Driving

[libbyedwardss]

I had an accident with my driving cob a few months back with some dogs. They popped completely out of nowhere and frightened my cob to the point where he was galloping down the road. He then jumped a hedge with me and the trap still attached before I fell off. If it wasn't for a van coming around the corner I would never have stopped him. Anyway a few days ago me and my 14 year old daughter took him out again for the first time since and he was as good as gold. I took him out by myself yesterday and he behaved beautifully until the home stretch where he spooked at nothing and galloped off. I tried to stop him but I had no hope. I jumped off and I am now laying in my bed with a snapped tendon and crutches. I really want to keep my cob as selling him would brake my heart. Can anyone give me advice on: do you think he will be safe to ride even if he doesn't drive? I have ridden him since ive had him and my 14 year old does too. He is always well behaved and has never put a foot wrong. Please Help?!!

[woofgang]

How will selling the pony help him? Is it not uncomfortable having the crutches in bed with you? You need to get some specialist horse behavioural help.

[Brinjal]

Poor you and poor horse. He was obviously traumatized by the first incident. Maybe you could try walking him down that way. Other than that as woofgang has said you may need professional help with this. It would be a terrible shame to sell him on.

[libbyedwardss]

Lol I am the owner and my daughter has posted this. My crutched are on the floor by my bed. Im keeping the big ***. Hes my boy x

[libbyedwardss]

Would appreciate opinions tho x

[Prudie]

Has been neither ridden or driven much since the accident until you took him out yesterday? If so he was bound to be fresh. If you are confident enough I'd try riding him first, you have more control, He's obviously had a scare. I also think leading him for walks in the area where he spooked would be good, you need to go back to basics with his training. Good luck though, all sounds very scary.

[rsvp]

My opinion (based on 60 years of riding and 15 of driving) is do not take any horse out if liable to bolt, especially on the road . No matter how well he's behaved in the past, now he is unreliable and the potential for an horrendous accident is very high. Get the help of a respected trainer (someone like Kelly Marks) before you, your daughter or the horse suffers a really serious injury. Good luck.

[libbyedwardss]

Hes never ever bolted before only the two times he had accidents. I really want to ride him after I get voff the crutchea. Would you recommend I ride him in a field or menage?

[rsvp]

libbyedwardss my opinion was based on the fact that your horse's reaction to a fright is to bolt - this is a perfectly normal reaction in the wild but one that carries a lot risk to not only the horse and rider/driver but also to other road users.
Also, we don't know if he's driven in a closed bridle then ridden in an open bridle, how old he is, what his history/training and feeding is etc etc. There's so much information required to make a balanced assessment of the situation I do seriously recommend seeking expert advice - I really hope you can sort this for all concerned.

[divegirl]

Did you not do any schooling with him in-between the two incidents?

Lisa x

[libbyedwardss]

The horse is 8 and has been driven since he was 5. Hes never done anything of this sort before. To drive he is wearing a closed bridle with a strong Pelham bit and blinkers. To ride he wears nothing but a bridle with a kimblewick bit and a saddle. He doesnt wear shoes and never has. He's 14'2 hands and hes a cob. He has been hacked and schooled beetween the incident by myself and my daughter. He lived up on a mountain with a herd of othrr ponies and so this could of made him wild. But at the moment he is living solo in a field by my house.