Help would be Appreciated - Horse Excited at Fun Ride

sjp1 · #1 14th Sep 2009, 01:40 PM

Hi, I am new on this forum and would be really grateful for some advice. My friend and I took our horses on a fun ride on Sunday - her horse is brilliant, 16 years old, calm, collected ......., mine is a 5 year old appaloosa who is a gem most of the time but can get quite excited. For the first 10 or so miles we were on our own and had a great time over fields and woods. Then we met up with other horses and after nearly nose diving down some very steep tracks in woods I thought I had had enough, so I was a bit woosy and we left them and turned for home on the roads. He didn't buck which was excellent as he is prone to do that - not sure if it is because we had gone a fair way or because of his new Freeform saddle. Any advice on getting him used to it please?

evanka · #2 14th Sep 2009, 02:03 PM

do you mean your horse started to get excited when he joined other horses?

sjp1 · #3 14th Sep 2009, 02:09 PM

Yes, as soon as they came up behind us he started to get up on his toes. I thought letting them pass may help but he just pulled and pulled.

evanka · #4 14th Sep 2009, 02:19 PM

why not try riding him in a school with a few other horses to get him used to horses being around him and get him used to working around other horses and paying more attention to you rather that what is going on around him

Fleabitten · #5 14th Sep 2009, 02:22 PM

Is it the first time your appy has been out with so many other horses? At 5 years old, sounds like it was all just a bit too exciting!

Could you introduce him to company gradually, maybe riding out with few others, building up to doing some fast work while maintaining control? Maybe ask for a few strides of canter, back to trot, lots of transitions? Keeping his attention on you, rather on the other horses.

Don't think you were woosy though. If turning for home at that point meant you ended the ride on a positive, that's a good & sensible approach to me

sjp1 · #6 14th Sep 2009, 02:27 PM

Yes, I think that is probably the way forward, it is only my friend and I that ever go out together and open spaces and or woods aren't a problem then. Perhaps stick to school or hacking out on roads with a few other people before attempting out second one. Been years and years since I have had a young horse - must be mad!!

Thank you so much for your help - lovely friendly site and shall be back on here again lots I think

Lot1983 · #7 14th Sep 2009, 02:30 PM

Well at least you had 10 relaxed miles!

Which fun ride did you go on? I really want to go on one locally with Henry but I do worry about how busy it might be, he's fairly good in company but being an ex-racehorse he can be quite fast without meaning to be!

sjp1 · #8 14th Sep 2009, 03:53 PM

It was down here in Devon - in aid of the Buck Hounds. I had an ex racer before my new boy and he definately liked to be first! I think they are brilliant things to go on and perhaps getting there towards the end rather than at the beginning is a good way to go. Good luck in finding one near you.

pmcc · #9 14th Sep 2009, 04:36 PM

was on a fun ride yesterday and took a turn on my friends 16yr old who was very good but she was still wanting to go after the other horses as they passed but managed to keep her back but not without being worried myself.

sjp1 · #10 14th Sep 2009, 06:03 PM

Well done, probably should have been braver myself, but there were more woods coming up which is fine uphill, however, down not so much fun!

pmcc · #11 14th Sep 2009, 06:59 PM

oh dont get me wrong, I stayed on for the first set that wnet by then a pony and trap came up behind us, that's when i got off