Who doesn't ride their horses in open spaces but hacks out on lanes fine?

Me, because Dylan gets excited in fields and pr*ts about. I can sit him out and make him settle, but as a general rule I can't be bothered :o so we stick to the paths.
 
Wellll, I'd never ridden in open spaces very much until mine went on to a livery yard which was next to a HUGE open space! So I had to learn fast!

Having been a trekking horse in his previous life in an area where there was nothing but wide open space! my boy is fine in the open. We went with some friends on a pleasure ride where my friend's mare misbehaved all the way round, and mine was fine!

However, I've noticed that my boy is never a happy chappy when I ride him in places where there's trees/woodland really closed in; he really hates it and its not just one location but it seems that trees/woods as a whole really does freak him out and he just can't deal with it. Perhaps he's claustrophic?
 
My boy is fine pretty much everywhere - except when he's stressed out by his poor headshaking - but over the summer I did learn to avoid areas that set him off. I can walk him very calmly through a open field on his own but he is only ok up to a point when he is out with other horses, he seems to sense where they usually canter even if we are only walking :( and will have a jog and a bounce but once he realises we are only walking he calms back down again, so hopefully given time he will learn he has nothing to get stressed about. :rolleyes:
 
I'm the other way round, do lots of work in open fields but don't ride on the roads. My mare is happier in open spaces but get near hedgerows and she is a bag of nerves
 
Ok another ex racer here. Mine is generally fab on roads and lanes and when on his own is a lovely hack. He can get a bit bouncy in open spaces or areas where he knows we may go fast. He has a histoy or rearing and leaping but only usually when with other horses and he panics at being left behind. Fortunatly I prefer riding on my own!
Have just moved to new yard where we have 160 acres and miles of grassy tracks to ride on. It ocurred to me last night as I walked down one that they look distinctly like grass gallops! :eek: So when my saddle is reflocked next week I will probably find out just what he thinks! On the up side, there are no gates and plenty of room for stopping and starting.
Our problems are related to the company we are with and stoppng and starting for things like gates.
I HAVE to be up front or I have to sit some enormous leaping fits which are so not fun!
 
I'm the opposite to you OP and prefer to ride in wide open spaces rather than on roads and lanes. Traffic around horses really worries me, especially on the narrow lanes we have near us.
 
Ha - I discovered how much mine loves open spaces yesterday...

He insisted on racing his ex-racehorse friend and won (he's a cob/hackney cross)!
His neck was like a giraffes! I don't think I've ever ridden, or shall I say clung on, that fast ever!
Today it feels like i've been in a car crash...:(
 
The first season I had my young pointer (from Ireland, had only been on a racecourse once in a NH Flat race) he did not do our Devon high hedged lanes at all - would panic! He got used to it - but it was funny! The older and more windy I get, I prefer the lanes (road work) last year I ventured off road twice (other than hunting, which was fine) and fell off both times, as the stupid horse (or maybe stupid rider) did a hugely dramatic shy at something in the field and I parted company with him!
 
Depends on which open space, the mood of the day and who else I'm hacking out with..I've done that bad thing of getting him used to where he can go faster so often it's expected, but if I decide not to then a few minutes of prancing round and eventually he settles! Once took all 5 out together however...we literally all had to walk v slowly/jog on the spot/go abit sideways in one of the big fields as I think if we'd done anything else it would all have gone v pear shaped (and my mother didn't want to be the responsible adult in that case!)
 
I come across fields every so often and can walk trot fine, the thought of going for a good canter gives me some dread although i'd love to! Probably as i've been bolted on, he has hunted a little bit and i ride on my own mainly. Any tips on just enjoying it??
 
Sarah_horsey said:
I come across fields every so often and can walk trot fine, the thought of going for a good canter gives me some dread although i'd love to! Probably as i've been bolted on, he has hunted a little bit and i ride on my own mainly. Any tips on just enjoying it??
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Have you got any where there's an uphill section?...This generally (don't completely trust me on this!) means that they can't run away too much if they do try to as it's a little too tiring! At least on your own you won't have a race on your hands...
 
MiJodsR2BlinkinTite said:
......However, I've noticed that my boy is never a happy chappy when I ride him in places where there's trees/woodland really closed in; he really hates it and its not just one location but it seems that trees/woods as a whole really does freak him out and he just can't deal with it. Perhaps he's claustrophic?
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Snap. Star doesn't settle in wooded areas either :( That's where I have my bet with my mate re. the Lattes's

Strangely, Star doesn't match the theme of ex-racers........she's a coloured native who just THINKS she's an ex-racer :D
 
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