Riding my horse on the road?

Question

my horse Sazie LOVES to ride on the road. but there are 2 probs.

1. he refuses to turn around to go back home and 2. (this isnt much of a prob just kinda weird) if there is a bush stiking out he will rub his face in it. he dosnt eat it he just rubs his face all over it then leaves.

Answer 1

It sounds like he's an all around pretty fun horse!  There are many people that would love a horse that wants to go AWAY from home!

If you can, before you ever leave home, just do some turning and circling exercises.  Even just at a walk, this will be beneficial once you leave.  Then, in spot that you have room and that are safe, just play little circling games, the whole time you ride.  If you randomly point toward home and then turn and head away again, he's going to start listening for your cues instead of making up his own mind.  Then when you do decide to head home, it won't be such a surprise to go that direction since he will be waiting for you to make the decision.

As for the brush rubbing, he might just be trying to get flies or gnats off of his face, he might be sweaty and itchy, or he might just be plain itchy.  Try wiping his face off with a dryer sheet before you go and ride.  They are an awesome insect repellant, and they smell great too!  Just be careful, sometimes it can spook them to wipe their faces, especially with something that smells very strong.  

You might also try bolting some old brushes up around his stall/pen.  Then he'll have something to rub and scratch against before you ride.  Make sure that you can bolt these up with whomever you board with (if you board) and to be sure that the bolt isn't going to hurt your horse at all when he really gets into that scratching!  Drilling through flat wooden brushes is best, and putting a round headed bolt to avoid any harsh corners will help to keep your horse from skinning himself up!

Best of luck, and just keep riding!!

Answer 2

Quite often, a horse will prefer riding on the harder surface of the road rather than the gravel surface because there is less gravel to bruise it's feet.  This is likely why Sazie likes to walk on the road.

Just be careful - if on pavement, she could slip or the pounding if you ride a LOT on the pavement, she can get leg problems if she's not supported properly - however, you likely don't ride more than a few miles on the road.

In terms of her rubbing her face in the bushes, are they always the same kind of bush?  If so, perhaps there's something on or in that bush or it scratches just a certain way that she likes.  She may have sensitive skin that's itchy.

I am thinking, though, that her rubbing her face on the bushes might be a way of stopping - because stopping means no more working.  If she stops, rubs her face and you allow it all the time, she will do this as a means of getting her way to stop rather than keep working (walking on)

No matter what, although these habits seem strange, cute, funny - whatever, the point is she is the one in control, it sounds like, rather than you.  You need to take control - you say she won't turn around and go home?  Well you better learn to make her because there will come a time when you need to and won't be able to control her.

The same goes for rubbing her face in the bushes - if you allow it, she'll keep doing it and one time it'll work against you.

You really do need to gain her respect and get her to mind you and keep focused rather than taking you for the ride....

Good luck!

Answer 3

Answers-

1) Use alot of rein and leg to turn her around. If she still won't listen try a crop or gentle spurs.

2) Maybe her face is really itchy-try rubbing,scratching,and  currying it

Answer 4

That's funny becuase most people have the opposite problem: the horse turns around and runs home.

Just think of them as challenges, things to work through, to overcome.  Get after him a little more, bring some "artificial aids" if you need to encourage him a bit.  As for the bushes...that sounds like just a funny quirk but be careful that it doesn't get to the point that he tries to rub YOU off on the bushes (we had an old mare that used to do that on trees).  Just keep him moving around bushes.  Riding is time for work, not time for play (for him).

EDIT:  I ride on roads all the time too and have never had a problem with lameness.

Answer 5

Riding on the road is bad for their hooves. I don't recomend doing that unless you want your horse to be lame in a couple years.

Answer 6

mabey she just likes the smell of leaves my horse sticks his head in a bearel i used to keep feed in and he just does it for the smell, sometimes they can be wierd animals

Answer 7

It is ok to walk y our horse down the road.  Dont go faster than that.  Boots are always good too.  Shoes can make them slip easier...notice I said CAN, not always will.

Just be firm and make her do it.  Lots of leg.  The bush thing I have to idea??

Answer 8

Riding on the road is bad for their hooves. It's a really rough terrain and it can cause their hooves to crack which can be painful for the horse. I would say his face must be itching him. There are a lot of little bugs that might be bothering him when he's out riding, I figure if he's not doing any harm to these bushes that presumable belong to other people, let him be. They have a natural way of taking care of themselves.

Answer 9

I have to disagree with the poster above me. My horse is 26 years old, been riding on the road for the last 16+ years and hasn't been lame once. And she's unshod.

As long as the roads are in decent condition (not constant gravel roads) and the horse recieves regular farrier checks/care, riding on the road should be an issue for your horse.

It is unwise, however, to go faster than walk for long periods of time. A slow trot is also fine, as long as it's kept to a minimum.

Answer 10

I have been riding the roads around home with my horses for over 60 years, and never had a problem.  Some need to be shod, because they have tender feet, others are fine with their bare feet, it all depends on the individual horse.  We are all not lucky enough to have a public park or forest to ride in, we have to ride where we can...there are shoulders of roads and back roads and quiet roads that we can ride on with out too much concern.  

As for the rubbing on bushes, I have had some horses that do get very itchy and annoyed when sweating and the bugs and flies become too  much so they look for the easiest thing to scratch on...the bushes are the best that they can find when walking along the road.  It is annoying to the rider, but just imagine how annoying it is to the horse.  

As for the not wanting go go back home thing...I have had a few instances like that...don't know why, most horses want to head home...but you have to outsmart the house...if he is not listening to you or your crop and leg aids what ever...start turning in big circles, and gradually make that circle go beyond the point where the horse is refusing to go ahead...or  you could try backing the horse to a point where he will give up the fight...you have to outsmart sometimes, using the brain rather than brawn.  Of course if you are on a road, take all precautions with regard to traffic.  if you have to, you can always get off and lead the horse to a certain place where you know that he will be ok to go the direction that you want...that is a last resort and a traffic saftey thing...we don't want you to be dead right

Answer 11

If these are the worst of your problems, relax and enjoy!  You could try a riding fly mask if you think it's bugs bothering her...I'd just keep her away from the bushes.

I have ridden my horses on roads for over 50 years...most of them barefoot.  I agree that trotting or cantering is not a good idea....hit the grass for that.  But it doesn't hurt them and my horses have not been lame after some fairly long rides...one was 16 miles.  You're more likely to have a problem riding on gravel, where they can get stone bruises.