Im having problems with my trainer's new pony?

Question

ok well normally i just take lessons once a week, but my trainer got a new pony and she wants me to ride him so ive been coming in like 3 times a week. i rode him today and im riding him again tomorrow, but im having soooo much trouble lol.

basically he gets faster and faster, and everytime i ask him to trot he takes off and puts his head down. and of course when he does that i get nervous, and then he senses it and does it even more.

today for the first like 20 minutes he kept taking off and then we trotted in circles for awhile and he calmed down and then by the very end of the lesson we were able to trot once around the ring without him taking off.

any suggestions? obviously he's not mine and im not an amazing rider or anything, and honestly i usually just get on push button horses and jump courses. ive never really had to ride a difficult horse before lol.

thanks!

Answer 1

How are you asking him to trot? are you using spurs? when you ask him to trot click to him and if your riding in spurs give a slight pressure if your inside spur. If he takes of on you stop him, and back him up to the location where he took off on you. We use backing up as punishment at our stable because horses do not want to back up....they want to keep going forward. Trotting him in small circles and figure eights will also help you a lot with this.

Answer 2

when he puts his head down to bolt, prepare your body by leaning back a bit, making sure your leg is right, and lifting your shoulders/upper body and HANDS.  as soon as he drops his head raise your hands, kick him on, and prepare for him to go fast-but you ASKED him to go fast so its okay.. once you've gotten past the fast bit ask him to slow down and circle or serpintine(anything to make him think about what your askin him to do) .  basically, make it so that you ASK him to go forward instead of him just doing it.

this might be little difficult for you at first but you'll get the hang of it eventually..

Answer 3

You must relax! breathe open you hips wide. half halt and say whoa and post slower.

The posting slower sound shard, guess wha it is i just really learned how to do it will riding a fast pony. You literaly need to  just only slightly post and sit longer and relax. Think your going no where and just chill. True its gonna take a little in the begining to get him to respond but you should get it.

If worse comes to worse lunge him before you get on to tire him out some.

You have it CHILL that is such a big thing.

Yes your reins will help you but if you rely on the front half of you to take control you must remeber to slow down your mind and your body as well.

Need help, keep me updated on what you are doing. Feel free to email me :)

Answer 4

i think he needs work on the ground before you get in the saddle. He sounds like the typical pony. I would learn some natural horsemanship. I have taken clinics but maybe you could find something on youtube. Teach him to lunge and do some basic horsemanship commands so he can learn to respect his rider.

I would lunge him a little bit before each ride and would just work on trotting him. He sounds kind of out of shape and un balanced (taking off, pulling his head down). Establish a good trot and get him balanced. Build his muscles by trotting and maybe trot some poles.

Look into lunging for sure and if he doesn't get much turn out ask if he can get more.

Good luck riding. This pony will make you a better rider and help you become a trainer.

Answer 5

Your trainer gave you taht horse because she wants you to actually work during your lessons. Just saying ;)

Half halts are good, you can also slow him down by halt and then let go, halt, and then let go. Do that multiple times and it MIGHT work...i don't know because the horse I show with does that most of the time. Also, when he runs off, do you pull??

If yes, maybe that's the reason why. Either he just doesn't like you pulling so you have to be really gentle. Other than that...ask your trainer to get him checked. Maybe he has a sore and he's trying to get away from it by running (which usual horses do).

If not, he's probably just not used to the way you ride or he hasn't adapted to the stable/farm. Another thing, he might've been one of those stubborn horses. I had this horse once (we had to give him away because it was too much work and we had no time T.T) and he wouldn't even walk if you cropped him or kicked him. So...yah...

Hope this helps and good luck ^^

Answer 6

Use your weight in the saddle. I ride a horse just like this on sometimes and that is really the key to getting them to slow down. You can also try doing  a half halt, making him slow down but not stop completely.

Answer 7

Sounds like you need to wear him down a little FIRST.  You can do this AFTER you've saddled him and just lunge him on either a line or in a round pen.  

