Decided to go for a nice easy hack yesterday as Flow had physio on Thursday, seemed very sore Friday so thought a wander down the road would be nice. Oh, how wrong was I?!
It was my fault. Haven't hacked for about a month, haven't hacked solo for even longer. But assumed she would be fine. We got out of the gates and straight away she went up, span and tried to piss off back to the yard. I was extremely shocked as this behaviour is not usual, at all. Saw that she was spooking at a dog that had run out, but it was just there, not barking or anything. She napped for about 5 minutes, wouldn't go forwards, only up and spinning. Sat it out, tried smacking her with reins and booting her. Arguing made the rearing higher. We got forwards eventually. Got past the barky dog at the end of the lane fine. Had a little trot, spooking at the sheep as we went past. 3 cyclists were coming past from behind and she lost the plot and started spinning and rearing again. One of them mentioned the glue factory. Not a bad idea, I was thinking at this point!
A car went past, nice and slowly, and madam kicked out at it. Luckily didn't make contact, but I was mortified. Got her to stop the rearing and got forwards all the way to the end of the lane but in retrospect should have stopped there rather than stuck to my plan of going all the way round the village and back down the main road. I was really angry with her by this point and was riding in that frame of mind rather than being calm and reassuring.
Got all the way up the hill with no major incidents. A bus came past so we went into someone's driveway and she was ok. Got more and more uptight towards the main road and when two motorbikes went past she went up, high, and pissed off with me the other way, and wouldn't stop. When I got her to stop and turned her round, she pissed off TOWARDS the main road. I hauled her up and jumped off, thinking this was all too dangerous, and she went up again so I pulled her down, hard, by the bit ring. Tried to lead her but she was threatening to just go so we stood and I called Becky. Her and other Becky came and other Becky got on and rode madam home, I was just too exhausted by this point to continue fighting with her. She went home the way we'd come rather than risking the main road. She reared with Becky, too, and Becky agrees with me that it is temper at being asked to stop and wait rather than insecurity or fear.
I was ok yesterday, got on and rode round the yard but am feeling less positive today. Not about riding her, she didn't frighten me apart from the running towards the main road, but I just don't know how to effectively deal with the rearing, on the ground or ridden. I don't think getting angry helps, I don't think telling her off helps but is ignoring it going to help? We already practice halting, in hand and ridden, so we will be doing even more of that. She has learnt that it works, it was quite a problem at the show and yesterday, and it really needs to be dealt with before it gets more severe. Aaaargh!
Didn't ride today, wrong frame of mind. Will school tomorrow.
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Can you tell she is going to do it before she does it if that makes sense? or does it take you by surprise?
ReplyDeletexxx
As a non-hacker, I really sympathise with the problem. Would it be best to try a short hack down the road with a steady companion for company or possibly to hire the member's field at Solihull for a potter so you both have the security of fencing? Good that Fran is due at the weekeknd and can no doubt give good advice. Chin up!
ReplyDeletevery tricky.
ReplyDeletedoes she get hysterical and lost her brain kind of thing or is it all rather more planned and carefully executed for maximum effect?
i do teach another one that refuses to wait, forgets which way he's napping etc and what really worked with him was to take him somewhere unfamiliar and do lots of walking, halting, turning round and walking back a bit, then halting, then going back the other way etc, until he started waiting for me to tell him which way to go and stopped trying to take over.
i would imagine you have to stay calm quite *cold* try and not get emotional or she will feed off that, keep all thoughts logical and problem solving, sometimes i find talking out loud helps-what im trying to acheive and options i have, keeps my focus on the issue and stops the horse *pushing my buttons*, imagine it as though you were talking someone else though what to do??????
passive agressive works better than kicking etc if its hysterical-keep taking her back to the spot you asked her to stand and lots of praise when she does, if its calculated and piggy then i WOULD get angry and boot her though it and use a voice command she knows-NO/DONT YOU DARE works well as both are short sharp words that *sound* angry.
napping for nappings sake is a bit like horses that dont load for the sake of being bratty-you've got to out stubborn them, so keep cool and keep thinking.
xxx
oh hon, so away with fairies I thought you were ok about it. I also know how scary and frustrating a nappy horse can be. For me it worked getting someone else to do the hacking but that may not work for you. Decide firstly if you want to work through it yourself and if you do i am happy to come on harv or on foot to offer support x
ReplyDeleteThanks for comments :)
ReplyDeleteBecky - I can feel when she is going to do it. She warns me and then shoulders come up and then legs.
Deryck - I think a sensible hacking partner sounds like a good idea, as does fenced hacking. I was worried on Saturday because of cars being around, I didn't want us to end up under one!
:hail: Fran. It is definitely planned. I *think* it is mainly temper but slightly sussing out who is in charge, mother or Flow. I think you are right in terms of separating emotion and staying very calm. The problem with getting angry is it seems to escalate the situation - she reacts to me arguing if that makes sense? I rode one like that years ago and I just sidestepped the argument by being quiet and carrying on asking without reacting to what she was doing, harder when it's my own though, really need to not take it personally. Will try that that you do with other client's horse, thank you. I think it is important she sees me as the leader and not her!
Don't worry Jo - you have so much on hun. Am going to work through it myself but any support is very very welcome, hacking with Harv and on foot would be brilliant, thank you :)xx