The H&C team recieved a question from a viewer whose horse has developed a dangerous habit:

"Dear H&C, my daughter’s horse keeps running off with her, it just suddenly just takes off without reason. It is not spooked or frightened, and although she is very strong, this has knocked her confidence. Would you suggest changing the bit to a gag bit? If so which one as I’m a novice and there are so many to choose from. Please help."  

Andrea

H&C expert - and former international show jumper - Johnny Harris replies:

"Hi Andrea, this is a problem that needs sorting out quickly - it could be potentially dangerous as well as bad for your daughter's confidence. It is worth having your horse checked over by a vet to check for physical problems or pain. It's very important to have the teeth checked regularly as well, some horses react to discomfort by running away from it. 

If he is given the all clear health wise, there are a few things to consider:

* Is this a new horse?

* When did this behaviour start - can you remember the first time?

* Did something happen to trigger it?

* Have you changed your horse's yard companions, routine, feed or work?

Whether it's a new horse or not, I think you need to find an experienced rider with access to an enclosed arena to help you for a while. Changing bits is not always straightforward and you may need to try several before you find the right one. An experienced horse person will have normally have a selection acquired over the years - so you can borrow before you buy.

Trying different bits 

My personal favourite for horses that 'tank off' is a Pelham - they come with a variety of mouthpieces, the rubber covered straight bar is very popular (rigid - not the soft bendy rubber) it can be used with 'roundings' that connect the two  rings so you don't need two reins, which can be tricky for the less experienced rider. The curb chain can be covered or not depending on the horse.

Your experienced rider can then try the new bitting arrangement first and decide if it is the right one for your daughter to use for a while, she should then start in the arena where she feels safe.

Stable management and handling

The next thing to address is your management. Horses are always more lively in the winter - cold, windy weather can make them fresh and cheeky, over-feeding & lack of work do not help this situation. 

Cut your hard feed right back to basics, and feed plenty of hay. Turn out as much as possible, mares in particular do not enjoy being shut in all the time.

Be firm in all general handling - insist on good manners at all times. Your mare is attempting to bully your daughter, and she must not be allowed to get the upper hand. Small things like tying-up to groom and tack up, and ensuring she stands still to be mounted, is important. She should walk calmly in hand - do not allow pulling or barging around, this is not acceptable - and she must wait to be released when you're turning her out in the field. All these build the relationship in the correct order; the horse has respect and is obedient to the commands of the rider, both in hand and when mounted.

Finally, your daughter would benefit hugely from some instruction, whether this is a new partnership or not. Developing a stronger seat & learning to keep an even contact is the key to riding strong willed or easily distracted horses.

Keep the contact - keep the brain

A nice phrase to remember is 'keep the contact, keep the brain'. Riders who are lacking confidence tend to tip forward and either try to keep their balance by hanging on to the reins too tightly, or get behind the movement and allow the reins to become long and floppy. Moving to a more severe bit won't work if the rider is struggling to keep balanced.

I hope this gives you a few ideas to try - if you can remember an incident that caused the original problem, try to avoid it again for a while, until your daughter is feeling confident again. It is not unusual for mares to be a bit tricky when their routine is changed; they are very sensitive to new surroundings and companions. Some are unpredictable when in season, so bear that in mind. Notoriously the spring months (April - May) can be the worst - this is not far away. Speak to your vet if you need advice on managing mare’s hormones."

Good luck.

Johnny