First ride of the day and we're off!

[banderanch]

I have done my ground manners and we ride around in the pasture, he is fine. Soon as I open the gate to go out on the road around the neighborhood he is flipping his head and wanting to gooooo, looking around here and there. And if I go out with others it's really bad, so bad that I don't go with anyone anymore. He just acts like he's top dog and wants to be ahead of everyone else. I have done the turn him in circle thing, one rein stop etc. He stops fine, but soon as we start to go it's all over again. This will continue for about half way down the block and then he will back off and calm down, if I'm by myself. Otherwise if i ride with others its the whole entire ride. I was so frustrated with him and others telling me what to do and how to do it from all directions, I just wanted to go home. (but I didn't, I know that would have been the worse thing) And this doesn't matter if I ride everyday, or once a month. He does it every time!So my question, is he excited to go out or being disrespectful? And what is the best solution.
Thank you for any help.

 

[michickenwrangler]

A little bit of both. Sounds like a friend of mine's old Paso Fino mare.

Try to trail ride with one, experienced but not excitable friend and his/her experienced and not excitable horse.

It may not hurt to take a few lessons from a trainer, especially one that starts horses for trail riding. If you're in Michigan, I know some good trainers.

Other than that, sell him to an endurance rider.

What type of horse? Background on the horse?

 

[banderanch]

I'm not a going to sell him cuz I've had him to long almost 2 yrs. and attached to him. And I'm not a experience rider as well...(another I have lots of back problems and ride when I can.
The trainer thing is a great idea but money is tight right now and we will be moving in the next month or two. I just wanted tips of any other training methods besides the one rein stop and the circles. I know... I'm to attached, but he is a very sweet boy, good with our dogs and grand kids. If nothing else I will just ride him in the pasture/arena. Thanks

 

[michickenwrangler]

If you're not an experienced rider, you really do need lessons. Even experienced riders take them.

 

[LauraM]

It sounds like he's taking advantage of both your inexperience and your physical problems. He's not trying to be "mean" to you, he's just being a horse and is taking advantage of what he perceives as a weakness and a chance to get higher in the hierarchy. If you can't take lessons, and you don't want to sell him for something more experienced and laid back (which, personally, I think would be the best thing for both you AND him, as he can become dangerous through no fault of his own, or get such bad habits that become so ingrained that if you HAD to sell him for some reason, he'll not have a very good chance at a good home), then see if you can find someone who is an experienced rider that might be interested in riding him for a while on trails. Maybe someone who's horse is currently laid up or don't have a trail horse at the moment. Someone who can handle his antics both physically and knowledgeably.

Because in all honesty, this all sounds like mostly him taking advantage of either poor timing with the aids, or a lack of just feeling "secure and confident" to him or maybe even he can feel that you are physically only able to do "so" much as far as strength, balance and control is concerned. All of which means that we could tell you tons of things to do......but it wouldn't help, because in a situation like this, a horse needs to FEEL that the rider is secure, confident in what they're doing, has quick and solid reactions, can act preventatively to anticipate and confidently and quietly and matter-of-factly stop behavior and project calmness to the horse even before he gets all riled up.

 

[michickenwrangler]

From what you mentioned, Banderanch, his personality is suited to an endurance rider. They want a horse that wants to be first as they are racing, they also want high energy horses. If a horse starts flipping his head, an experienced distance rider will just send him forward and keep pushing him until he's ready to stop.

It sounds like you want and need something more laid back.

The horse should match the rider and the rider should match the horse.

As much as you are attached to the horse, what happens if you get hurt and then become afraid of him? DH was attached to his horse but realized he could not longer compete in 50 mile endurance rides on a high strung Appaloosa with a bad knee and bad back. I had a horse I was very attached to that I had to sell for financial reasons.

Honestly, I'm not trying to be negative and I think you should take a few trail rides with ONE experienced, calm friend with an experienced, calm horse to help build your confidence. But if you are consistently having these difficulties, you either need riding lessons or a more laid back horse.

 

[w c]

It's very hard to say without seeing you on the horse. I seriously doubt the animal is trying to be mean or trying to be anything. They just do what they do.

Especially because the horse settles down after a very little bit of riding alone, and stays tense when riding in a group, I think this could be a case of him catching your tension. It is contagious.

Usually, a horse gets nervous because the rider is nervous. And about 99.99999% of the time, when told that, the rider reacts indignantly and says, 'NERVOUS? I'M NOT NERVOUS! I DON'T FEEL NERVOUS AT ALL!'

It's usually, though, that the rider doesn't realize, he's keeping too much tension on the reins, or gripping the horse with his legs or heels. Because he's doing it due to emotions, he's often not going to be aware of it at all. We aren't even aware of about 90% of the stuff we 'tell' a horse through our legs, seat and hand on the rein.

A lot of times, telling yourself to BREATHE....JUST BREATHE...REEELAX....will help you to relax your muscles and ease down into the saddle without gripping the reins too short and tight, or gripping your legs or seat on him.

Since you can't afford riding lessons, and since you are inexperienced, I think you could check a couple things on your own.

First, how often are you riding? Is your horse just restless? Maybe he needs to be worked more often. Some horses just aren't able to relax unless they get worked pretty often.

