My horse is a gamer and he will not run?

Question

i have a quarter horse per bread he is stubborn he is like his dad but his dad is a fast gameing horse and he is to but he just doesn't want to game every time i am at home and try to run him he will just buck and whenever we are in the arena he will run and then suddenly stop and i do not know what to do

Answer 1

Maybe he needs a change of pace. Try doing some slow work with him or try some games the you both will enjoy.

Answer 2

ok its very very important that you make sure he is not in any pain. It doesn't matter how old he is, get him checked out by a vet to make sure he has no physical problems.  Also make sure his tack fits.  If you aren't sure if it fits, have a saddle fitter or someone knowledgeable and credible of horses to come out and check your saddle.  Horses do not buck very often.  They may test you with a few bucks here and there but they usually find other ways to test you.  If your horse is bucking EVERY time you ask him to run, I highly suggest this is a pain-related issue.  Horses can't speak English, and their only way of letting us know they are in pain is by bucking, rearing, refusing, etc.  These are all too often mistakened for a behavioral problem.

If the vet approves that he is not in any pain and all of his tack fits him, then you obviously have a major relationship problem with your horse.  If he has gotten away with bucking once, he's gonna try it again and again.  Horses are like kids - you give them an inch and they take a mile.  The more you let him get away with it, the more hes going to do it.  It's basically a game to him and he wins every time he gets away with bucking.

First of all, do not run him at all for now.  You need to get his respect from the ground up.  Work on his leading manners and getting him to pay attention to you.  He's here to work for YOU. He shouldn't be worrying about anything except for your next cue. Work with him a lot at the walk and trot under saddle.  Get him soft and supple, gain control over his whole body [pole, shoulder, and hip]. Make everything perfect before you advance to a canter. Practice loping figure eights, serpentines, etc.  

This is a problem that you should contact a horse trainer to help you with. It's nothing i can explain to you online...Just make sure he is in NO pain before you do anything else. That's the most important part. Well good luck with your horse, I happen to run games myself with my lil mustang. He had a different problem, he liked to suddenly swerve towards the barn while i was working him in the arena. He's over that now but he really showed me how stubborn a horse can be if he puts his mind to it ;) Just don't give up and show him who's boss.