I'm a reasonably experienced rider, riding for about 4 yrs, and recently I've started riding at this place that does trail rides and lets me come and take horses out on the trailes on my own. The horses are pretty responsive on their own, except when we get fairly close to home. The horse starts to get excitable, wanting to gallop home and start prancing It's hard for me to get them to just relax and not gallop home, because if I relax in the saddle they start to run, and I don't want to be constantly pulling on the reins or have really close contact (it's western), and circling only seems to distract them momentarily. Are there any tricks I can use to get them to be much calmer on the way home? Our rides usually last about an hour and we gallop/canter part of the way home, then start to walk for a bit, but once we get really close the problems start to arise. I'm only out on the trails with them so I don't really have acess to an arena to work with them before hand.
Answers:
Running home to be fed, to see barn pals, or just to be done is a horrible habit that many public trail horses seem to have. Quite frankly, it's irritating. Green riders often let horses get away with such things for fear of correcting them, or because it's fun to race back to the barn. Unfortunately, unless you are the only person riding this horse, I wouldn't expect this issue to resolve quickly. If you are the only person riding this horse, then I can offer some advice on how to fix this horse's nasty habit!
It can be very upsetting to deal with an excitable, hot horse. You try to pull and they fight it. You try to slow them down and they prance in place. In the back of your mind you know you should relax, but you are nervous, too. Start with the simplest thing to fix. No cantering or galloping home. As soon as you start back to the barn, even if it's a hour away, no running. That said, lope your little heart out once you are a good distance away from the barn on the first stretch of your ride. Try to really spend your horse's energy before you even turn around to come home. Now I said "lope" for a reason. When you are trail riding, one fun gallop up a hill is acceptable. But tons of galloping and cantering up and down and around causes your horse's brain to go out the window. All a hot horse wants to do is run, run, run. So don't let him! Lope a lot, trot, walk.
Second problem: The horse's familiarity with the trip home. This horse clearly knows what's going to happen because you are obviously very routine about it. You canter part way home, then you walk because you don't want to sprint for the barn. Your horse thinks "Okay, we're starting to walk... I'll be able to see the barn in 2.7 minutes! Yesssss!" Find a new way home. Even if you have to weave in and out of trees, find a new way home. Now, even with a new path home, the horse may still bounce up and down with excitement at the sight of the barn. When this happens, stop the horse, turn around, and head for the hills! Do not reward your horse by riding to the barn. You can both quietly walk to the barn, or you can go back to the trails. Once the horse calms down, turn back towards the barn. If the horse gets jumpy again, stop, back up, and turn around. This will certainly become a mind game for the both of you. You cannot overpower a horse, but you can win the mental battle. Hopefully, your horse will give in and walk to the barn. Don't let him. When your horse is willing to approach the barn at a walk, find a place to trot and lope some round-pen sized circles. Work the horse as if he were on the arena flat. Circle to the left and to the right for 3-5 minutes each way. Then, once again, turn the horse back towards the trail. Walk him away from the barn for about 2 minutes. Dismount, and lead him to the barn.
To break this habit, you will need to be very patient. Never get off at the same place two days in a row, and always dismount with the horse facing away from the barn. Don't run on the way back to the barn, and don't give in. Hope this helps!
Best Luck!
Its an anxiety thing. Your didn't mention if you had problems getting away from the barn. Do you only go out with one horse or do you have company? Does the one you ride have a barn mate? Find out. If so maybe you can take her/him along with you next time you go out. That may (or may not) be the solution. Or just get off your ride and walk along next to her. Rubbing and talking to her as you go. Treats and reasurrance. Good luck
Everytime they start fighting the reins, turn around and walk the other way until they quit. Then turn around and start to approach again. Pulling/excitement gets them turned around, walking quietly get them what they want... to be put up in the snug stable with supper and their buddies.
Work this into your schedule, shorten the trail ride so that you can work on this issue.
Also, when you first get back, DON'T immediately put them up and give them dinner. Make them walk in circles, or do more lunging.
If you reward the behavior they will continue. Show them they don't get what they want and they will behave.
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