Second, feed. What's he getting to eat? Maybe he's getting too much 'high octane' feed - like feed with molasses on it and rich hays such as alfalfa and clover. It's hard for horses to be calm when they get too much energy feed. Horses do need to be kept in good flesh, but perhaps he's getting too much, and has excess energy that makes him restless. I'm not saying starve him so he'll be shuffling along like he's half dead, but maybe there's a little adjustment that can be done there.

Third, routine. Is he getting to where he thinks that since you ran him at that spot once before, you'll always be going to run or gallop him at the same spot? Maybe someone else borrowed him and ran him at certain spots, and he thinks that is going to happen all the time now? Maybe he's getting into too much of a routine? It only takes once or twice to get a horse into a habit.

It isn't necessarily that the horse needs a new owner. If you're willing to do a little work and be a little bit of a detective, you might be able to solve this on your own.

If it turns out your horse needs to work more often than you can ride him, you might be able to swap your schedule around a little bit.

Or, you might be able to teach him to lunge on a lunge (long) line around you in a circle, where he walks, trots and canters on command(or he might already kniow that) You might lunge him for a day or two before you get on and ride. Let him get a little of that excess energy out. Not running him into the ground or having him exhausted, just say ten or fifteen minutes where he can move freely and just enjoy moving around.

Or, you might be able to clear a spot in your yard or field, and do a little work on him there before you go on your trail ride. A load of sand spread out, after clearing away rocks might make a nice place to work your horse. You might work on turning and him picking up his trot and canter.

Stay on a circle, keep turning, which tends to get them more paying attention to you. make smaller and larger circles at trot, just make sure at canter, the circle is big enough - usually sixty feet across or a little bigger is fine. You might feel more comfortable if you have a fenced in area to do this. You might feel more like you can relax and let him move along at a quicker pace in a more protected area like that. Working more on trotting and cantering, and less on stopping, walking and standing, might help the horse to then say, 'oh, a trail ride, this is where I get to just relax and take it easy'.

If you don't feel comfortable working your horse a little at a trot and canter before you trail ride, lunging might work for you, or having someone else working the horse a little, who understands your situation and will work the horse right for your situation, might help. It shouldn't be someone who just wants to run the horse all the time. It isn't about exhausting them or running them into the ground. Just a little time to move out freely, and then they can relax.

 

[banderanch]

Boy WC... I am glad you are on this site! You have given me the most valuable information! (and without saying I need to get ride of him) Thanks!
He is a very good boy, I rode him bareback yesterday around our property (2 ac.) and he was soooo good.
I think you are right with me being nervous, when I'm out with others. They are all rodeo people and watch my every move and critic everything from my gear to my horse and me! So of course I'm nervous, but I now do it on my own and he has been allot better. I do work him more now and if he starts to get excited when he sees the gate open I just go past it until he seems calmer. And it has worked!
I have health issues and it prevents me from riding everyday. My husband has no interest, so I wish he could at least work him for me.
Oh, and I forgot to mention. When we got him about 2 1/2 yrs ago, he was skinny, had a rope burn around his neck, and you can see where his jaw was fractured (indent in his jaw) talk about non-trusting! He was afraid of everything and MEN! Took months for my husband to just come up to him and pet him.
So I know I was not experience but I worked with him, then everyday just on the ground. He now trusts me to do anything to him! I can saddle him without being tied, clean his feet, brush him, wash him. Took along time for him to be able to use a mounting block to get on him, now I can! I use plastic bags around his face, tarps over him and he stands still. Although I do tie him up too! Oh, and lawn movers...he was frantic!! But not anymore. So yes, I am not a very good experience rodeo professional rider, but I have come along way with this horse. Who knows what life he had before me! And I am very careful, If I feel that (I refer to a ucky feeling) I get off or stop whatever I am doing. And that has not happened in a long time! I think we have a good conection and with moving (I'm the one moving up north in AZ) will bring us to another place in our life!
Thank you so much for your kindness and all the info. god bless and Merry Christmas!!!!

 

[w c]

I'd feel better if I could see you and him interact, of course, but those are some ideas you can try.

I love my horses too. Even if one was difficult or I clearly was a little bit 'overhorsed', I'd feel uncomfortable getting rid of any of them. Rather, I'd try to stick with it and see what I could do about it.

There are experiences in life that make us stretch ourselves, but if we try, we may wind up a little bit taller in the saddle after.

 

[adoptedbyachicken]

Sounds like you and this horse have come a long way. Congratulations! I'd say your on the right track if you can get him to calm down when your out riding alone. Continue that, and do relax yourself. Develop a relaxation cue for both of you, usually a neck crest rub is a good one. If the horse is still controllable when excited, by a circle or turn back I'd just continue what your doing. If riding with the rodeo crowd is making you nervous then avoid that, or change your reaction to them. Tell them politely but firmly your out there to relax, and not looking for advice on your tack or riding. However with your horse's history I think that might be the wrong crowd for him too. If you can find another lady with a calm horse to ride with that would be best. Put an ad up at the local tack store or talk with people and find just one to ride with, give it a good trial, 6 or 8 rides and see if that works too.

Bottom line if your enjoying him, and it sounds like you are, and he is healthy and happy in this home I'd say carry on.