H&C

HOW DO I GET MY HORSE FORWARD ACROSS COUNTRY?

Sharon riding across country with Bob

"Hi, I own a six-year-old Thoroughbred gelding which I have problems with across country. I've owned him for two years and he raced a couple of times before we bought him. The first time we took him cross country schooling with some friends, he started rearing and wouldn't go forwards - it ended with him rearing and falling on me. Since then we have been a couple more times with little success, he starts rearing and walking backwards when there are lots of horses and refuses to go forwards until he is by himself or with one other horse! We didn't get to do any cross country schooling last year due to injury so I'm hoping to get out this year but I would like some advice on how to stop this behaviour. He will happily canter round a field by himself on a hack! Nicole."

H&C blogger and Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt replies: "Well, it sounds like he gets over excited as soon as he's with other horses, so I'd try to work him with as many horses in an area as possible until he gets used to them and not so excited. To start with maybe just ride in the school with another, then two, three, four, etc. Then take him to lots of smaller shows and hopefully he will get bored of the new company being there. I would take him across country on his own as well so there are not so many distractions, but ultimately he needs to get over his excitement! Sharon."