What a soddens

[FirenLady]

Fire wassssssssss so naughty today, he was bloody awful. One day he'll walk up the woods nicely, next time hes tanking off and doing the jumps. I don't know how to stop him.

I was walking him up the track in the woods and this track has 4 jumps managed to get him to walk past the first two no probs and I could feel he was excited, so I asked him to walk round the next and he just exploded into a very fast canter and went tearing up the woods, I was sitting back, and trying to pull him but it just wasn't working. Anyways he flew over the last jump and continued to hare up the woods till we got to the top and then I managed to get him to walk.

So walked out of the woods on to the beet field they harvested and that wasn't any better walk-gallop He was thundering like a herd of elephants. He felt really on the forehand like if he tripped we'd have toppled. Normally if hes having a mad moment give him till half way up the field then just a "whoa" will bring him back to walk. I tried though and it failed, following by really sitting up, and pulling but it wasn't happening. I thought we were gonna overshoot the field and go into the next but just managed to get him to stop but he was really snorting and excited.

I'm not sure what to do, his foods been cut back to almost nothing. Its so hit and miss with how he is, sometimes hes great others hes awful...Monday I was delighted with him he was a superstar. I own a flash and the next step up in stength with his bit, but don't really want to use them. (I'm not even sure if it would work, he is sooo head strong). Rest of the time he just goes on voice comands. My braking skills aren't great, its something I struggle with at the RS. Any ideas how to steady him up?

[fimacg]

does he wear a martingale?

Safety has to come first. But if you dont want to use a stronger bit the only other thing I can suggest is to fence of a bit of your fiele and go back to basics with him in terms of schooling

[fleabitten]

agree with fi. I think you are going to have to maybe take some action and use the flash strap or stronger bit, cos that just sounds plain scary and no enjoyment at all i can just imagine what you described i would also try a martingale too.

what about getting a freelance instructor out and using that wee arena or your field and getting some tips and help?

ps - you are very brave! well done for keeping the head and getting him stopped.

[scattymare]

Thing is you'll never win in a pulling match. And I think it's far kinder to have a slightly stronger bit and not have to pull constantly than hauling on a softer one. So could be the way to go. With Eddie, she's brilliant on her own and will not run off or pull at all, but when we go out with Huffy she would get a bit excited, particularly after our first canter. I now put the rein on the middle ring (she came in a Dutch gag) when in company then just on the snaffle on our own or schooling and she's so much better.

[FirenLady]

Yep, he always wears a martingale. I think you guys have a good point, about safety. When I was nearing the top of the field I was starting to get bit scared, field beyond has long grass and quite a lot of stuff in it. So strange cos hes been foot perfect since, its a bit like he just flips out sometimes. I've swapped his ridden days round and have started doing some schooling with him again. I spouse I've let him slip a bit there, I don't really like schooling and not going to shows anymore lack the inspiration to do any. He was very good schooling Monday, even got right leg canter!

[fleabitten]

Yeah, its the unpredictability really of it. I know what you mean.
Maybe the schooling will work magic
It does get a bit boring and you might run out of things to do, i always did lol! but if you have any dressage tests lying about or you could download some off the interdressage website then you have bits and pieces to work on.

i really love this exercise which we did in our lesson (even things you do at your RS give you ideas) a figure of 8 in canter. 2 poles out parallel ends facing B and E. canter the 2 circle shapes and trot going through the poles then pick up canter on the other leg. you would not believe how responsive it gets them!! after only doing one circuit on my horse he got so responsive and collected. we did it without poles as well and if you dont get that good straight line and then turn to the opposite rein then you either dont get the correct lead or it just might fall into a shambles - i must have just went diagonally and then the horse was hard to get into canter again. amazing how one small detail makes all the difference.

or look in books or on the internet for some inspiration or even brig and maxs workout.