How to get the most out of the crazy horse:
After writing a previous article some time ago, detailing how riders can get the most out of their lazy horses, I had the time to reflect on just how many different types of horses I’ve come across throughout my life so far. Having owned, loaned and ridden quite a large variety of horses, I know all too well how unique each horse can be. Following the article focused on the horses with a steadier outlook on life, who’d rather sleep in the sunshine than go for a ride, I turned my attention to the other end of the spectrum.
Yes, I’m talking about the so-called “crazy horse”. We’ve all met them (and most of us have looked on in terror when they charge towards a jump with their rider hanging on for dear life!) and most of us have thought at some point how hard (and downright scary) it must be to ride such a hyperactive horse!
I’ll admit, I used to be terrified of these horses. You know, the ones where “forward going” doesn’t really seem strong enough and sometimes you’d give anything to stop them going forwards! My first pony, Buster, was one of these so-called “crazy” ponies, and it wasn’t always smooth sailing. He got faster and faster if you cantered him out on a hack, he came into jumps as if a Ferrari was chasing him, and I have plenty of not-so-fond memories of the times I ate sand from bailing off after a positively terrifying five minutes doing laps around the arena at a pace that would rival Frankel…
But you know what makes these horses special? They are some of the most rewarding partners you could possibly ask for, if you take the time to understand them and work in a way that will benefit you both simultaneously. So, without further ado, here are my top 5 tips for getting the most out of the horse with a bit too much energy, that everyone else has labelled “crazy”:
1. Check for pain: As with the lazier horses, there is always the chance that their behaviour could be caused by some pain or discomfort that they’re experiencing, which could be brought on or made worse by riding. It’s always wise to get your horse checked before doing anything else, especially if their behaviour is new or out of character for them.
Once you’ve ruled out pain, it’ll make it easier to move forwards with your equine friend, knowing that you’re not making them do anything that is hurting or damaging them.
2. Look for emotional triggers: Horses who are highly strung tend to often get quite tense and anxious easily, which can manifest itself in excess energy or not wanting to stop and listen to your aids. Obviously, this isn’t always the case, and plenty of horses do easily get excited, especially if they’re faced with a wide-open field perfect for a good gallop!
However, a lot of excitable and “crazy” horses do tend to get anxious in certain situations and, because horses are flight animals, this can lead to the urge to run.
Take some time to listen to and observe your horse in different scenarios, making a note of what seems to cause their behaviour, or make them more challenging to control. If you can notice these triggers and have an awareness of them, it’ll help you to prepare and comfort your horse when you are faced with these situations.
3. Be the calm for your horse: I get it. It’s extremely hard to stay relaxed when you’re on a speedy, excitable horse that doesn’t seem to be listening to you whatsoever and there’s a fast-approaching obstacle in your path. However, when you become tense, your horse only picks up on this and gets worse.
After all, they now have to worry about what you’re worrying about too! If you can act as a beacon of positivity and calmness, your horse is going to naturally gravitate towards that too, because flight animals instinctively look for comfort.
Mindfulness and similar relaxation techniques are absolutely brilliant to clear your mind and gain a greater sense of awareness, and you can do them before you ride to get in the right state of mind because, if you’ve had negative experiences with this type of horse, it’s easy to go into the next ride with anticipation anxiety, which sabotages you from the start!