That was supposed to say hooning

If you have a school area a good thing me and my friend used to do with an ex racer we schooled was halts. Literally constantly throw them in using our breath and seat rather than our reins and after a few weeks he would halt upon a deep out breath. Try reading Mary Wanless' book 'right brain riding' it gives you a few tips on channeling the energy into a lovely frame and outline rather than a fast forward motion! She mentions- and not that I suspect your doing this but if we react by leaning forward and keeping a secure rein we acting like a water skier- and if we water ski the horse gladly becomes out boat and tugs us along. Your horse probably over the moon to have a job and is just so happy she can't control herself!

Hi. My Max is 11h 3 & was given to me because he bucked adult riders off. Prior to that owner he had been a lead rein pony from a race fit point to pointer. Max does nothing slowly. However, he was very tense out alone under saddle. What I managed to do was lead this highly excited pony a good way from the field & his pals, get on, remain calm even though he was threatening to explode beneath me & not take up a contact. This took place on a soft farm track. The not taking up a contact was key. He marched off back towards home like a pneumatic drill (not comfy on a felt pad)! He jig jogged a bit & I still held my nerve, leaving the reins loose & scratching his withers for encouragement. After about 150 yards he started to relax, calm down & slowed to a much better walk. In the last 4 years he has never been as tense, as excited or as bullish as he was that first day. Try the halt process as previously described but also work on your breathing & calmness to help the horse do likewise & in a safe place loosen your reins. Some horses naturally are forward going, which personally I prefer but even these can be fully relaxed - brisk but happy. Good luck. Jo

Thanks so much girls for the advise its great I'll keep you posted on how we go:).

I've ridden plenty of horses like yours jedsterptyltd. Another thing that you could try - if you haven't already - is sitting deep in the saddle because as Monty and my riding instructor say, "Its hard for your horse to go faster if your sitting deep in the saddle". Or at least my riding instructor always says that. Lol. I was also taught that having short enough reins so you can do GENTLE and SMALL jerks on the reins to remind the horse that he/she needs to stay slow. Over time your horse may learn to slow down when you want her to. I've also heard that half or one reined halts help - but I think its hard on the horse. Really hope this helps!! :-D

Also - sorry forgot to mention this in my last comment - some horses just need to run loose in the arena a while to get all of their extra energy off. That's another thing my riding instructor did with the school horses - keep in mind this in NOT to exhaust the horse, it's kind of like how some people (me) like to run before they have to have their full concentration of something. It might be as simple as that - but I'm not sure. Once again, hope this helps!!

Can I just point out that if this horse is an ex racer (original post isn't clear) tightening the reins in racehorse language means go faster not slow down. Ex racers need to be re-trained from the beginning. They also tend to retain their natural format of 60 ish percent weight on front 40 ish on back - for general work this balance needs to be shifted a bit to develop the back end muscles otherwise they develop sore backs. Longlining is a good way of starting to retrain. If this is not an ex-racer, ignore me and I will shut up lol

Thanks vicci no she's not an ex racer just a very forward percheron warmblood .thankyou all for the advise.lits of walking.and baby steps

Oh, well I did learn something - its okay!

Hi abit of success I took my girl for a trail down the beach just walking sat real deep in my saddle and talked and sang to her this helped I think with my relaxation too(she loved Yellow submarine)anyway we walked home on a long rein just holding the buckle.woohoo:) Do you think a bitless bridle could help too so she has nothing to lean on???

Hi. Bit less can be really hard - chain around the back. I use an in hand, plastic mouth piece, brass bit rings bit. When I'm told I can't ride in that I make the point 'if I have to pull that hard, I'm doing it wrong'! It works great - also use side rings so bit does not pull through the mouth. This does not have nutcracker action, makes sure lip is not caught down the loose ring holes - it's great. BUT BETTER THAN THAT IS- breath in a big breath & then push as much out of your lungs as you can. Really lowers adrenaline. Do that & keep the faith. Your horse will love it. If you really want to be violence free there needs to be that moment where they say I'm gonna explode & you sit there like you don't care. It's hard to do but the benefits are enormous. Sorry guys, this is leap of faith time. This is necessary. If you can't do this then you have a real problem. Horses need you to live the life. You can't preach it & not live it. Cheers, Jo.

Hi horse25lover
Didn't get your last comment what did you learn.and who will be ok.......me?

I had horses as a kid till 18 then gave it away till 1 year ago I'm now 37 and am starting again as an adult....completely different veiw on things as an adult but you must be patient with me as i don't know all the correct lingo.

Sounds like your making good progress jedster :-) There are pros and cons to bitless/bitted just like all things, however there's certainly no harm in considering it. Do you have a Dually? Makes a great bitless bridle but whether with or without bit, hands have to be soft and kind.
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I agree with Jo about keeping adrenaline down through breathing etc. and strengthening the connection between you and the horse so she listens to you rather than making her own decision. Re: the explosion comment, I don't disagree with Jo but only if someone has the confidence to do this. I feel it's important that we remember that there is no shame in getting off if it's too much. I only say this because I get fed up of the horse world saying that people must stay on the horse no matter what. I know that's not what you are saying Jo but it does depend on rider ability/confidence too.
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Don't worry about "lingo" just say it how it is :-) There's too much jargon in horse world as it is!
Good luck, keep us posted!

Hi. Vicci is right - that was me getting passionate and not explaining my point very well. What I was trying to convey was that horses pick up on how we are emotionally, they synchronise. When they get excited & that's not what we want, if we get angry, excited, frightened then they do the same. If we pick up a stronger hold on the mouth they will react by going faster ( to escape the danger you are signalling to them you have identified). Similarly, if our legs get stronger on them they perceive we have seen something bad and they're off! Certainly, if this kind of situation happens in an unsafe place, your best plan might be to get off and reassure your horse from the ground but if you are confident or even just convinced that this is just another one of those happenings that needs to be dealt with, you should stay up top and work the procedure - like Monty says. The lower your adrenaline the better. Use all the ways the Uni gives you to do that and your horse will act in accordance with the trust you have built between you. It's a breakthrough moment. It's a real buzz. It's not easy. But, it is really worthwhile. Cheers, Jo

Hey Jed,
I just didn't know that in racing the rider would pull on the reins to make the horse go faster. (Read Vicci's comment - 2 above my last post) :-)

I don't think they actually pull the reins to make the horses go faster, but since a jockey can't use his/her legs very well to urge th ehorse on, much of the communication goes thorugh the reins.
Also, when they are being trained it is (usually) either walking on long reins or cantering on short reins. So the horses tend to associate shortening of the reins as the signal to start running and as long as the contact remains to lean into, they keep going.
At least that was the explanation I got (30 years ago) when I rode ex-race horses turned into brood mares at a small stable.

Commit is doing really well still very keen but she's relaxing her old owner came round the other daywhile I was riding and commented on how relaxed she is with me:)we've got the walk down pat now we're working on the trot .we're both learning heaps.:)

Thanks Kicki, I meant shortening - my use of the word "tightening" was misleading, my apologies horse lover - Kicki has explained it in much better detail than I did.
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Great news Jedster - glad things are improving