Why does my horse turn around whenever he wants?
When i ride, we go down the gravel road when we get to the corner he turns around back home; not the way i want to go. when i try to turn him he just runs. he wont go down that road and theres nothing that can scare him and i know hes not tired, its not that far. Is he just stubborn? what do i do?
It sounds like he is barn sour. You can do a search on here for it and there are A LOT of good answers regarding this issue.
Most of all you need to be firm and NEVER let him run home. Even if you actually want him to… it can cause even more of a problem. Be careful when trying to correct this bad habit because if he gets too worked up someone can get hurt. If he tries to run home, turn circles to get his attention back to you and go the opposite direction until he is ready to listen, then try again. It can be a long walk home at that rate but it helps. I found that riding around the yard near the barn or even in the pasture can help as he then knows that even though hes back at the barn work time is not over.
If you feel like this is too much for you get a trainer to help.
Good Luck!!
November 20th, 2009 at 8:00 am
because he is an animal with free will
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November 20th, 2009 at 8:26 am
The horse is going home because you are letting him get away with it. When gets to the corner and turns around, keep him turning, till he is pointing in the direction that you want to go. If he turns again, keep him turning till he is pointed your way, continue on till he finally gives up. It may take an hour or maybe 5 minutes. Be prepared to spend some time at that corner., You must also be prepared to plow rein (direct rein) him to where you want him to go, but that is not a problem, the thing is to make him go where you want him to go.
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November 20th, 2009 at 8:52 am
You need to keep him going in the direction you want him to go. Have you ever been on a horse that didn’t want to cross a stream or puddle? It is basically the same concept. You are going to need to, not literally, spur him on. If you need to, get off and lead him down the path a little ways. Be careful since he may become upset but he needs to get over himself. *sigh* My mare hates crossing streams. When I lead her over them, she nearly runs me over. When I try to ride her over, she freaks and runs. Be careful please. Ask a friend to help you. One rides or leads while the other has a lunge whip for persuasion. It will be rough but he will eventually cross with ease.
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November 20th, 2009 at 9:17 am
It sounds like he is barn sour. You can do a search on here for it and there are A LOT of good answers regarding this issue.
Most of all you need to be firm and NEVER let him run home. Even if you actually want him to… it can cause even more of a problem. Be careful when trying to correct this bad habit because if he gets too worked up someone can get hurt. If he tries to run home, turn circles to get his attention back to you and go the opposite direction until he is ready to listen, then try again. It can be a long walk home at that rate but it helps. I found that riding around the yard near the barn or even in the pasture can help as he then knows that even though hes back at the barn work time is not over.
If you feel like this is too much for you get a trainer to help.
Good Luck!!
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Riding a VERY barn sour horse for several months
November 20th, 2009 at 9:22 am
When he does that pull his nose to your knee and make him go in circles. Kick (well not KICK but you know what I mean) as your doing it and circle him around 5 or 6 times and MAKE him go in that direction. He’s turning and running because you LET him. Every time he tries to turn and head back you turn him right back around and this time KICK HIM. He’s taking advantage of you because he knows you’re not going to discipline him. Bring a whip if need be and pop him on the hind quarters. Make him listen to you. He’s not going to want to turn in tiny little circles or get a firm kick or a pop on the rump, trust me. He’ll get the idea.
I had a TWH who had very low self confidence and he did NOT want to go up this one particular trail head. He did exactly what your horse does, turned and RAN. Then, one day, we had ourselves a little come to Jesus meeting. Every time he tried to turn I circled him right back and gave him a firm kick and little pops on the butt with a whip. He fought me tooth and nail for a few minutes, trying to evade this way and that, rolling back on his haunches and spinning, rearing up, just acting like a fool. But eventually he realized that this time I wasn’t going to let him run away and he gave up and (with some reluctance I might add) took his butt up the trail like I asked him to do.
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November 20th, 2009 at 10:10 am
Just remember he can hear and smell things that you can’t. He may also be taking advantage of you, try riding with one of his pasture buddies, that will make him more comfortable. work on being more assertive in the ring cause horses will do anything to avoid more work.
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November 20th, 2009 at 10:31 am
Your horse is doing this because he knows that you will let him do this. You have to correct it right away, or it will only get worse. Every time he tries to turn home, turn him in a few circles, then make him go the way you want him to. If he still wont, repeat the process of circles. It also seems like he doesn’t respect you as much as he should. You can get his respect by spending time with him on the ground, like walks and grooming and stuff. He probably also does this because he doesnt fully trust you yet. It might not be one of these reasons, but doing the stuff above should correct it in no time.
Happy Trails!
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November 20th, 2009 at 11:14 am
He does it because he can. He gets to the end of the road and as far as he is concerned, that’s good enough. You might want to take a few lessons on your horse to achieve better control of him. If not, you will soon find out that he will start turning around before you get to the end of the road.
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Experience; lots of it with horses - 50 years
November 20th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
When I am out riding my horse that I have had for
about 5 months now he does something similar.
If we ride just say out to the left of the barn and
come back by the barn he keeps going toward
the barn. Well I work him in circles time and
time again to make him go where I want him to
go. I make him work and then he decides (at
least for a bit) that it is easier to just go where
I want to go. He is just stubborn and thinks
that if we are in the vicinity of the barn it’s time
to go back. I never allow him to run back to
the barn. If you let them win even once they
tend to keep carrying on with the same behavior.
Be sure that you feel safe circling him over and over
he may get frustrated, but you are going to have to
show him who is boss. You might want to try
more ground work with him. I have had good
success with natural horsemanship for little issues
like this.
Like lunging my horse before we go and ride.
If he just absolutely won’t go….as soon as you
get him back to the barn make him work really
hard. Then take him back to that same path
repeat this until he goes where you are asking.
He will soon find that going back to the barn
is not all he thought that it would be.
You may even want to try just walking with him
in the area that he is avoiding. Maybe he is not
comfortable, but more than likely he is just barn
sour.
He sounds just like my horse — Stubborn and Barn
Sour. lol
Good Luck.
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November 20th, 2009 at 12:24 pm
Ur horse is doing this becuz yu let him. Yu have to get on his butt. Try riding with spurs and when yu feel him starting to turn meet his ribs with the spur…HARD.Then if he still doesn’t go, let him turn but make him go in a complete circle so he’s back in the direction yu wnt to go n hit in his ribs HARD with both spurs. Hope this helps!!
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Raising & riding rackin/twh for 13 yrs.
November 20th, 2009 at 12:40 pm
he probably turns back because he wants his friends so you could take another horse with him
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