Should I get a martingale?

[CDR]

When Bailey is in the school he's as good as gold and a real plod. When we go out though he keeps trying to turn round and go back home (only towards the start of the hack) - he must have done it at least 20 times on the way out today. I sort it out one way or another and keep him going but I do get rather nervous as he starts to lift his head and sort of lifts his front feet together, not a rear but like a little jump.

However, I'm absolutely terrified of rearing horses and I do panic when he does it although I'm very careful to keep a relaxed seat and not lean forwards so he doesn't panic.

Just wondering if it's worth trying a martingale for when we hack out? If so running or standing? Any thoughts?

[CityLights]

a martingale will not stop him rearing, and they do often do very little anyway, unless he puts his head up to **** off then you dont need one, the only thing that you might find them a benefit when hacking is that you have a strap to grab onto should he start being naughty

i wouldnt be adding tack to him yet anyway he has only just come and is just getting used to you and going out in a different place

[CDR]

Yeah I see what you mean. I've kept everything simple so far. It's just we had such a lovely ride today except when he made me poop my pants lol!

[bimba]

I definitely wouldn't try a standing as it might make him feel restricted and cause him to panic plus if he did go up he'd be more unbalanced. Does he throw his head up of just kind of bunny hop? If he throws his head then a running martingale might help and as SaW said it gives you something to hang onto as an added bonus however if he's flinging his whole body it wont do a lot of good. I would just keep your leg and try and stay relaxed and keep him forward, Mac will spin and leap when excited and it is quite un-nerving if your not expecting it but tends not to be dangerous or unseating.

ETA: If it would make you feel safer or more comfortable then it's not going to do him any harm hacking in a running martingale, maybe you could borrow one to see if it makes a difference rather than spending money unecessarily.

[CDR]

He sticks his nose in the air and kind of jumps his front feet up, like a bunny hop I guess, he also does it with his back feet sometimes too!

I'll bear with it for now and hope that he settles, we've only been out properly twice! Just found it a bit scary but he was great when he got going.

[Teej]

CDR, Chip used to do that and I know what you mean about it being scary. Because you don't know him yet, you have no idea how high he is going to go up. Chip liked to go backwards too !

The fact is that he is frightened of his new surroundings and he is still learning to trust his new owner...... as you are learning to trust him. It takes time but the best thing you can do for both of you when he does that is quietly tell him it's ok, he needs reassurance from you and aggression could make it worse. Try to stay as relaxed as you can.

By the way, I don't use any 'gadgets' on Chip and I ride him in a Dr Cooks bitless bridle and I would not add any tack onto a new horse.

[My Crazy Clan]

Monty does the bunnyhops! it is scary but hes a big powerful horse.

I wouldn't use one, just keep doing what your doing, its all new to him still and hes got to get used to his new surroundings etc, have you thought about leading him out in hand for a nose about?

[black crow]

Ditto S&W, Rhea and Tracey. He is still learning to trust you. I wouldnt add any gadgets to him at all, if you panic hes likely to panic too as they pick up on your senses.
If he doesnt need a gadget then dont put one on him!

[Tnavas]

A standing martingale would be best for you to fit as it stops him from hitting you in the face - correctly fitted they are not restrictive. Running martingales do make it harder to steer especially when you have something trying not to go where you want.

Souonds like he's becoming nappy, try to keep him moving forwards and when he does go to stop spin him a few times in a tight circle and then send him on.

If he is unerving you when he does this it may be a good idea to ask a more experienced person to ride him out for a few days for you.