Once you mount back up, then make sure you're sitting straight in the saddle and keep your legs out of him once you've asked and gotten a trot.  Sounds like you're postig off your calves and feet which is WHY he's going faster instead of staying consistant.  When you post, use your lower thigh muscles NOT your calves and feet.

Answer 8

Hey!  It sounds like you're doing a good job - and riding horses who are NOT push button will make you a better rider, so hang in there.

Can you get him to just walk when you first go in the arena?  If you can, do that, and stay relaxed, and try to keep him relaxed.  When you do pick up the trot, be ready to circle him, like it sounds like you did, if he starts to rush off in the trot or to canter. Circle until he calms down, but be careful not to pull on both reins, as this will result in a hard mouth.  You've got to keep your hands soft and responsive.  Every time he relaxes into a quiet trot, let him go straight. If he starts to rush off again, circle again.  If you stay relaxed, and refuse to pull back with both reins (since it doesn't work, anyway), and you circle him when he rushes, eventually he WILL get the idea.  He may have been doing this for quite a while, it sounds like.

As for your getting nervous, don't forget to breath.  May sound funny to say that, but lots of people tense up and hold their breath when things are going not so well, and that causes you to tense up all of the muscles that need to stay relaxed in order to ride a nervous or anxious horse.

Good luck tomorrow.  Let us know how it goes, if that's possible.

Edit:  Oh.  He's coming back after a layoff, and was apparently behaving himself at some point in the not too distant past.  Well,  some of the above will apply, but lungeing a little beforehand should help.  If he's just feeling pretty fresh, then he should come around pretty quickly with consistant riding, as in 5-6 days/week, but you'll need to watch out and not overdo it, since he's had time off.  You don't want him to break down.

Answer 9

ok when i was like 12 my horse use to rear and spin..

but in this case what you really need to do is talk to the horse... keep your seat really deep.. and control your posting when you control your posting it controls their speed. and when you do it think about it .. it helps

when the horse goes to dive down their head make sure you take charge and take the reins back...and when the horse softin his mouth you softin your hands because if you dont get after the horse it leads to much more bit by bit..

so just take it slowly and good luck =)

Answer 10

Presuming you trust the riding instructor, and they asked you to ride this horse, there shouldn't be any soundness or other issues with him.

The thing is with diffcult horses, especially if their ponies, you need to not take ANY c**p. They usually know their job, and aren't doing it. Get angry. If he isn't going fast, kick him. YOU need to be the boss not him. If he's going to fast, stop him.

I think you should try collecting you trot. Sit, lean back, take a deep breath, and hold you reins tight.

Pull your reins, then gently let go, then pull them again. If he doesn't respond, make him. Sit down, pull back, and back him up. He's being naughty and stupid, and this usually is the time to tell him so. Pull back and squeeze with your heels. After he takes a few steps, make him walk forward, and pat him. Let him chill for a few seconds and try it again. Repeat it as many times you need.

As for the random putting his head down... There is a pony at our barn who does that. Since he isn't technically yours, you can't get him a martingale or grazing reins, but I would suggest this to your riding teacher.

If he violently yanks your reins through your hands and pulls you down on his neck, grab the reins tight, and sink deep into the saddle, pressing your heels down. Yank his head back up, saying no! loudly enough to get his attention, growl at him, scold him, and make sure your pulling his head up with enough force, right after he does it so that he gets that he can't do c**p like that to you. KEEP HIM MOVING THOUGH. Make him learn that its not a way to get out of work. Back him up if he keeps disregarding your instructions.

Keep your heels down, and sit really deep. This makes it harder for the horse to pull you onto its neck. I would even suggest getting some gloves if it hurts your hands, or you need a better grip.

The yanking head thing is something your instructor needs to get on and fix. It's hard to explain over the internet how to stop it, especially if you haven't had much experience with it.

Hold the reins before the weave, if thats what it takes to get his attention. When lesson horses I ride to exercise play up, i usually do exercises like transitions from the trot to a walk. Walk 3 steps, ask for a trot, trot 3 steps and walk. Make him walk when you tell him. Make him listen to you.