I lost control

[hlstarmie]

I have been very pleased with my ponies progress lately he has been so well behaved and i feel like we have formed a real special bond. That was untill 2 days ago when i was out on a hack, there is a grass verge quite large that i sometimes have a little canter on so i asked for canter and he went crazy! He threw his head in the air bucked and shot off into the road with a leap and a buck. I stayed on but i was so scarred i totally lost my nerve so i kept him at walk all the way home.
The following day the same thing happend, i thought i would try it again to see if he would be ok but no he did it again. I was shaken but i shouted at him turned him around and made him do it again he was not so bad this time but tried to go faster than i wanted him to.
How should i deal with this and why do you think he could be acting this way.
This is the only canter i have on my hacks during the week so do you think he just got a bit excited?
It did feel like he was trying to get me off!
I cant believe he did this after we have been going so well lately. Please help.

[Charlotte]

Sounds like he's full of beans, either that or he's trying it on!

Are you able to school him for a little while before hacking out? Either that or lunge him for about 10 minutes, see if this makes a difference. This should take the edge off his excitement when you ask for canter. I would also recommend that on alternate hacks you walk him or trot him along this grass verge, so he doesn't associate this particular spot with cantering every time you go out!! Horses are particularly good at predicting what we are going to ask them - perhaps they can sense the adrenalin building up inside us!!

Try and make your weekday riding varied - perhaps school one evening, quiet hack next, then a faster one, then back to a slower paced hack etc etc. That way he won't know what to expect and you'll always be one step ahead of him!!

[hlstarmie]

Hi thanks for your reply, I hope it is because hes full of beans. I will try lunging before i ride to see what happens.
His rides are varied day to day he never goes the same place every day, so boredom is not the problem im sure.
Also i very rarely canter him on the verges i have only done it a couple of times so maybe he doesnt like it maybe!
I dont know please more advice!

[CHRISTINE]

Hi Hlstarmie
I think what you have here is a pony who knows how to take advantage and what better place than the one place you always have a canter. I used to have a pony just like that so i had to find a differnt place to have a canter everytime i went out hacking. They anticipate the canter and then you tense up which makes the pony more determined to get his own way( iam only a begginer myself so i wasn't very confident maybe anyway) hope this helps .

[SJ]

Hi hlstarmie

These little characters never give up trying new tricks. You really have my support, I think he's probably taking the Mick but its jolly frightening when your're the one on top.
If it's any consolation our little pony decided at a show this weekend that she was going to jump a neat little clear round for my 9 yr old daughter, then promptly put an appalling display of unnecessary behaviour for a 13yr old friend of ours who is an excellent rider and knows our pony well. She (the pony) decided there were maritans behind all the hedges, tigers under the fences and generally went in every direction except forward and over! She then came out of the ring and did gymkhana games on the lead rein with my 6yr old son as if butter wouldn't melt in her mouth. I'd love to know what's going on inside her head!

Good Luck
Sara Jane

[hlstarmie]

Hi and thanks again for the replies.
Christine i think your right about him knowing when to take advantage as he has become quite a pro at that!
Hi SJ, my pony must have a hidden book on tricks or something as like you said they always come up with new ones! We conquer one then he will think of a new one!
When he took off like that i felt like someone out of a western film hanging on for dear life!
I cant believe how alike our ponies are they must be twins!!
When i was schooling my pony this weekend, instead of doing what he normally does, which is walking in every direction apart from the way i want him to go and avoiding the sides of the school like the plague he couldn't walk close enough to the edge. He walked and trotted around the outside very well except he kept crushing my leg against the side. He kept getting as close as he could to the fence. Talk about stupid!!
If you have any tips for controlling the uncontrollable(my pony!) please let me know as i am running out of ideas!!

[SJ]

Hi hlstarmie

I don't know about a hidden book on tricks, I think they have cheekiness written all over their faces! 99% of our pony I love to bits, the other 1% is all attitude which I admire but can really p*** me off if I'm not in the mood or she gets potentially dangerous with my children.

Much better an animal with attitude and character. How long have you had your pony? We've had ours for 18 months, I now feel I nearly know her, at least I know that if she's going to be funny about something I know how bad it will be e.g. loading, tractors, pigs, geese etc.

I think these ponies need regular, consistent, gentle but firm handling, they need to know who is in charge and then generally they are happier and more submissive. I think ponies are rather like over grown kids in mentality, the need discipline and routine so they know where they stand but also a variety of activities for interest.

Any tips on curing the 'martians hiding under fences syndrome' would be appreciated. Our pony kept sitting down on her bottom in front the fences at the w/e, she looked like Thelwell cartoon!

Sara Jane

[hlstarmie]

Its good to talk to someone who knows exactly what im dealing with!
I wanted to ask you how your pony was with children, If they are not confident and good riders how does he act?
I have always said to people i dont think Exmoors make very good childrens ponies as they are so strong and unpredictable, what do you think?
My pony knows straight away when someone young or less confident gets on and he will be a nightmare. Basically he is a looney and sometimes i would even say dangerous!
I have had my little Angel now for 3 years so we are well and truely a team!!
Let me tell you one thing SJ, you will never really know that pony they make sure of that!!!!!
As for the pigs, well my pony becomes a nervous wreck, he hates them, he snorts,puffs and pants, sweats up walks backwards, sideways and looses it completely!! Saying that though i hate them too. The smell is awfull down at the pig farm near me.The pigs squeal and snort and bang against the cages doors - pretty scarey stuff for a pony!
I bet your pony looked so cute sat on his bottom! what a sight! I have yet to see that pose from mine!
As for the martians i have no idea, i will tell you a secret though as long as you dont laugh! If my pony acts stupid with fences or whatever i talk to it! yes the fence, i said dont laugh!!! It works, yes you look stupid so dont do it when people are around, and the pony will be curious to who you are talking too!!
bye for now.

[SJ]

Hi hystarmie

I've sent you an email, I hope you get it if not, let me know through this thread.

Sara Jane

[hlstarmie]

I would just like to tell everyone that since this incident my pony has been very well behaved.
I have been lunging him first and it seems to do wonders for him. Hes warmed up and ready to go!