I've not had my pony long and i haven't led on a hack before but when i am behind other horses he gets really strong and goes right up their bums, lol. And ift hey start cantering he will canter after them and won't listen to me :S but i've only hacked him once so far... so i don't know what to expect next time. Why do you think he does this? x

Thanks - yes I know what you mean - I tend to swap around my position during my ride - so she gets a bit of all. If we are in a hurry and I'm feeling confident, I lead! If I fancy relaxing and chatting, I go at the back!  Trouble is (and this might be some kind of factor...) she hates (nervous of?) other horses and doenst like getting too close, will kick a horse up her backside and puts her ears back when I try and ride side by side. I think she take's her position at the front very seriously - and maybe actually finds the whole thing quite stressful, and thats why she relaxes so at the back, when she can leave the protecting/leading to another horse. If a horse try's to come by her side she quite simply stops (even in canter!) which makes me feel she doesnt like racing? Yes, same, if I want excitement I hack alone!

She is also less stressed when we hack on bridle paths and lane, in woods and the like. She freaks out in open spaces! But that's another question..... Would value anyone else's opinion on all?

my horse was just the same ...i don't ride her any more as she's 33 now ....like you i found that she was a donkey being behind a horse and like a bloody race horse in front .....i would say your horse enjoyes being in front and that she has a lot of confidance so i wouldn't worry about it ....my younger horse although most the time he's very laid back ...can be the very same ...if i want a fast ride i take him out on his own he's ace and full of himself ....but out riding with others he can be very slow and doesn't respone to the leg at all .....but put him in the lead and he goes well ....enjoy i love a forward horse ...x