What would you do in this situation

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Rockchick_uk

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I need some advice on a situation.

Right what would you do if you had a horse that was good and calm hacking out with one other horse but when you attempt to introduce any other horses it fizzes itself up and begins to buck and throw its head leaving you with limited control etc?

Also the horse in question if it sees another horse so much as trot ahead while being ridden thinks that it has got to race ahead and again throws its head so you have limited control if any at all.

What would you do?

Horse is ridden in:

Bog standard bridle without a flash
Snaffle
no martingale

Is a good lad to ride in the school with other horses and ok in the field majority of the time but has in the past took off with excitement (just once), just seems to work himself up when anyone attempts to take him out with other horses.

He is okay with one or two but any more and he works himself up.

Oh and he has raced (raced from the age of 2 to 8 years of age) and more than likely hunted as a youngster
 
I think he will most likly always be like this, but If he were my horse i would ask some mates if I could ride with them and just walk the whole way. Doing this over the weeks, and when he realises its no 'race' then have a little trot then back to walk.
I would also make sure he is on a very low protein diet and lots of roughage. Live out 24/7. Possible try a standing martingale (but this might make matters worse so careful, maybe use running martingale).

Or you could just stick to riding out with one other and never in a crowd. I've ridden some very quiet types and they do liven up in a crowd..

Good luck..
 
I just dont know what to do with him being honest.

Hes fed on:
Calm & Condition
Ride & Relax
Herbichop
Rigcalm (is not a rig, just gelded later and gets a bit horny)
Cortaflex
Codlavine
Oil

Another thing i notice with him is that he doesnt appriciate alot of contact with his mouth and sometimes retaliates by throwing his head.

He really is a nice ride when hes calm and relaxed and can go out with my mom and her horse and we have a fantastic ride or if i decide to take him on his own he is a angel and doesnt put a foot wrong but introduce any others and its as if someone flicks a switch! he turns in to a monster that doesnt listen to any aids and to be honest puts the wind up me a times.

He has had the majority of the winter off and is lacking in overall topline so i have looked at his feed and work ratio and hes not on a excessive amount and is on non heating feeds (can become aggressive with some hard feed).

I just dont know what to do, i have asked people to ride with me but alot of them wont purely because 1) they like to go out as a big group or 2) they like to tank off over the fields and knowing when hes like i would literally be sitting on a bomb! dont really fancy coming off again lol.
 
Most horses will light up when a twosome becomes 3/4/5 etc so its a lot to ask of a horse thats raced.

A market harborough will give you more control without having to think about extra reins etc. If correctly fitted it only comes into play when the horse starts to chuck his head up and the rest of the time will lie passive, plus you get to use a neck strap
 
Maybe I am a chicken, but if my horse reacted that badly to going out in a crowd, then I would probably stick to hacking out with only one other horse so we could both enjoy our time together.
 
Thanks for the advice guys.

I have to say here its so disheartening to watch all the yard go out on a hack while i stay behind. Especially when they all come back laughing and telling me what a good ride they have all been on.

I get bored riding on my own and find that i dont enjoy it as much, plus im determined to get past this but everytime it happens its just like hitting my head off a wall!.
 
I have thought about a Market Harborough before but (this is hard to explain) - He doesnt appriciate alot of contact on his mouth and has in the past retaliated by putting in a rear etc

He is the type of horse that does retaliate to most things if he doesnt like them, very strong willed etc.

As i say usually he is a complete gentleman and i trust this horse alot as he has proven himself in the past its just that sometimes hes like a bottle of pop, fizz him up and unscrew the cap and well he explodes.
 
Haven't read other replies but would try a few things:

ride in a running mart just to give you a bit more assistance when required
try to desensitise him to other horses by testing him in a safe place, i.e. manege. Perhaps take that to a 2nd stage & go to a few shows where you can share the warm-up arena
build up the hacking gradually, with people who are sympathetic to your problem
lunge him (hard if necessary) before a hack to take the edge off him
 
Thanks, i will try the martingale idea and see if it gives me some more control.

I have taken 2 days off work this week to concerntrate on getting him working in the school and then hopefully by the weekend i can take him out without much fuss.

Thanks for everyone thats put ideas forward, lets just see if they all help lol
 
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