Worst ride ever today

weebarney said:
Oh yes been there, done that. I think the knack for me was admitting the horse is probably going to be a tit and just go with the flow.
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Agreed, although for my oldie I decided just not to take him as my bum couldn't take it. He has perfect manners - hunting team chasing, SJ etc. but something on sponsored rides just makes him jog sideways!

Tried:
- going at speed to tire him out
-telling him off and holding tightly
- letting him have his head completely
- going early out front
- going on my own so he's not 'in a group'

He just joged, last attempt was a friend of mine when he was 19 y/o - I told her he would jog, she said he was far too good now given his age/ how he is with everything else, I was right and nobodies tried since.
 
Just get him out on organised rides as much as you can. I think it's nice to see them keen :-) my boy even when he was hunting two days a week- would behave like it was his first time out everytime. Practice didn't quite make perfect but I got used to it:-)
 
I love the group hacks they are a lot of fun and a great way to make new French horsey friends. Its good for Armas to change things up.

Pre ride out



Post ride out knackered out bless the little sod !

 
My perfectly behaved, totally sensible, very well schooled (PSG and other stuff), 100% reliable, stunt trained 15year old Friesian mare is a demon-on-drugs at any sort of group hack/pleasure ride. She just DOES NOT DO going about in big groups. A pleasure they are not. So she stays at home, does her day job and lets others do that sort of thing.

I find you cannot "work in" PRE's; once they're hot they will stay hot until they drop.
 
Hope the toe gets better quickly.
Sorry to hear that it was a bit of a battle, not much fun when that happens.

Is this his first time out with a large group? He may completely surprise you and be a poppet next time out.

I have always had very hot horses by choice and without exception the first time I took them hunting they behaved exactly as per your account - seriously off putting when we are talking the Welsh Mountains and the fact that hunting was their job. They went home after that first meet, apparently thought about it, and forever afterwards were total hunting saints, they still jogged and piaffed and cantered sideways but that was just them and they were controllable.

I couldn't care less if a horse turns itself inside out as long as it does it on a loose rein in one hand, looks where it is putting its' feet, and doesn't make me drop my flask ;)

I gave up trying (fighting) for a walk (didn't get that at home by themselves either) and accepted that my horses were going to dance, one was an expert at piaffe and passage, with the odd levade and capriole thrown in for good measure, I just got used to it, sat there and enjoyed the ride.

I will probably get flamed (as if I care ;)) and this is just my personal experience, but sometimes a different bit for 'parties' helps, one of mine hunted in a hackamore, the other went in a hackamore at home but a Myler LS and double reins was the only thing that he listened to out hunting. Same with endurance and group rides.

The level of their education doesn't always have any relevance. Making pretty shapes in the controlled environment of an arena with no distractions is a world away from open spaces and a herd of other horses.
 
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Cortez said:
My perfectly behaved, totally sensible, very well schooled (PSG and other stuff), 100% reliable, stunt trained 15year old Friesian mare is a demon-on-drugs at any sort of group hack/pleasure ride. She just DOES NOT DO going about in big groups. A pleasure they are not. So she stays at home, does her day job and lets others do that sort of thing.

I find you cannot "work in" PRE's; once they're hot they will stay hot until they drop.
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I think that is very true !

Enfys said:
Hope the toe gets better quickly.
Sorry to hear that it was a bit of a battle, not much fun when that happens.

Is this his first time out with a large group? He may completely surprise you and be a poppet next time out.

I have always had very hot horses by choice and without exception the first time I took them hunting they behaved exactly as per your account - seriously off putting when we are talking the Welsh Mountains and the fact that hunting was their job. They went home after that first meet, apparently thought about it, and forever afterwards were total hunting saints, they still jogged and piaffed and cantered sideways but that was just them and they were controllable.

I couldn't care less if a horse turns itself inside out as long as it does it on a loose rein in one hand, looks where it is putting its' feet, and doesn't make me drop my flask ;)

I gave up trying (fighting) for a walk (didn't get that at home by themselves either) and accepted that my horses were going to dance, one was an expert at piaffe and passage, with the odd levade and capriole thrown in for good measure, I just got used to it, sat there and enjoyed the ride.

I will probably get flamed (as if I care ;)) and this is just my personal experience, but sometimes a different bit for 'parties' helps, one of mine hunted in a hackamore, the other went in a hackamore at home but a Myler LS and double reins was the only thing that he listened to out hunting. Same with endurance and group rides.

The level of their education doesn't always have any relevance. Making pretty shapes in the controlled environment of an arena with no distractions is a world away from open spaces and a herd of other horses.
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I may try changing bits or putting him back in to a double for the next big outing. Not something I want to do, but I can not have another day like yesterday.

Thank you all for your input and comments all very useful as ever !
 
Not just PREs can turn into tits you know...

My spotty could do cob-to-tit in less than 3 seconds out on a "fun" ride. I secretly loved it though... :D

(p.s. I was always prepared for change in engine tuning... my pelham was my friend :) and only because I didn't want to spoil it for everyone else. If he had the energy, it could go up instead of flat out)

Now then... lets stop this fighting...

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Armas , these rides are extremely difficult if the horse finds them exciting I have seen beauifully mannered hunters be completely derailed by these ' pleasure rides'.
When you go again you need a friend to be with you and when he gets hot just keep going at a slow trot and keep moving only try a walk when its a calm moment when he can't see horses in front of him most do get better if you persevere .
There is something about the situation of a big group of horses moving along the same route in small groups so they see some in front but are never sure where and sense the others behind that just winds some horses up.
I don't many of these only if forced really ,the last one I went on was with a friend I was on my OH's very wise laid back hunter he was a gent my friend who also incidentally has a ID had the most awful time sounds just like your day was just like hers .
And silly man , wear gloves .
 
