I need help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! PLEASE ANSWER!!!!!!!!!!!?

Question

O.K. I ride a horse and he's stubborn, but he listens most of the time, but when I was riding him last week, I wanted to gallop around the barrels(I've been loping them). So I asked for a gallop with a slight squeeze and I got a fast lope(canter), so my instructor told me to kick him, so I did. He just kept on loping, so she said to slap him on the neck with the reins and kick him at the same time(He rides hard-mouth), so I did that and he bucked every time I kicked him. How can I make him gallop?

Please don't say that I deserved to get a buck cause I was kicking him.

I do join up with him every time I see him and I hang out with him in the barn and paddock and stuff.

Thanks so much.

Answer 1

As a horse trainer I would say stop kicking him. Not because you are abusing him but because when you kick a horse he will instantly suck back thus doing exactly opposite then what you want. I would try getting him to respond better to you. its hard to say what you should do specifically without knowing more about both of you. I would try a riding crop or bat to get him to go faster. also try taking one thing at a time. If you feel comfortable let him have his head and just ask him for a gallop around the arena without asking him to go around barrels just let him go. also reward trys. He might not understand what you want so if he gives you a little faster praise him then ask for more.  hope that helps. e-mail if you want more [e-mail]

Answer 2

My horse did this and it turned out he had a back problem, maybe when you are brushing him try putting pressure on different parts of his back or sides and she how he reacts. Talk to your instructor about it.  

Good Luck

Side Note: When did kicking a horse to make him go become cruel? I live in Texas in the country and I've never seen anybody do anything but kick their horse.  

Answer 3

I'm going to try and answer your question in a positive way and attempt not to appear to disrespect your instructor....but, if your instructor was doing her job, you wouldn't be on here asking for help, right?

Cardinal rule

#1.  NEVER hit your horse in front of the saddle, NEVER...not with anything.

#2.  Kicking does not allow your horse to get himself under him and then stretch out and run, it is counterproductive, so stop it, period.

#3.  If you have to, go back to the round pen for a couple of days and work on your leg aids so that your horse will know what they are for...and believe me, they are NOT for kicking.

#4.  You should be riding closed reins, so if your instructor told you to hit your horse in front of the saddle, that would mean that you are riding with split reins...why would she be having you do that on a barrel horse?  

#5.  Try to use some verbal cues along with your leg aids to signal your horse when to turn, no matter how fast he is going.

#6.  Go back and walk, trot and then canter slowly around the barrels, don't try to get close, he will do that when he speeds up.  I wouldn't even run him full out unless I was competing, a full canter is enough, you can always speed them up, you can't always slow them.

#7.  Get you a crop with a loop on the end of it to hang over your saddle horn to use on his butt when you want him to go...and don't over use it or he will become numb to it as he has to your legs kicking him.  Just make sure that when you do use it, use it on the top of his butt, not on the side, otherwise, he will lose precious seconds trying to shy from it.

#8.  Last but certainly not least:  Remember, in the heat of the run, one tends to lose track of how we are treating our horse's mouth...you really need to try to remember this at all times, he could be and probably is reacting to your lack of finesse of your hands, along with your kicking....please at least try what I'm talking about, it will definitely help you.

I just thought of one more thing that definitely discourages barrel horses from running their best.  If they are prone to overreach when running full tilt, they need overreach boots...and, if he has been asked to come to a sliding stop at the end of his pattern too many times without skid boots on, he finally figures out that it's going to hurt if he is running too fast...I also agree with a couple of the other posters regarding your instructor.  Why not ask her to get on and show you what she means...if she can't do it, then I wouldn't be taking her advice so seriously.

Answer 4

So, you've got a horse that won't fire up.  Time to talk to your instructor and see if SHE can get him to.  Can you fire him up on the straightaway?  

Let us all know how she does with him then if it's still a problem, we'll suggest some solutions.

Answer 5

first of all dont listen to that "racey" whatever guy. what you need to do is show him who's boss and dont let him get away with not doing what you ask. ask your instructor first, but what you might need is spurs or a barrel racing whip.

Answer 6

Hmm.  Ask your instructor, she knows the horse better than any of us.

Answer 7

Sounds like the horse does not trust you.  In the old days they would beat a horse into submission.  Looks like "horse people" still believe in abusing animals.

Kick it harder, use a whip, use spurs...why don't they just suggest using a taser...won't that get his attention faster?  Don't look for alternatives to his behavior...HIT EM!  She's learned to ignore pain (hard mouthed) so hit her harder!

That is why I refused to let anyone else break my horse and allow few people to ride her.  She's only had a saddle on her once and I never use a bit, only a harness.  She responds to my touch and I have never had to hit, kick, whip or spur her into doing anything!

Answer 8

There is always a reason why a horse won't "listen" to you and it's not because they are stubborn!  He either doesn't know what you want from him when you kick.  (a really good instructor would, IMHO, NEVER ask a rider to slap a horse with the reins and kick)  It's also possible that the saddle pinches when he stretches out to canter.  It could be that he feels that you're not balenced enough for him to go faster and the bit of a buck is to tell you he's not comfortable or is confused.

Have other's galloped this horse in a barrel pattern?  Does he do the pattern perfectly at a trot and canter?  Perhaps he's not comfortable enough to go around the barrels any faster.

You may very well not be giving a good discription of your trainer but there are a lot of poor trainers out there.

Answer 9

What an awful instructor you have......"slap him on the neck with the reins and kick him" !!! Horses usually gallop in a straight line and NOT on a turn or round the barrels. He obviously doesn't like being kicked on. Trya different horse.

Answer 10

if he was trained how to gallop around the barrels then he knows how to do them. Sometimes horses like to see what they can get away with. an it does not matter if the horse does not like being kicked, you kick him anyway, let him know you are the boss, for the bucking thing, when a horse bucks you hit them with a whip, or the rains, they will stop bucking. maybe try some spurs.

Answer 11

Have your instructor get on on him and see if she can't get him to go. Maybe the saddle pinches him when he gallops, Check his saddle and other tack. Elimante  any medical problems, his feet, his back, his teeth, ect. I would talk with your instructor. That is what hse is there for.