Sometimes when I ride my horse she seems kinda rushed. For example, she won't foucs when I trot or canter with her, she won't tuck in her head when riding and just by the way she moves I can tell she is rushing. Could it be that I always feed her hay afterwards or could it be that she wants to be with my other horse? I really don't know how to fix this problem and it has been going on for quite some time please help!
2006-12-30 09:21:36 · 11 answers · asked by Sango 2 in Pets ➔ Other - Pets
It could be a number of reasons, but you'll have to identify the problem. I can give you some suggestions to find it. First off, have her checked out by a vet to make sure this is nothing physical. Believe me, it's worth it - you could skip a whole lot of work and frustration if you find her back is sore or her saddle doesn't fit. If this isn't the problem, then most likely it's a communication or relationship problem.
When you're riding, where is she rushing to?? Does she speed up on the way to the barn where you feed her, or towards the pasture? Test this if you aren't sure. She may be barn sour because she knows you feed her after you ride. She could also be buddy sour if she's attached to the other horse.
First find out the problem. Ask her to walk towards the barn. If her head goes up and she gets a little jiggy, you'll know she's barn sour. Do the same towards the pasture or where you keep the other horse.
Or does she seem rushed at all times, no matter what? This might be how you're riding. Are you nervous? Do you tense (even the slightest bit) to hold on when she starts to jig? You being nervous makes her nervous, thus encouraging her to lose focus and speed up. Even if you don't think you're nervous, do some stretches before you get on to relax your muscles. I do this no matter what, it just helps me ride anyway. When you get on breathe deeply and really think about relaxing. You should see your horse's behavior change.
Remember when you're riding, don't lean forward or look down at her head. You looking down rocks your body forward, which encourages her to go faster. Stare off a mile into the distance and find your balance. Your relaxed state should make a difference. If she starts to get rushed, don't pull back or jerk on the reins. Horses pull away from pressure. Think happy thoughts lol, relax, sit deep, and see if you can get her to slow through body language (a good place to practice this is in a round pen) Get her attention by flicking the rein. If she simply is refusing to slow down, have her do serpentines, or keep turning her. When a horse turns, this forces them to slow down. It will also get her focus on you. Eventually she'll get used to the feel of trotting or cantering at a slower pace. So, when trotting around the round pen or arena, if she decides to speed up on her own, turn her to the inside, then out. Kind of weave an imaginary circle. After awhile she'll be tired and begging to stop. If she trots nice and slow in a straight line, allow her to stop and stand. This is her reward.
I'd also suggest you change the time you give her hay, whether it's before you ride or some time else during the day. It may help. Also if she's buddy sour, getting her attention like I stated above will help her forget about the other horse.
Good luck, and don't get frustrated. It's a common problem that I've even had to deal with. For me it was simply how I rode - my legs came too far forward which caused my body to kind of push my horse faster. There's a million and one sources this problem could be coming from, so once you find it it's clear sailing from there. Hope all goes well!
2006-12-30 11:23:25 · answer #1 · answered by yayme616 3 · 2⤊ 0⤋
Since I don't actually know your horse, its diffiult to say. Is she rushing in the Arena, or coming back from a trial ride? If she's rushing back to the barn, then Its probably the expecting food.
If she rushes on the way out or all the time in the areana, I would put money on it being a riding and traing issue rather than a food or buddy one. I would guess from your question that she isn't very balenced under saddle. Don't worry about her tucking (or not tucking) her head in. When she has the muscle and the ability to focus on you and use the rest of her body correctly, her head will just fall into place right where it shoul be.
If shes not focused on you, thats the first thing you need to fix. Make sure you are *always* paying attention to her, don't let your mind wander! When I got my horse she would just trot really fast and didn't listen to me at all. If you usually trot around on the rail, it's time to do somthing a ittle more interesting. Pick up a post trot and keep her there, don't try to force her to slow up, and keep moving forward with energy.
