I wonder what most people would advise when you are out hacking with someone whose horse misbehaves?
These days, I ride with an RS escort - excellent riders, chosen by me. So no blaming their riding.
But they do sometimes hack over-exuberant horses - that spook, want to go too fast, or start bucking with excitement.
Yesterday my horse was excellent and calm when the other horse bucked off the track in canter - but heading home the other horse got more and more excited and his final bucking and jumping about when he didnt want to come back from trot to walk, alarmed my own horse, who decided to spook away and make for home. I dealt with this (seems I have learned to steer canter!) but I'd like general views on how best to ride when one's companion is having trouble.
I keep my distance from dramatics.
But what should one do if one has to wait? Standing around?
Should one wait calmly doing nothing (which gives horse a chance to turn its attention to the other horse?
Or deliberately ride circles etc. Keeping firm rein contact.
Please dont say that I should not be riding out with staff who cant control their horse. You dont know when you set out that there is going to be a problem - and you can see from OBC's posts that even an excellent rider can be bucked with or run away with.
I need riding advice for the second rider who is there when this happens.
Touch wood - all these spooks and consternations havent caused me to fall.
But it is a shock to the system. Yesterday I even let horse graze while I recovered my breath and my composure. And my rewarding the horse with grazing is surely not good for the horse.
I'd rather prevent the horse from fleeing in the first place.
These days, I ride with an RS escort - excellent riders, chosen by me. So no blaming their riding.
But they do sometimes hack over-exuberant horses - that spook, want to go too fast, or start bucking with excitement.
Yesterday my horse was excellent and calm when the other horse bucked off the track in canter - but heading home the other horse got more and more excited and his final bucking and jumping about when he didnt want to come back from trot to walk, alarmed my own horse, who decided to spook away and make for home. I dealt with this (seems I have learned to steer canter!) but I'd like general views on how best to ride when one's companion is having trouble.
I keep my distance from dramatics.
But what should one do if one has to wait? Standing around?
Should one wait calmly doing nothing (which gives horse a chance to turn its attention to the other horse?
Or deliberately ride circles etc. Keeping firm rein contact.
Please dont say that I should not be riding out with staff who cant control their horse. You dont know when you set out that there is going to be a problem - and you can see from OBC's posts that even an excellent rider can be bucked with or run away with.
I need riding advice for the second rider who is there when this happens.
Touch wood - all these spooks and consternations havent caused me to fall.
But it is a shock to the system. Yesterday I even let horse graze while I recovered my breath and my composure. And my rewarding the horse with grazing is surely not good for the horse.
I'd rather prevent the horse from fleeing in the first place.