Goldenstar said:
Armas , these rides are extremely difficult if the horse finds them exciting I have seen beauifully mannered hunters be completely derailed by these ' pleasure rides'.
When you go again you need a friend to be with you and when he gets hot just keep going at a slow trot and keep moving only try a walk when its a calm moment when he can't see horses in front of him most do get better if you persevere .
There is something about the situation of a big group of horses moving along the same route in small groups so they see some in front but are never sure where and sense the others behind that just winds some horses up.
I don't many of these only if forced really ,the last one I went on was with a friend I was on my OH's very wise laid back hunter he was a gent my friend who also incidentally has a ID had the most awful time sounds just like your day was just like hers .
And silly man , wear gloves .[/QUOTE
Holds hands up for being silly normally don't need gloves next time they will be in my pocket. I tried walking close up behind a plodder who was not a kicker to try and slow him down. That failed just started jogging on the spot.
30km distance covered had no noticeable affect on him however ever part of me aches today and my poor toe is still throbbing.
Please do not kill the thread with pictures of male polo players the exception to that request is hot female polo players if there is such a thing ! After all I am guy ;)
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We have the most laid back big chap that is a pleasure to ride & school, a granny or toddler could ride him. Get him at an organised pleasure ride he turns into a racehorse. His theory is two is company and anymore its a race ride. He enjoys himself and just wants to go, nothing really dangerous but pulls and pulls. Schooling is not always the case, excitement just takes over.
 
Armas - check out http://pologirlssociety.com/

Refuse to post pictures of gorgeous girls on here but happy to give you the link ;)

Btw - the photo of Armas chilling under that beautiful cherry tree is unfair :rolleyes:

Most of us are in the UK you know where even the bluebells are staying hidden!
 
My friend's hot horse is a hooligan on these rides unless she can do them in the way he copes with best. This is - ask for an very early start time and set off fast so there aren't a lot of others in front of him and let him go fast enough that he doesn't get overtaken. Fortunately he's fit and fast enough to be able to do this.
 
amymay said:
Fun rides are always exciting, even for the most mild mannered horse. The more you do, the calmer he'll get.
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Lol, if you're one of the lucky ones!! Mine hasn't calmed down in eight years so far.

Armas I can sympathise with you. I have a very hot mare that would be just the same on a ride like that. She would pull until her mouth bled if you let her. I have also forgotten my gloves once on a farm ride and my fingers were almost raw to the bone from her yanking the reins. She is a horse that will not back down if she wants to go, and will do passage for hours if her "fuse" is blown! I would love to take her hunting as she is the best, most honest XC horse ever, but she would be a nightmare, unless I could be the master for the day! I wouldn't do a big ride with her either. It would turn into a not-fun ride!

Remember your horse is very fit, which will aid him! I would up the bit (as I said, my horse would pull til she bled in a snaffle XC, but in a gag is much better), put your gloves on, have a drink yourself and go with the flow - try and stay at the front for the next few rides, then see if he gets better. Some horses just aren't suitable for these things and its not worth the fight if everything else they do for you is ok!
 
Another whos been there done that! He may calm down the more he does it... he may not. Mine would occasionally be fine, sometimes just jog/walk at 100mph! Its just far too excitingssometimes!

As for needing more schooling , I can't see how thats fair... I've worked with horses up to psg level and they would even get het up hacking by themselves. Totally depends on the horse
 
I know how you feel! Even down to the squashed toe! (Mine's still swollen and red a week later!!)

Thankfully Ned calmed down after about 20mins. He cantered sideways and snorted for about 5, then decided to jog, then finally settled when we joined with 2 lovely ladies, who had 2 steady horses.

Hopefully doing more of them will calm him down, but who knows! Ned's been doing the shows at his yard for 5-6yrs now and they STILL blow his brain!

Good luck and I hope you're not too sore!
 
It must be that time of year for PRE's. My andalusian has turnt into an absolute deamon the past 2 weeks or so. I've put it down to her being in season, spring grass...and being a young opinionated Iberian mare ;)
 
I wouldn't worry too much, a lot of horses turn into total ***** on sponsered rides, hence why I don't do it! - I have friends who who have had terrible times, their horses have turned into total monsters, tanked off, etc. My daughter's friend's most laid back native pony had to be boxed up half way round because he was bucking continuously and another I know ended up on the ground with her hat in half and her horse running around someones garden. BUT, this weekend it was the same yearly ride and a friend went on her first one with some others from the same yard, unfortunately it turned into disaster as one of the party's horses went across a cattle grid, it ended up getting stuck and they had to wait for the fire brigade and vets! The horse had to be sedated and the grid opened up. The horse is now in vet hospital with all legs in a bad way, one is in a cast. The poor owner. So, I wouldn't worry about your horse yanking your arms out. Its just excitement on the day.
 
I can sympathise! Have had the dubious pleasure of taking a friend's big, strong ex chaser on a sponsored ride.

I'd done a couple before with him and he was great as long as you can keep going - absolutely cracking xc horse, flew everything, very mannerly.

But this occasion was a ride with lots of enforced 'walking' bits and very busy with always lots of horses visible in front of you. Absolute nightmare! He spent the whole ride jogging and yanking the reins through my hands, got more and more wound up and needless to say I eventually wound up on my arse when near the end of the ride he launched over a fence like a stag, I lost my reins and stirrups and he completely took off.

He was beautifully schooled, a lovely hack and a wonderful xc horse but that environment was just too much for him.

I think the next time if you're able to stay near the front so he doesn't have lots of horses that he wants to catch, and you're able to keep him moving forwards at a trot if he won't walk, you might find he settles much better :)
 
I am relieved that its not just me and most certanly not that my boy needs more schooling :p
Thank you all for the positive comments and sharing your experiences.
 
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