Then do a circle and keep going. Put one in every corner. Cut across the arena. Do a serpetine. Do a serpentine with a circle in each loop. Do figure eights. Make up your own pattern. scatter cones thoughout the arena an do a circle or turn every time you get to one. Mix it up, changing directions often. This does many things. It makes you both think, it makes you focus on each other, even if you horse is really thinking of food, she can't if she's thinking of you. Its also good exercise for your horse and helps keep her limber. Eventualy you will feel her begin to relax into your hands. Mix up your riding, throw in walk trot, trot walk, trot halt, hatl trot transitions.
Do this for a while, and when it is all easy for both of you, add a canter again. do the same thing, circles and serpetines with simple changes. All this, and LOTS of tranitions will get her attention on you, and help her balence her self under you.
2006-12-30 09:50:16 · answer #2 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
The first thing to do is have your vet take a good long look at her. Check her back for tenderness, look closely for swollen joints, take a close look at her teeth. You want to make sure there is no hidden medical issue before you assume it is a training issue. If your vet finds her 100% sound I would immediately STOP feeding her, or putting her in with your other horse right after a ride. Once you get back to the barn, before you put her up, work her some around the barn, both in and out of the saddle. Put her up alone and with no hay, even if it is just for 15 minutes. Rushing for the barn can become such a huge behavorial issue that it can make her dangerous for you to even ride. If you are not able to get a handle on this behavior pretty quickly after trying these methods I would recommend an experienced trainer for her before this becomes unmanagable while you are in the saddle.
2006-12-30 09:31:07 · answer #3 · answered by hhh.chihuahuas 2 · 3⤊ 0⤋
She may very well be fixated on the fact that food comes immediately after riding, so she could be rushing the process. Horses are very smart, they know their scheduals. Try switching up the times you ride and feed her. It may take a little time, but she needs to get out of that mindset that food is on the way.
2006-12-30 09:24:20 · answer #4 · answered by dolce 6 · 1⤊ 0⤋
Probably looking forward to being fed. that is what happened to a horse i the barn i used to ride at and one day he threw me by taking off at a full gallop without any warning down then up hill on the trails. I lost my grip and we found him outside the fence staring at the barn. Once we got back we didn't have a chance to even unsaddle him before he went into his stall and started staring at his food dish.
So yea, I hope I helped. Good Luck!
2006-12-30 11:30:32 · answer #5 · answered by Karen 3 · 0⤊ 0⤋
It is both of those problems. If the horse knows it's going to be rewarded with food and companionship (after all horses are herd animals.) it is going to hurry to get to those two rewards. You'll have to stop the feeding behavior, and work on the separation anxiety.
2006-12-30 09:24:51 · answer #6 · answered by kherome 5 · 1⤊ 0⤋
She probably thinks that when shes done riding, shes gonna get food, so then she rushes thinking that if she rushes she'll get the food sooner.
try giving her a snack before riding, and give her food a little later after riding. hope it works!!!
2006-12-30 09:58:31 · answer #7 · answered by Anonymous · 1⤊ 0⤋
nicely first i could want to show out that halfway by the video you have been on the incorrect lead. its substantial which you pull her lower back and start up on the nicely suited lead. once you return up in direction of the fence be sure you employ lots of leg to push her away for it. and turn her head to the interior. be sure she is calling interior the direction she is going. my horse used to try this too. and while he ran to the fence i could kick him untill he ran from the fence and did what i asked him to. he have been given over the habbit quite speedy while he relized i became in can charge and not messing around. sturdy luck
2016-10-19 05:59:35 · answer #8 · answered by leong 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
She's rushed because you feed her afterwards. Start feeding her a little bit before hand, and a little bit afterwards.
2006-12-30 09:24:53 · answer #9 · answered by m w 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
She is rushing because you feed her afterwards. Feed her before and NOT after.
2006-12-30 09:31:48 · answer #10 · answered by ♥Hollister♥ 3 · 0⤊ 1⤋