Youngster being funny about other horses out hacking?

[Walrus]

Hello,

I've just (this week) started riding a lovely 3 year old (nearly 4) TB. She is very sweet and was backed and ridden away at the end of summer, had a little bit of time off and is now being hacked out.

I'm having a few steering problems, the main one being keeping her on her side of the road when other horses are about, most of the time she is fine but today we had a problem on the way back where she wouldn't let one of the other horses pass her. If he came up the left she went straight sideways to block him off / nearly walked into him and when he moved to go round the other side she goes straight back across the road to block him in that direction. She did this several times today and also has been known to be a bit handy with her back legs so I really don't want her bouncing off other horses (!) she did threaten slightly to kick once today.

She is quite difficult to walk 2 abreast as she literally walks into the horse next to her regardless of which side its on, however she can keep straight when she's walking on her own with no one next to her.

Has anyone had to deal with this or have any ideas. Just like to point out we are hacking on very quiet roads and she is a little star with traffic and tractors!

 

[Nicki85]

I used to ride an older horse (8 yo TB/Arab) that did this with his freind. He would spend the whole hack bumping into her and blocking her off. I guess it was partially a dominance thing. He new better though and after some firm encouragement and steering from legs he would give it up and behave.

I guess the more you do it the better she will become, can you hack her out with a nice steady neddy and practice letting them lead/ you lead and walking beside each other?

Also what bit is she in? Could always try a full cheek/ steering type bit to give a bit more control.

 

[Box_Of_Frogs]

My Sunny does this out hacking. He likes to be in the lead as he used to be a very safe riding school horse and always led the hacks out and kept everyone safe. The funny thing is he's right at the bottom of the pecking order in the field but a switch goes on in his head when he's hacking out - he takes his hack-leader job very seriously. If I make him stay right at the back of a ride he is a pain in the bum, jogging, head in the air, twitchy at things behind him and a face like a bulldog sucking a wasp! You'd think that at 23 he'd have got it sorted in his head by now!