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Discussion on Riding with large group
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2014 - 4:54 pm:
Hi. I've decided to continue working with my 18YO Arab/QH gelding. We were doing okay in small groups. Then I took him on a large group ride, and he got keyed up. He really panicked when the horse in front ran up a hill, and I tried to hold him back to wait his turn. He grew worse, so I let him follow sooner than I would have liked. Again, this kind of behavior is pretty much limited to large groups. Going back to small groups and slowly increasing the size sounds like a good option. Any other pointers beyond that? Also what would have been a better thing to do in the hill situation? I've tried turning him in circles at other times in large groups, and that just makes him panic more...like he thinks he's getting left behind.
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Member:
juliem
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 16, 2014 - 11:38 pm:
If the person riding the horse that took off didn't ask you first about running up the hill, find new riding partners. Bad trail etiquette and dangerous behavior.
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Member:
frances
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 18, 2014 - 4:04 pm:
I agree with Julie. It's very inconsiderate and selfish behaviour - many horses would react like yours in my opinion.
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Thursday, Mar 20, 2014 - 9:05 am:
I probably better clarify that this was an organized ride. The person in front was just doing what any other person in front would do. It's my horse that I'm trying to handle. He doesn't want to wait his turn. That being the case, what would be the best thing to do at that point?
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Moderator:
DrO
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Posted on Sunday, Mar 23, 2014 - 9:32 am:
Hello HeidiM,
Ok in small groups but a problem in big groups... First you certainly need to work more on the basics, and nothing is more basic than whoa. Teaching a pleasure horse that this the best gait in the world is an important step.
If you find yourself in a situation like above plan ahead and keep yourself in a position closer to the front and if your horse insists on going further forward allow that to happen but under control. Once in a comfort zone again then ask the horse to begin to DrOp back to a point that he remains comfortable and stay there a while, then repeat. I have had more luck with this approach than insisting a panicky horse must stay behind. Certainly there are hundreds of in-between situations but a calm horse learns easier than a panicky horse. Also consider starting with the small group where your horse is calm and slowly increasing the group size.
DrO
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Member:
heidim
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Posted on Tuesday, Mar 25, 2014 - 7:13 pm:
Thanks, Dr. O! That's a practical approach that makes sense and yet works with the horse the way he is now. I do plan on working in smaller groups to start, but appreciate knowing how to handle should that suddenly change...like if our small group encounters and passes beside a larger one.
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