[barrel racer]

Ok this horse used to be AWSOME i rode him all the time. but the other day on the trails he was acting up way bad and wouldnt stop turn or do any thing i asked him to do. at this time we were in the back pastures. so on the way home going down the dirt road he decided to take off and wouldnt stop turn or listen at all. i finaly got him to turn and in order to get him to stop i had to run him into my friends back pasture gate. i dont know what to do. he had a slitght problem with stoping before but that was only when we were running with another horse. but now since that incident he get really tense and nervouse on trails. so right now im working in just the arena with walkin and stoping and trotting and stopinig and once we get that down well then go into loaping and stoping. but does any one have anything else that could help. does any one have anything to help softening the mouth and other stoping drills. This horse is a 10 yr old arab gelding. hes been used in games and saddle seat. i think the people that had him before me and ive only had him for maby a yr. well they trained him at minimum just to be able to ride him. but i dont know i just really need help on stoping. hes always had a problem with that, hes worked off of a full cheek snaffle and right now hes in a little s hackamore but i dont want to put a harsh bit in because he freaks out with things like that. WHAT SHOULD I DO.

[Friesiangirl]

does he only do that on trails? if so, people may of ran him home, thus making him barn sour, I'm not quite sure how to fix it thou...

[barrel racer]

no not really hes never taken off for home or anything. but its more if theres another horse ahead of him and he wants to run up to them but i wont let him. then he freaks out thats when everything goes down hill. cus he tries to rear and take off. so i try to stop him some times he will listen but latly he hasnt.

[minilove]

Im not the one to ask but just an idea is it his teeth? Mabey they need to be floated or good be a tack problem?

[Friesiangirl]

did you, or do you ever let him catch up without you cueing him into a canter/lope/gallop or whatever to catch up? beacause if you ever did your horse may think it's okay, and he's confused beacause he doesn't understand why it was okay sometimes but not now. Or...it could be teeth/tack

[jus'contestin]

first thing i would do is when he does take off like that give him the one rein stop and pul his head right around and let him know thats not going to fly...if the one rein stop dont work for some reason pulling on each rein seperatley back and forth like a seesaw it always makes them slow down to where you can get control back...good luck

[eventin_papa]

is he herd bound? like is he running to his friends, or just cause he wants to be first on the trail? the only way to keep him from running is make him walk behind, and if hes jigging make him halt , or you can always let hinm go first, but thats letting him get away with being in front..hmmmm

[freedom32]

Circles might help. First in an arena or round pen, if he doesn't want to stop pull him into a smallish circle and make him work until he stops quietly, if he won't keep at it. Make doing what you want the easiest way. This is a bit harder on trails but you can make him turn tight at a walk, and everytime he tries to take off make him circle. This is similar to what Clinton Anderson does, and I've found it very effective.

[salemvot]

It sounds like he has a respect issue. He dosen't respect you or the bit enough. Work him alone untill you get a full stop every time you ask, no matter what.

[giddyupgal73]

You said you were working on transitions which is a really good idea. One thing you can do while you are trotting and stopping etc., IF he does not stop immediately when asked to. Make him back up a few steps. That will help encourage him to round his body for the stop. Also remember to sit deep in your saddle and use alot of body language before giving the Whoa command with your reins. Keep doing this until he gets the idea. Start slow and work your way up. Get him to understand that stopping is not an CHOICE, but something HE MUST DO when asked. And remember the verbal cue WHOA should only mean STOP!! nothing else.
If he runs off again and you are in a controlled area like the arena, if you can still give him DIRECTIONS other than stop. (this a very drastic training tool, but it does work). I would make him continue running and do not allow him to stop even when he decides he's done running. Keep him going and going until he is sooo tired that when you ask him to WHOA he will be so happy to hear that command he will stop immediately. A run away horse can be very dangerous. And IF he ever runs off again do the same thing. You could also use the one rein stop as suggested earlier. I would also take him into the arena after a trail ride and do more work with him. So he doesn't get the idea of running home back to his comfy stall and feed. Good Luck and best wishes Keep us all in touch on his and your improvements............JJ