Horsee took off on me?

Question

Today at my lesson we were working on jogging with spurs (first timeee with spurs) and i got my horse going good but he goes WAYYY to fast for a western jog and he puts his head up really high all of a sudden. and then i was trying to get him to stop adn he took off galloping and cantering wayy fast? I dont know what i did and im so frusterated. I mean my trainer is telling me not to get frusterated but i cant help it!!!!

Answer 1

The problem is most likely the spurs. Try taking them off and do the same thing, if he still takes off, pull him into a very tight circle, that will make him stop. You can get the vet to look at his teeth to see if they need to get done. When your horse takes off with you don't get frustrated. take a deep breath and try to stop the horse, i know how hard that can be, i have been taken off with many times, and most times i feel off. also, if you work with horse on ground manners he will most likely listen to you more. You can use a crop or you can squeeze harder, cuz if you kick he can get hard sides, and that means he wont go, he might already have hard sides, just something to look into.

Good Luck

:)

Answer 2

id have to say its the spurs oh and something to help with the head thing get a martingale they really helped my arab x mare!!

Answer 3

If your horse already goes fast then why are you putting spurs on? If he doesn't need them for "encouragement" then I would take them off and work on keeping him more collected.

*Omgosh! If the previous owners "beat him up" with spurs then obviously he's going to be really touchy with them! Take them off! He'll probably be more relaxed without them.

Hope this helps!

Answer 4

uh, the prob is the spurs. idc if your trainer wants you to 'jog with spurs' if you say he's already too fast for a western jog (if that's what you're looking for) you need to take the sprus off. spurs help make the horse go faster...that's why he galloped...and that means he's never been ridden with them. so, common sense girl...common sense.

Answer 5

what's a horsee?

and take both your hands, make a fist, then take you finger closest to your thumb, stick it out alittle bit. . . do this with both hands, then hit with force your self in the side.

that is what your horse felt, and that is why people with poor legs should NOT use spurs until they have developed their legs more.

Answer 6

Spurs can really get a person in trouble if they're not able to control where their leg is and what it is doing at all times. It sounds like he went faster than a jog and you tensed up and then he tensed up even more. I've seen it happen a lot. When someone tenses up and isn't used to spurs and doesn't keep their leg off the horse, they end up gripping and the horse feeling the spurs in his side, then freaks bc he thinks he's supposed to go faster, faster, faster. I know horses that freak out just from someone mounting them while wearing spurs. This usually occurs bc somewhere in the horse's past someone misused spurs or riders got on and their legs were messy = jab, jab, jab. Ouch for the horse!!! If people before you intentionally beat him up with the spurs, well that's the pain he's anticipating and running away from.

The in-between is start riding without spurs and with a crop. If you don't like the idea of a crop, use your split reins. Ask nicely with your legs. If he doesn't respond, increase pressure. If he still doesn't respond, tap right behind your leg. The minute he responds, release and relax and don't bother him while he's doing what you asked for. Repeat when he tries to back off of work or is ignoring your leg. Work on this steadily and give it time. He will learn to move off less leg pressure after several consistent rides and you will both be much happier. Most importantly by working him using this method, you'll be able to give him a consistency that will start shaving down some of his tense and scared behavior. Sounds like he was abused in the past ;-(

Answer 7

What kind of spurs are you using?

Since he is already sensitive and afraid of them, you might try an english style spur as a transition.

Any piece of equipment can be misused to the point of abuse.

Answer 8

Well what you can do is not get frustrated because if you do then your trainer will not trust you to be a good rider.He/She wouldn't want you to go to and show and start yelling at the horse.So just get back on the horse when you find it and just stay calm you dont want to get the horse scared and rearup on you.

Answer 9

Did you maybe accidentally bump him with the spurs? Were there any new horses around? Any machinery or loud noises? He definitely sounds spooked.

EDIT- There are MANY other aids out there to help a horse go...spurs are the last thing a spur-abused horse needs.

Answer 10

it could many different reasons.

*saddle doesnt fit right

* u pinch at ur knees

*is back is sore

*or it could be his teeth need to be done.

Answer 11

that is not the best aid to use on a spur abused horse.

Answer 12

Well I dont think you needed spurs if you horse already is forward going then adding spurs will make him get confused and for some forward going horse bolting solves problems. So talk to your instructor and explain how you feel  

Answer 13

Spurs aren't meant for horses to go forward they are meant for lateral movement... If he isn't listening to your legs don't use spurs to push him forward use a crop. esp if you dont wanna come dependent on spurs because when you take them off and try riding without them it will be even harder to make him go...So if your squeezing and he doesn't go use a crop and tap him where your leg would be squeezing him forward it may take a few tries but he'll understand he needs to listen to your leg pressure. and if he goes to put his head up do sew saw movements with your fingers and squeeze him forward with your legs to make him go on the bite...but if he does take off do a one rein stop by pulling your rein to your hip his nose should almost touch your toe. Horses can't act up when you a do one rein stop so I'd practice it.

Answer 14

It sounds like your horse doesn't need spurs. Try  holding a crop or something. If he's been abused with spurs, don't use them. Get him used to it. If he isn't going forward, make him. Use pressure, and such. Spurs are a last resort. And if you don't know how to use them, practice on a different horse, before yours.

Answer 15

if your horse is already too fast, carry a crop instead of spurs. spurs are for horses who need encouragement to move forward and your horse doesnt sound like he needs them