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Many horse riders will know the problems that come with owning a lively horse. They won’t stand still when you want to mount, they jog everywhere rather than walk, and catching them in the field can be a real headache. However, there are a number of ways that you can help to calm your lively horse.
When leading a lively horse in hand, there is always the worry that they will try to run off with you. The problem is that horses are very much stronger than people. Therefore you have to overcome the problem without using strength. When leading a horse you should always put them in a bridle and bit with the reins over their head, rather than a headcollar. This will give you more control if they do play around. If you are on the road you should walk on the outside of the horse between him and the cars. That way if he tries to swing his back end into the road you can push it back with your body. A good tip to stop your horse from running away is to keep your elbow in the groove of his shoulder. If he attempts to barge, you can push your elbow in gently which will disable him from being able to get past you. This will enable you to stop him without having to use any strength.
Many horses are reluctant to be caught from the field and will play cat and mouse with you. Some useful tips should stop you from having to play his games. Firstly you should not let him see the headcollar or bridle. Walk towards him with it behind your back. That way he won’t be alerted to the fact that you are intending to take him out of the field.
Secondly, your body language can help. If he is a nervous horse, walk towards him slowly with your shoulders slightly tilted and your head to one side. Do not make direct eye contact with him as this is an aggressive move for animals. As you get close to him, hold out your hand. Do not grab at his head. It is best to pat him first before taking hold of him and leading him out of the field.
If, on the other hand, he is a playful horse who would just rather be eating grass than going out for a hack, it is best to walk towards him confidently so that he knows you mean business. As you get close, walk alongside his neck and purposefully take hold of him. If you have real trouble even getting near him, then it might help if you take along a small amount of feed in a box and shake it to attract him. However, you should not do this every time you catch him because he might begin to nip at you when you don’t have food.
Trying to get onto a lively horse can be a nightmare and can result in some embarrassing bruises. It might be helpful to find something that you can use as a mounting block so that you are nearer to the saddle. If you can’t, then the best thing to do is to line the right hand side of your horse up near to a wall, take hold of the left cheek strap gently pulling his head towards you and then mount. He may want to walk round in a circle but because he is next to a wall he won’t be able to. As you mount, make sure it is one swift movement, and don’t land heavily in the saddle. This will startle him rather than calm him!
Once you have successfully mounted your horse, the best advice is to keep calm, sit deep in the saddle and ride quietly. By this I don’t mean that you must not talk but rather that you must sit softly. Try to keep your legs away from his sides so as not to kick him on at all. Keep your rains taut so that you have good control but don’t pull on his mouth. If you have problems with getting him to stand still, you should try to make him stand every now and again. Have patience and don’t give up until he has stood completely still for 3 seconds. Then you can reward him for being good.
Finally, here are some general tips. Check that you are giving your horse the right amount and type of food. If he is eating too much this may be making him more lively. Ensure that he is having enough exercise. If you are not riding him enough this may be a cause of his itchy feet when you do take him out. Try to always act calmly around him. Spend a lot of time grooming him and talking to him so that he trusts you. And be patient - it will take time to build up a good understanding between the two of you. You need to teach him that you want him to be calm, so you must reward him when he is, but don’t get angry when he isn’t.
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