My horse never rides long?

Question

My horse gunner rides so well and is so wonderful but when i take him out just on trail rides if i get close to the barn he begins to run and i stop him and turn around but then he refuses to move.... so i end up giving in and letting him run to the barn

Answer 1

Your horse is only doing what you allow him to do...He knows you will give in...dont.  If he didn't move i guess we would sit there all day, bring a book with you.  Try taking one rein pull it towards you leg a turn, release pressure as soon as he gives and he will step forward even if its a few steps.  Keep doing this till he gets it in his head your not going back to the barn.  You could try not totally leaving but riding around the barn and making your circle further apart each time, maybe he wont notice he is leaving the barn LOL.

I had this mare who did this or she would back up at a million miles per hour.  I figured i had all day and had a comfortable seat, she finally got the message.  Now i have a bucker to deal with...Life is so adventurous.

Answer 2

Well, your boy is barn sour! When he wants to run back to the barn, dont let him! That only re-enforces the bad behavior.  Hop off him if you have to and lead him away from the ground.  When he wants to run, ask him to turn away from the direction of the barn and just stand.  If he refuses, then you want to give him a job that is ten times worse than what you were asking him to do initially.  Eventually he will realize that standing is much easier that (backing, circling, whatever) and he will start to listen.

Answer 3

You really need to stop doing that. That is one of the worst bad habits a horse can have. It will just get worse and you, him or someone else could get badly hurt.

You need to stick to your training him to walking back to the barn. I wish you the best if luck and I hope you teach your horse the right thing for your safety and the safety of others.

Answer 4

In addition to the other advice which is wonderful about NOT GIVING IN!!....

Once you get back to the barn...PUT THE HORSE TO WORK!!  A good 15 minutes or so of WORK!  In FULL TACK!!  Whether you are on him or not.  Get those feet moving!  Circles, serpentines, sidepasses, lots of trotting.

If you're on the ground...get to lunging him and don't let him rest AT THE BARN!  If he's in such a hurry to get to the barn and has enough energy to run there...then he has enough energy to work.  Make the barn another place to work.

Do not reward his behavior by untacking him and feeding him as soon as he gets back.  Time your ride...so you still have an hour or so at the barn.  When you return...AND he's been acting 'barn sour'...put him to work.  Then cool him out in his tack.  Then make him stand around IN HIS TACK.

If he's been good coming back...still keep him in his tack for a bit.  Don't let him get the idea that barn mean 'release immediatly with food.'

Again...DO NOT GIVE IN TO THIS BEHAVIOR!  This can end up being dangerous.

Answer 5

he is barn sour... do not give in. youre just teaching him that if she stops moving youll let him run. STOP GIVING IN! itll just get worse... if he tries to run towards the barn back him up.. spin him to the left twice then to the right twice.. make him flex his nose to your boot on both sides then back again... turn him around and walk a circle. if he doesnt want to walk from there make him do that little ruteine[sp?] again and again until he walks the circle.. from there try walking back.. DO NOT GIVE IN. every time he tries running or refusing to move make him do those excersises[sp?] until he will walk calming to your barn. make sure you have alot of time to devote to this the first couple times because it may take him awhile to get it, but it should make him behave. good luck and be patient!

Answer 6

do you want someone on your back.poor horse

Answer 7

00000000000!!!

do NOT EVER let him run to the barn!!

worst habit u could do.

it doesnt matter if it takes ALL DAY. u make him walk. ur the boss.

Answer 8

System D Rail is right. Your horse is barn sour and "giving in" to his insistence is just setting yourself up for big trouble in trying to correct his insecurity and stubbornness. I have known owners who created such barn sour horses that it became impossible for them to correct without help from a professional horse trainer or they just gave up on the horse and sold it... hopefully to someone who could establish a more secure bond with the horse.

Edit Note: Here is something that might help you.

Working With A Barn Sour Horse - Part One

http://www.alphahorse.com/sour-horse.htm...

Working With A Barn Sour Horse - Part Two

http://www.alphahorse.com/sour-horse2.ht...