I have a 9 year old Appaloosa gelding who is basically bomb-proof, but whenever I try to ride him out of the arena (on trails), he wanders around with his ears pricked, smelling the air and trying to eat grass; completely ignoring my commands. He usually bolts at least once and he gets so worked up, I usually end up putting him back in his pasture(cause by that time, I'M freaked out!) I've been told by his previous owners that he is an great trail horse, and they've ridden him on roads too. I've only had him for a year, but I can't seem to solve this problem. I REALLY want to do some hacking with him, please help.
2006-07-18 13:22:21 · 11 answers · asked by Shadow 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
l have ridden for many years, l do 3 day events now, and of course your horses have to handle the ''outdoors''. ln my experience, lunging a horse does not really work unless you are long reigning-- but thats for a different purpose. With my horses, l would work through the problems with them out on trails... even if it means getting off... showing your horse the object thats scaring him and getting back on. Some horses just get more finiky on trails. you just have to get miles on your horse. and l dont mean the other people riding him. He knows you are afraid and senses your tenseness. You need to learn to hide those feelings a little and learn to calm yourself down otherwise your horse will feed off that.
2006-07-19 03:32:01 · answer #1 · answered by knotty21687 1 · 4⤊ 0⤋
Wild and free has it perfect!
I QUOTE:
Lunge him or work him in the arena first to take off the edge. Then ride with another horse if you can. When he acts up, circle him. Keep doing this until he gets the idea that he is not the boss. It may not be fun the first few times - when he is doinmg well, even if you hve only been riding 10 minutes, put him up. Never put him up when he is misbehaving! Always end on a good note. Then make the rides longer and longer, as long as he is behaving. Soon, he will behave and you will enjoy.
2006-07-18 20:50:04 · answer #2 · answered by Jamie, FNP 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Lunge him or work him in the arena first to take off the edge. Then ride with another horse if you can. When he acts up, circle him. Keep doing this until he gets the idea that he is not the boss. It may not be fun the first few times - when he is doinmg well, even if you hve only been riding 10 minutes, put him up. Never put him up when he is misbehaving! Always end on a good note. Then make the rides longer and longer, as long as he is behaving. Soon, he will behave and you will enjoy.
2006-07-18 20:37:02 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds like he is the Boss here. I would try and start working with him doing ground work, and manners in the arena FIRST. Get his attention that way, and work him on the longe. Do this for a couple of weeks BEFORE you take him back out on trails. Are you using the same kind of bit the previous owners used?
Check out "DownUnder Horsemanship" or "Parelli" they both offer great advice.
First and foremost though, he is getting what he wants by you putting him back in the pasture when he does something wrong! If he acts up, carry a longe line with you, and longe him for at least 15 minutes, make him listen to you!
2006-07-19 07:38:31 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
well..... lets see....
here i beleive the horse is being a horse.
you need to put him back in his place- and he's not bombproof if you cant hack with him.
first thing i would do it pony up with an older, calmer horse on a trail ride. this will help your horse feel more confident about where he is going, whats around him, etc.
next, i would get a crop or a peice of leather. I dont usually beat the horse, but a smack of it on the saddle, just the noise will probably get his head up from eating grass.
are you riding english or western? you need to have a better hold of the reins so he does not have the option on eating grass. its great that you pay attention to his ears and where hes looking, so when he looks like hes going to eat grass, hold tighter on the reins. dont pull back, just get ready for him to try to pull them away from you. if he does pull down anyway, pull up and kick him and smack the leather or say no in a harsh tone. you need to make the wrong thing VERY hard for him to do and the right thing easy. when he is going along calmly, let the reins loose, sit back and enjoy it.
i DO NOT recommend lunging your horse before you go out. this is rude and uncalled for. all you are doing when you do this is making him tired so he cannot comply. he will not learn anything when he is tired.
also, you should do some confidence building exercises with your horse. this will further along the bombproofing process as well.
MOST importantly, you have to expect nothing from him. when you ride outside, dont expect him to act up, he will feed off of this and get tense himself. if you are relaxed, it will help him to stay relaxed.
2006-07-18 23:12:42 · answer #5 · answered by jazzmyn_girl 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Sounds to me like he knows that you are nervous when out of the arena and that he takes advantage of this. He knows that he can freak you out, and that you will put him up. Try getting a harsher bit to use when you go out on the trail. You will also have to work on your nerves and not let him scare you.They can sense this and that will get them worked up as well. When he starts to ignore you, make him turn in tight circles until you have his attention. Do this every time and he will start to pay attention to you. You might try riding with another horse that he gets along with as well. When you find something that works do that every time that you ride him and don't let him get by with anything. If he gets by with it once he will do it again and then it will become a habit.
Good luck to you
2006-07-18 20:32:04 · answer #6 · answered by Just Me 6 · 0⤊ 0⤋
He's starting to figure out that he doesn't have to listen to you
outdoors, and that once he get himself worked up he can go home.
Pick a small area outside of the arena and WORK there-
keep him concentrated, and only go there for a little while.
Work up to going farther down your trail, keeping him collected or
working on stop, walk, trot, stop, trot, walk exercises to keep him focussed.
Once you are getting better concentration, ride the trails with a companion on a horse who is good on trails- your horse may need to be with another horse, but he should listen to you FIRST
for your own safety.
2006-07-18 20:34:40 · answer #7 · answered by ladders_to_fire 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Oh.. the Appaloosa gelding is a beautiful animal. To get it to relax.. you should brush them.. stand in front of them and with a curry comb.. brush them religiously day ini and day out....I do not mean 24 hours a day but every day.. get the gelding and pet her and brush her so she knows that you are a friend indeed
2006-07-18 20:41:14 · answer #8 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
A donkey or a goat are supposed to help calm horses down
2006-07-18 20:30:31 · answer #9 · answered by daddy's gurl 101 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
I have the same problem with my horse! Whenever I try to ride him outside, he gets all jumpy and scared. You just have to let them know that it is okay and they will settle down eventually.
-KK
2006-07-18 20:35:25 · answer #10 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