[Nuu]

Well, for the past couple months I've been riding a pony(14hh), I have no idea of breed. She is 18 and is usually used in jumpers, whereas I ride western.

Well, in all lessons I have seen her in she has just tried to rush out with her rider -- at the trot she looked almost unmanageable, circles all the time. At the canter, she looked like a horror on four legs. Point her at a jump and she'd gallop towards it.

Well, for a while now she has been absolutely amazing at the trot -- she'll slow right down if you ask. However, the moment you even suggest a canter, she takes off into this mad semi-gallop and she is unstoppable. I've gotten to the point where I'm actually afraid for the other people in the lesson, i don't want to run into anyone.

I've ridden her mostly inside, but we've ridden outside twice and both times outside she was awesome. You could get the nicest little jog out of her, speed her up and slow her down with no problems, and when cantering she would go along at the pace YOU decided. These two times outside were fantastic, we were doing flying lead changes, simple changes, weaving through poles and going over trotting poles.

Then you take her inside, and she is a little monster. I don't think anyone is riding her anymore -- I'm not, I have requested another lesson horse, but I will probably be put back on her in the next week or so.

We've done the 20 metre circles, slowly cutting back the size of the circle as she speeds up. Lots of outside rein on the circles - she braces against it. Sitting deep in the saddle -- ignores it. If she takes off into the 'unstoppable' gait, I immediately one rein stop her and make her spin her bum.

This is the first time I'll say this, I've finally met a pony I don't like.

Any suggestions?
Do you think she's possibly indoor arena sour?
Do you think she is just lesson sour?

I would love any suggestions just in case I have to ride her again.

[horseyfrk145]

is there something in the arena that she's afraid of?

my thought is that she has LHS "lesson horse syndrome" (btw, that isnt an actual disease, just a name ) where they figure out if they _____ (insert bad behaivor here) then they dont have to work - and it has worked for this pony, am i right? now no one rides her - ya see - ponies are too smart! i like big horses! i own 1 1/2 horses (lease one) both of which are 16 hands or above!

could that be it? you said it wasnt just you, so it shouldnt be something one person is doing...maybe she thinks she has to work harder in the arena, could you just walk her in, trot a bit, then leave? could you do this at the end/beginning of a lesson so she can understand that arena doesnt always mean work?

sorry i couldnt be more help, i only have ideas w/o seeing the lil devil pony

[Nuu]

There is nothing she is afraid of, I think. She just rushes in the canter and use to rush in the trot.
I'm thinking you might have it though -- but why act up indoors and not outside too? Hm.

I've actually been considering myself as the problem, oh man, i've gone through so many scenarios and possibilities of what i could be doing wrong to influence her, but the two other girls I KNOW use to ride her had the same problems =[
But who knows, maybe we all do the same thing wrong? XD

I wish I could get a video =/

[#1A]

Well if the behavior is happening inside but not outside, I think the conclusion to be drawn is that, for whatever reason, she doesn't like the inside.

Imagine how boring it must be for a pony of any intelligence to go round and round an indoor school day in & day out. I think she could be sour / bored / frustrated and has found a way to add interest to her life.

If she goes nicely outside why not ride her outside? It's summer there by you - surely after a winter of riding indoors you would take advantage of riding outside as much as possible before the next onset of winter?

I used to live in Canada, and I know that by the time the winter was drawing to a close, my horses were desperate for outside work. I used to ride outdoors every chance I got.

If there is a suitable area available, maybe you could suggest to do some lessons outside?

[Nuu]

=] we've been riding outside a lot more, in the outdoor arena.
I'll drop the question to my instructor and ask her if I can work with
the pony out in the outdoor, but ride the other lesson horse when we are indoors.

Thanks for the suggestions -- if I get a chance to ride her, I'll be sure to update you all =D

[luvs2ride79]

Yup, sounds like arena sour to me. If you lesson on her, take it outside .