Really Bad Day Help please!!

[NoviceNic]

Went to a show today. Captains 3rd one. When we got there he did his usual bolt as his friend walked away from him. We attempted 2 ft and 2ft 3 jumps but unfortantely he had no intentions of going in the direction of which I was aiming him. He ran to the gate as he saw his field companion waiting for their go. He propelled himself round at lightening speed not listening to any of my aids and was a right g*t.

But what was even more horrifying was he bolted in Family pony and knocked the Judge over. Words cannot express how guilty, low and depressed I feel right now. Usually this cob is a plod. With no go in him at all in the menage. He does liven up at Shows which is an advantage for jump classes but today was horrific. I could see everyones faces as I walked him back to the trailer. I could of screamed at them. I do love him and he really had a bad day today. But I need to stop this behaviour before it carries on. It doesn't matter which pony goes with us to shows he clings to all of them and frets when they walk away. He had a pelham in so no way to stop him via bit.

How do I stop it???

[shandy84]

Can you take him to the show alone? Maybe don't enter but walk him around in hand try and get him to feel confident on his own in the environment, a dually halter or something like that or a parelli one may help yo with thi as well as his inclination to bolt.

What happens when the friend goes away does he immediatly bolt or does he think about it for a few seconds, I am not an expert by any means but mayb if he waits a tiny bit yu could start him doing some basics of the parelli 7 games to get his attention on you and not on his friend?

[Bloss]

It's so difficult to try to look on the bright side when everything seems to have gone wrong but there will always be another day.

Have you tried taking him to any shows on his own, it might help him to concentrate if his friends aren't there to distract him. It might also be worth going to a few shows to just ride/lead him around the show ground or find a quiet corner where you could work him for a while with no pressure or spectators.

Try not to worry to much, it's possible that Captain has had time to work out the show routine and is finding it a bit scary, I know that Cappy was a nightmare at his first few outings but by schooling him in lots of different places he now stays calm.

Good luck and I'm sure that with patience you will be able to solve this.

[LindaAd]

Went to a show today. Captains 3rd one. When we got there he did his usual bolt as his friend walked away from him. We attempted 2 ft and 2ft 3 jumps but unfortantely he had no intentions of going in the direction of which I was aiming him. He ran to the gate as he saw his field companion waiting for their go. He propelled himself round at lightening speed not listening to any of my aids and was a right g*t.

But what was even more horrifying was he bolted in Family pony and knocked the Judge over. Words cannot express how guilty, low and depressed I feel right now. Usually this cob is a plod. With no go in him at all in the menage. He does liven up at Shows which is an advantage for jump classes but today was horrific. I could see everyones faces as I walked him back to the trailer. I could of screamed at them. I do love him and he really had a bad day today. But I need to stop this behaviour before it carries on. It doesn't matter which pony goes with us to shows he clings to all of them and frets when they walk away. He had a pelham in so no way to stop him via bit.

How do I stop it???

Don't feel too bad about the judge, NoviceNic - it happens! Once I asked my instructor to take my pony to a show; pony whipped the leadrope out of her hands and galloped off, knocking someone down on the way. The instructor couldn't believe that a little scruffy pony had done that to her ...

I think what you need now with Captain is lots of work on leaving his friends (is he OK at home? is it just at shows?) then take him to shows where you don't compete, just walk him around, take him away from his friends, as far as he'll go willingly, then take him back and go a little further next time ...

And plenty of schooling so he learns to listen to you. Do you have lessons on him?

You'll get there.

Linda

[NoviceNic]

As for taking him in hand I would need to do something to gain my confidence on the ground. He hasn't frightened me but I have never had any confidence handling. I have always felt better being on a horses back when they paddy than on the ground. We have a brilliant bond. He is bolshy but he doesn't get away with anything. He learns very quick I will not tolerate him barging etc. At his first show when I was on the ground he fretted if a pony was parked on his bottom and spun 180 degrees with out warning. Unfortunately the shows are not very well set up and the general public are in the same area as the horses waiting.

As for the bolting when any friend or horse he knows walks away. Even if there is another horse that looks like my daughters he starts whinnying. He panics and whinnies. Constantly fidgets to which I circle him and talk to him. He thinks about bolting for about 3 seconds and then he does it. I know he is going to do I feel him swaying his neck to spin around. I can have his head right around to his shoulder with the leg on as well to try and stop him bolting but he still does it. He also wears a pelham. He straight away puts his head in the air and there is no stopping him.

Thanks for your help. I am also going to work on this with my instructor. More ideas very welcome as well. Also anyone with similar experiences and cures needed.

[NoviceNic]

I have just thought about what he did at his first show. He was on his own. My daughters pony was at the other end of show in hand. I rode him around for a bit and was trying the practise jump. We went over and turned around to go away from the jump when a young girl unfortunately came cantering towards us to go over the jump. Her pony spooked and Captain did a 180 degree turn and bolted with the other pony.

