself or my horse in danger for the sake of getting him through it (not that I put him in danger, I always get off if I really need to).

But if you are going to take this horse out anyway, talk to him (or sing) keep constant contact between leg and hand, run your hand down his neck now and again to reassure him and as soon as you feel him backing off tap him behind the leg and encourage him forward with your leg. At the first sign of walking backwards or going up turn him on a very tight circle and use loads of leg, when you feel ready keep the leg on and bring him out of the circle. Usually does the trick for Baron.
 
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