When do you give up on a horse?

[Marcella]

Have you tried a pelham? That works much better for my freight train horse than an elevator does. My guy hunts in a corkscrew pelham (yeah, yeah) with a really tight curb because he just absolutely takes off—because he loves it that much. I’ve tried milder bits, but by the end of the day, my arms are like rubber and slowing him down turns into a huge battle that I end up losing.

I would think if you change the bit to something he respects, then that might stop the bucking issue. As soon as he starts to put his head down, you would be able to get him back up and paying attention.

Edited to add: My foxhunter was aced before going out. I was a junior, and he was an OTTB, so it was deemed the safest thing to do. It worked well. By the time the ace wore off, he was tired out and used to things. He never got much, maybe 1/2 cc, just to take the edge off. Sort of a nice cocktail, or shot of Irish courage.

[Ray]

hang in there

he might get over it… as long as you are not in mortal danger, I think you have a lot of good advice here. there was some great advice on FOL for bits for pullers, its all archived…

He is still kinda young. My mare was fine when she was really young and we hill-topped, but when she finally got to gallop in open fields in the first field last year, coincidentally at age 8, same as yours, she lost her mind, for awhile but it did not last. One really rough season. Bucking, trying to pass the field, pulling, the whole nine yards. and this is the sweetest, laziest show hunter at home; I mean spurs and a snaffle at all times. I hunt her in a big gag bit. she hated it at first, but I learned to be very selective. Now, she is fine. I cant explain it, other than some of the excitement has worn off, I mean she still thinks its REALLY fun, but we are more on the same page. And she’s a mare, you know, none of that blind obedience, I had to convince her I knew what I was doing ! :lol:

[Benson]

Great advice!

I, too, have an 8 y.o. OTTB who is in his second season of Hunting (my second, as well). He suffered a torn suspensory last winter in the middle of Hunt season and we’ve been working hard to re-hab it. I wanted to make sure he was fit enough and his legs were tight enough to withstand Hunting. Thus, I have a very, very fit, cheeky horse on my hands.

We have a very small field of 6-10 riders so we’re all first and second flight! My guy is bold and game for whatever comes his way. Nothing fazes him. His problem is that he is bright and likes to let me know he knows how to do this, so get out of his way and let him ROLL! We often go from full gallop to stand still for 20 minutes. He’s got the standing part down to a science, but as soon as the first horse moves off, he’s got to be first. He jiggs, bucks and throws a tantrum unless he’s first. He’s extremely sensitive and if punished with physical force (whip, spurs, mouth snatches, etc) he will up the ante until it’s an all-out war and he will fight to the bitter end. This past weekend we were having a nice gallop up a long hill and he found the opportunity to throw in three HUGE bucks as we went up the hill. He’s one of those horses that can rip a huge buck with his head in the air. It’s quite a feat. We don’t do any jumping, unless it’s a small field ditch we encounter as we’re trotting or cantering along.

I"m going to try some of the tactics employed, such as riding HARD the day before, no grain and some Ace.

Riding at home has entailed all stirrup-less sessions which have greatly helped me be strong enough to not be un-seated by his antics. I"m definitely going to continue this. Also, altering what else we do during Hunt season might help.