We mostly hack out in company but I have been concentrating on solo hacking. He can be unpredictable and napp home. Usually on windy days. On calm days he is 100% perfect gentleman. His naughty moments on hacks at the moment are jumping down into the farmers field to which I quickly pull him out. So again he is going where he wants to go and getting away with it. I again gave him the benefit of the doubt and thought it was because the ground is hard and he takes a fancy to the soft planted field.

This is spinning around in my head like a tornado. Will I ever be able to sleep tonight??

[Horsesaddle]

just wondering does he often bolt ? was the judge and little girl ok ?

how is he with Daughter's pony?

[jUmPingIsLifE]

As for taking him in hand I would need to do something to gain my confidence on the ground.

maybe you could look into doing parelli's seven games? they are great groundwork excersizes for you and your horse.
i think what you need to to just work with your horse a lot on the ground...under saddle too but ground work is even more important because it is your foundation and you need a sturdy one under you :)
you need to work on making him interested in things you are doing, getting him to be more in tune with you so that at horseshows he is listening to YOU and not worrying about his stable mates or anything else going on around you. you need to grab his attention and get him listening. perhaps play with him a lot on the ground then take him to a show alone or even with a pasture mate and dont show him but do some of your ground work and get him to listen to you and pay attention. i think he perhaps just needs a little more confidence, i think he runs after his pasture mate because he gets worried about his new envoirment and everything going on around him he wants to feel more safe and he runs to his pasture mate for that safty. through groundwork and lots of time spent with him he should learn that you are his safty and that whats going on around him shouldn't bother him :)

dont worry, head up. i took tahoe to his first rated show and he ran off a couple time! we were cantering in an EQ class and he was whinnying to other horses as we went. so i have started doing even more ground work with him and spending more time with him, i was dissapointed too as he definatly wasn't listening to me or even giving me a second thought a couple times! both of our ponies will get better with time and work though. chin up :D

[cazrider]

Lots of sympathy Novicenic :( Not many new ideas over and above what people have already said. I'd really do loads of groundwork with him at home, as my guess would be he's really lacking confidence in the strange and very exciting environment of a show, especially if you lack confidence handling him. I'd then take him to a couple of shows with a friend (him and you) and just let him gain his confidence there, let him graze. wait until he's happy then move the friend away from him, or take him away. Just work on it gradually, just like you've been doing with your hacking. It will come right, early days yet.

But, like others have said, I'd really concentrate on the groundwork first. No pressure things like taking him for a short walk in hand. Create him a little obstacle course and work your way round it. Have fun with him on the ground, so that you gain confidence in each other. You can do this with a friend and another horse. Like Shandy84, I'm not an expert, but the Parelli games may give you a focus.

Best of luck :)

[Mary Poppins]

I am really sorry to hear what happened. I had a similar experience when my old loan horse bolted off from me. I was supposed to be leading him in-hand but he went crazy and got away twice. He galloped towards a little girl on a pony and thankfully stopped dead but my heart did stop. I stoped loaning him after this because I didn't feel that I could cope with him in these situations.

I have no idea what to advise, and I don't envy your situation. I appreciate what everyone says about ground work but with my horse he was fine to handle on the ground at home, but when we went out he changed. I think that in his case it was a confidence problem. If it were me, I would get my instructor to ride him at the next show - or at least get them to come and watch me so they could help me overcome it. I really hope that you get to the bottom of it.

[NoviceNic]

Horsesaddle- I made sure the judge was ok. I dismounted and my friend took Captain out of the ring. I didn't leave the judge until she was happy to walk away. I also went to check on her before the end of the Show but unfortunately couldn't find her.

Everyone - Thank you for the ideas of Join up and Parelli. I have spoken to my instructor and we are going to start with join up. I won't take Captain to any more shows this year. I can concentrate on my budding little in hand stars. My daughter and her Shetland pony. I will work hard with Captain and see how things go next year. If it means he nevers settles at shows then I just won't take him. I will still love him to bits. He isn't a killer horse. Just unfortunate the accident took place. There were 4 other ponies having a flip at the same time. So a complete mess all round.

[shandy84]

I'm sure if you work with him at home and with his sepertation anxiety at hoe you may find he calms enough to be safe at a show with a little time, from what I understand not many horses stay 100% calm at shows so I would always expect them to be up on their toes, just if you can get him to listen in that time he will be much safer

[NoviceNic]

Thanks Shandy I have only got 2 more shows that I would enter. One of them being very busy and livey. So I think I will pass on that one. I am going to put my thoughts into join up. My instructor has more experience than me so will be able to help us. I will try solo hacks more often to help him not fret. This will bring my confidence on more as well. Then as we solo hack more I will try and lead him out alone. What is the difference between a dually halter and a head collar. Would I have more control of him as he is a very stubborn strong boy when he wants to be. I am not sure how things are going to work as at home he is a perfect gentleman. But the devil comes out of him at Shows.

[shandy84]

If you are uncertain about NH methoda etc you can join the parelli (group :o ) and you get structured booklets etc.

From what I understand of the Dually it is a pressure release system based around the nose, you may find you need to read up on it before buying it or get an RA out to help you with it and your pony to begin with as you must be able to release immediatly the desired action is taken.

