Controlling/pre-empting difficult behaviour

[Bucephalus]

I'm an adult novice (but of the slightly more experienced end) having regular lessons, so I don't really come into contact with truly difficult horses.
The problem is we don't know what to do when faced with occassional out-of-charater behaviour from school horses generally considered to be 'novice rides'.
A large horse in my lesson occassionally takes fright, veers off and flies around the school, and I've now seen a few riders fall from him. I tend to keep a very careful eye on him when riding him, keep my reins short and keep him away from the horse in front. However, I wouldn't know how to stop him if he did take fright at something silly when I'm on board.
I was shocked to see a normally very well-behaved pony in my lesson lie down with his (adult) rider on board, and she only just got off in time before he started to roll.
I also ride a large cob with a habit of striking off a bit sharp into canter, and when I tried to rationalise his speed recently, he got quite angry and started dancing around on the spot.

We're not taught how to look out for hazards other than the obvious swishing tail and ears back. How can I be alert for problems without being paranoid?

[Bertie]

I am no expert but do have a few horses at our riding school who are a challenge (and I love them for it!!:p ) but it can be unnerving when your not sure what to do. My instructor always says "sit dip" and "stay calm", last week was eventful with my horse broncoing all round the arena but sitting deep, pushing on with leg when bronocoing and half halting down the outside rein when in canter especially or generally going to fast in any gait and staying calm (which is the hardest bit!!;) ) really worked.

Although my advice is probably pants, I hope it helps and good luck.:)

[Lovecat]

I'm pretty much in the same boat as you, having only just got my first horse - before then I had a share of a school horse who was lovely, but very spooky and nappy. My answer probably isn't much help to you, but I found that the more I rode her, the more I became aware of her triggers and was able anticpate and ride her through them. If you don't get to ride these horses regularly this may not be workable, I know...:(

One thing my instructor recommends if a horse gets strong/spooked and wants to run off is to circle them in trot for a while to get their brains working (as she puts it!) - leg yielding in and out of the circle helps get them past anything frightening while turning their head away from it, if that makes sense. It also pushes them on and uses their nervous energy in a useful manner! I understand that this may not be practicable in a group lesson, though....

No tips for rolling other than keeping steady rein contact throughout - otherwise, just jump out of the way!;)

Don't know if the above is any use at all, as you were after how to be alert to things - my answer to that would be it is very difficult to anticipate everything - some horses will walk calmly past flapping plastic bags and then go mental because of a hosepipe lying 10 foot away! - but the more you get to know the horse you ride the better you will get at understanding their triggers and watching out for them. Do try not to tense up as that only communicates to the horse that there's something out there to be scared of - not easy, I know!

Good luck:D

[horsemad]

Originally posted by Bertie
My instructor always says "sit dip" and "stay calm"


Sounds like excellent advice Bertie - and well done for sticking on your bucking bronco! The staying calm bit is the thing I always have problems with. My 21 year old sensible horsey has not been very sensible this week because she hasn't had turnout for days. After 3 spooky/head tossing/leaping about episodes in last night's lesson, my nerves got the better of me and I got off.:(

If only I was brave enough to stay on her and just go with whatever happens......

[sozzie]

I know how you feel. It's a scary feeling when you can feel them coiling up like a spring and you don't know when they might suddenly take off, especially large cobs (they might be big but I'm convinced thay could overtake a TB sometimes).
I've ridden an aged schoolmaster in the past who just suddenly took off after another horse in a lesson, I wasn't quick enough to stop him and ended up falling off.
Try to turn a circle (as Lovecat said) but not too small as it might unbalance the horse.
If you ride with short reins all the time you are going to be building up a battle from the start and the horse will always win. In the lessons I used to have, my instructor would make us ride with the reins really long at the start of the lesson so the horse could lower it's head and stretch out. Once both horse and rider were warmed up we would take up more rein but still leave some slack so as not to be relying on the reins.
If you can work on your brakes before you get riding properly, maybe while everyone is sorting themselves out. Use your body position and weight only to stop the horse and use a single nudge of your leg to walk on. Keep doing this until the horse understands what you mean and after that retest your brakes every now and then to make sure they are still there. When you've got that sussed you won't feel as tense and won't need to keep the reins so short.

[Bertie]

Bucephalus - I agree with Lovecat and Sozzie but would advise that you take serious heed on the not circling too small - trust I'm talking from experience

when I was about a 12 I was ridding a riding school pony who was gymkahana pony who loved speed tight bends and jumping. When he got the front of the ride he would just follow the one in front, whoa and behold anyone who tried to stop him. If you did he would rear and the bolt off round the arena, I was riding him to make sure he wasn't too fresh for the next person, as he hadn't been ridden yet that day and this was the 2nd to last lesson of the day!!!:eek: I tried to circle him about a 15metre circle and although he was cantering, he was only quite small 11 - 12hh and should have been fine but decided he wanted to do 5metre circle and ending up falling over on top of me - luckily he got up was fine and canter himself to the back of the ride. as if nothing had happened :p .

Just beware of circling it can lead to disasters. :p Or is that embrassment:o

[Lovecat]

Totally agree on circle size - sorry, probably should have made that clearer!!:D 10 metres minimum size - I'd always go for 20 if I have the space!

Some very whizzy ponies I've seen at PC meets are actually made worse by turning them in tight circles - just seems to wind them up (and their riders do it deliberately to fizz them up!)

[Bucephalus]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone:)

I'm not too bothered about horses just going fast, the horses at my school rarely get completely out of control. They tend to go fast so they can hide at the back of the ride again with their mates!

I think my biggest worries are running into other horses or my horse getting into the situation where he will fall or run into something. The big cob is a bit silly when he's confused or nervous, sometimes turning much too sharply at speed, getting too close to other horses (one of them does kick) or running so close to the wall it scrapes my foot or leg.
When one horse has a bit of an episode in a lesson I find the others all follow the herd instinct and try to run/go sideways/prance about like it's the done thing.

[Bertie]

I know the kicking horse situation too my riding school has one which hates everything and evereyone!!:(

So I think my only advice is as I said before sit deep, stay calm, half halts and if you look like your'll career into the back of the others circle just before the back half halting as you go to slow the pace before you crash :eek:

Alternatively if your worried about scraping your leg inside rein and outside leg to push them only slightly away from the wall.

Good luck and remember to smile we're meant to be having fun!!!!:p :D lol