My horse hates patterns. He gets frustrated and hard mouth. HELP!!!

Question

My horse HATES patterns. It's not that he's really 'herd-sour' because I sometimes practice patterns when no ones in the arena and he still acts up.

He gets really hard mouth and doesn't like to stop. He gets a lot faster too.

So how can I get him to be more patient and less frustrated with patterns?

Also these are not very complicated patterns and he knows both leads when we're on the rail and he stops ok on the rail but he doesn't always do this in patterns

How can I calm him down and get him more focused in patterns?

I practice patterns as much as I can but it's not everyday because I don't always have the space. So it's not like I'm overdoing the pattern-practice.

So I feel once I can get him more relaxed that he can put his head down more and he'll slow down more

I've joined a new lesson which does pattern work at the end so I do have a trainer etc etc so no need to tell me that I need a trainer. THANKS! Any advice would be great.... I have a show *possibly* next weekend and def. one at the end of the month.

Answer 1

Both you and your horse need to think of "middle of the ring work" and not of patterns.

I don't know what you do in your regular rides in the arena, but I really suggest that you spend the majority of your time off the rail.  Don't do patterns, but don't do endless rail work, either.  Instead trot small circles for 30 seconds and then halt.  Allow your horse to stop and relax, then walk him in figure 8s.  Stop and relax.  Do a bunch of pivots on the hindquarters, always ending with a halt and a relax (You should have tons of 30 second breaks)  Ride over some poles on the ground and do circles over them, then stop.  Go to the rail and work there for a while, and then back into the center and do different stuff.  Not only will this make ring work much less boring for both you and your horse, it will make your pattern work a snap.  Your horse will soon expect his life to be full of short workout of various gaits, but all done in a relaxing way and all with a break as a reward.  When he's began to accept all this, then you can start by doing small patterns.  But really concentrate on breaking up your patterns with a reward of relaxation.  Many people want to rush through their patterns (or their trail horse work) like they're at a show, but your horse will be much more receptive and cooperative if you work each element individually and give him rewards of a relaxed rein, release of pressure and even a rest.

I'm not sure if you can have your horse fixed before next weekend.  This is a mindset thing, and can take a while to fix.  Make sure you don't get into a war in the show ring, because acting up in patterns is a tough thing to fix.  A professional cannot show your horse in patterns to try and stop a problem, so you need to be sure you can safely do patterns without getting your horse in bad habits before showing.  All they need to do is buck a few times, or root on the bit, and they quickly learn how to get away with things.  If you truely don't think your horse is ready to obediently and safely do patterns, then I would focus on only showing the classes you can, and work towards the others in the future.

My last trainer was very strict with this.  My show horse went from acting up and being a pig in patterns to being a good pattern horse and we won a buckle at a huge National show last year for it.  So the work will pay off, if you don't cheat and do it before you and your horse are ready.

Answer 2

If he's racing around and not listing to the bit, he's unbalanced. When I first started leasing my horse she was VERY unbalanced. She sounds just like your case. If he's built downhill, he's probably too much on his forehand. So you need to pick up his shoulders and rock him back on his haunches. If you have trouble stopping or slowing, just start doing circle before you start hauling on him. Make sure your not accidentally giving him aids to keep going too.

Answer 3

Once your horse learns certain feats and knows what your cues mean, Never do a complete pattern.  If you break it up into different sections, he won't seem to him as if you are doing a pattern.  Horses do get sick of pattern work, so let's say you are doing a reining pattern, pick some parts of the pattern and do them, then go to the rail, then get out of the arena, then do another part of the pattern out of the arena.  I know that you've seen horses in a reining pattern wringing their tail?  It's because their rider has done pattern after pattern after pattern.  Your horse needs to keep listening to you, not knowing exactly what you are going to ask for but recognizing cues when you do ask for certain feats.  If you are going to do a sliding stop, do it once...go on and do something else...they only have so many sliding stops in them, if you know that  your horse knows what to do, don't  use up the pretty ones at home, same with the 360's...if you know that your horse can do it and knows what you want when you ask, you may need the practice, but he doesn't...so, just visualize and practice that way, if you need some pattern practice work.

Answer 4

Well, first off, I will tell you what your horse is thinking.  He doesn't want to do the things you ask him to do because he's being stubborn and head-strung.  When he DOES do it, he does it to fast, resulting in your unhappiness with it again.  So this is what he says..."Gosh, when I finally do what you ask me to do your unhappy with it!"  To get him to slow down you need to--like you said--drop his head and "break" him at the pole.  Because it is very complex, I'm telling you right off that you need to get the Clinton Anderson Downunder horsemanship training series.  Otherwise i would explain it to you.  Okay, another way you can get him to slow down is to trot him in SEVERAL large circles while posting.  It will be difficult at first, you need to come up and down at a slow pace...not with his body movement.  It takes strong legs and focus to do this...but if you can do it for a few circles...eventually he will get tired and slow down to match your slow posting rythem.  When he does this a few yards, sit back in your seat and say whoa.  Then back him up a few steps, then let him walk on for a few yards, letting him catch his breath.  Then do it again.  About the third or fourth time...you will be pretty sore but you will find major improvement.  However, when working on this don't try to keep his head down of do a bunch of patterns...let him fully know the exact thing you are working on.  Then later on start gently see-sawing the reins back and forth towards your hips then back to his mouth, getting him to lower his head.  The  second he lowers his head even a quarter of and inch, let go of the pressure immediatley.  Make sure to stay out of his mouth as well...meaning don't jab at the reins when see-sawing like many people do.  Eventually, all this work will make him much more slow, soft, supple, and obediant to whatever you tell him to do. Good luck and I hope I helped.  If you have any more questions, just ask.  

Answer 5

okay well if a horse has a stiff mouth then check yourself...you may be hanging on his mouth on the down transistion...if he it takes him a longer time to stop then let him keep cantering until you feel him getting tired then give little squeezes of the rein and half-halt down to the trot also check his diet and exersize program to make sure he is getting what he needs as this greatly effects hi temperment...idk wat u mean by patters but i hope i helped a little =]]

Answer 6

If you are talking about Barrel Racing & such what you can do is work him down in circles and just do fence work like normal until he gets hot and tired, then make him stand in from of the pattern this way he realizes its a "resting spot" and you can relax while standing here. If he acts up work more circles and stuff and get him tired then take him back and stand there.

It can also be you. If you get very excited or nervous when entering the pattern then you need to learn to relax. Walk him through the pattern instead of running it. If all your doing is running he can get very sour on the patterns and not like it.

You can also switch things up. Create your own pattern and get him listening to you. This also makes him think and use his brain instead of going crazy and underestimating you.

Good luck :)

Answer 7

well he's probably responding to you thinking that he's going to act up. because when you get nervous or on edge horses feel that and act accordingly. try relaxing at just riding him with no particular  job or aim in mind, in the arena, just focus on getting comfortable and when you feel he is supple take him to the next level, and start with simple patterns, make it a natural progression, of your relaxed walk.