Good luck :)

[NoviceNic]

Well Captain and I had a lesson. My instructor worked on getting Captains attention to what I wanted. Then we did some join up. We then put Fagan (field companaion) in with us and made Captain stand on x whilst Fagan cantered around us. Then we walked in opposite directions to each other and trot and then canter. Captain didn't put a foot wrong. We both went up the road for a warm down. I made Captain walk in front. Then I asked fagans rider to trot in front of us and I would keep Captain in walk. Captain was not happy so I made him stand. Only a split second passed before Captain went into canter from stand on tarmac and like a lunatic possessed galloped around a very tight road to catch fagan up. There was no stopping him. I am not even sure if I tried as we slipped sideways on the road. I was seriously considering emergency dismount I thought I was a goner. Shocked the living daylights out of me. Fagan went into canter as he panicked when Captain flew up at the back of him. There was no stopping the pair of them. The only thing that stopped them was the field gate. I have made arrangements to take Captain up to my instructors yard on his own and have lesson there. It will give Captain the opportunity not to rely on his buddies and try and concentrate on me.

[NoviceNic]

When he bolts Captain puts his head up high and cannot be stopped with a straight bar pelham no roundings single reins and curb chain attached loose.

Should I put a martingale and roundings on??

[timarti]

Alas, there is not enough tack in the world to stop a horse that really wants to take off. And that's not really a solution, anyway. Kudos to you for not panicking and staying on! Round penning, join-up, natural horsemanship, whatever you want to call it, focuses on understanding and communicating with the horses mind, which, after all, controls the feet! I don't think there are any quick fixes, but you can certainly make things better over time. Don't give up! :)

[Gabrielle]

Seeing as he is putting his head in the air to avoid contact on the bit I would definitely recommend a running martingale. This should assist in the bit in working in the correct way - Bars of mouth and poll.

Best of luck. :D

[NoviceNic]

OK dokey will go with the martingale. Definately not giving up I love him too much. I have been asked to accompany another horse on a walk tomorrow. I just hope Captain will not play up. This other horse has pulled a muscle and just needs to walk for a while. Fingers crossed. :(

[shirley]

Why not think about doing the other two shows, but not entering at all. Load him on his own and travel to the show, get him out and tie with hay net next the the box / trailer for half an hour or so, if settled see if can do a little longer. This will get him used to travelling on his own, used to noise etc of shows and show him that he is ok, this will help his confidence in the long run. As he gets better then think about an in hand class and build up to ridden classes and eventually jumping classes.
My cob did not like leaving his companions, napped all the time, but over the time we have gradually worked on getting him used to being on his own, and now can hack out on our own as well. So be patient, persevere and you will soon see the changes occuring for the positive.
Several friends and I were discussing different training methods the other night, but all are based on one thing and that is getting real respect from our horses whilst we are on the ground. As long as whatever method you use is favourable with you and your horse then it will work.
Good luck and post when you get that first rosette for jumping!!!!

[pattir7]

Wow....very scary. Kudos to you for staying on him. A fall from a full out gallop would have hurt if not seriously injure you. I was in a similar situation a about 10 years ago on a trail horse... my friend decided (foolishly) that he wanted to run on the beach. My horse was right behind him and when my friends horse took off, mine followed suit....like a bat outta hell. Hell nor high water was gonna stop either of them....so, I decided to just sit and hang on for dear life. Actually, being young and fearless at the time, I wasn't even scared. There was really nothing around so not much to worry about except staying on. If that were to happen to me now, I'm not sure what I would do... I haven't even decided that I want to canter for a while....

Don't have advice but wanted to wish you the best of luck...

Patti

[LindaAd]

Wow....very scary. Kudos to you for staying on him. Patti

I agree - I think being galloped off with on a road is one of the scariest things ...

I think what you need to do is ride him out with his companion, and just practice separating them. Start with going in front just a bit, then waiting and letting the other horse ride past you just far enough so that Captain doesn't get stressed. Then make the distances longer. Then ask the other horse to go out of sight round a corner and wait. Then try asking them go go just a short distance in different directions. And so on. Always tiny steps, always without going far enough so that Captain gets stressed. Asking him to go slowly while his companion goes fast is one of the scariest things for a horse - it goes against the instinct to stay with the herd which is one of the strongest.

Linda

[NoviceNic]

Been busy over the last couple of days. Done join up every day. He knows what I want him to do and for the first time I realised where and when he was scared. He would start to wonder to the gate bless him. So I went upto him and gave him the biggest cuddle. Then I rode him in menage and then braved 5 minutes up the road. Not too far. Realised I was shaking at one point and he could sense this and neighed to his mates. Anyway turned around on my terms and took him to front of livery jumped off and let him graze for a while. I would never of considered this before as I am out of my comfort zone when I am on the ground. He was a little gem so really pleased with our progress today. I am sure it will take time. To which I have loads of at the mo with the kids at home. He is also spengin time on his own grazing at the mo. He doesn't seem to mind this as he gets the field that has grass!!!! So while he is on his own the others are watching with jealous eyes.