refuses to go out on trail

Bob Read · 03-21-2008, 07:57 PM

My qh 7 yr gelding is starting to refuse to go any further when I'm on trail going away from the house. I can spank him, spur him, back him up over and over and make him do circles for 30 Minutes. Nothing is working. I can get off, and walk aways then he will go sometimes.
Any suggestions?

blueeyedhorse · 03-21-2008, 08:03 PM

I would suggest having a trainer evaluate the problem

It is hard to say why he would be doing that...whether he is honestly scared or just being naughty. Also, if he is being naughty what you are doing as far as correcting goes is not working so maybe they could give you some additional tips..good luck!!

China515 · 03-21-2008, 08:20 PM

I agree with Blueeyedhorse, talk to a trainer. You might need to make going on the trails a positive thing. I would take carrots and he starts to refuse then get off and lead him, giving a piece of a carrot every few steps or if you can get him to take a step on his back, then reach down and give him a piece.

Or let him eat grass that way he sees going out onto the trails a good thing.

Haas Horse Farm · 03-21-2008, 10:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China515

I agree with Blueeyedhorse, talk to a trainer. You might need to make going on the trails a positive thing. I would take carrots and he starts to refuse then get off and lead him, giving a piece of a carrot every few steps or if you can get him to take a step on his back, then reach down and give him a piece.

Or let him eat grass that way he sees going out onto the trails a good thing.

Sorry you do not praise bad behavior with even worse behavior. IMHO a horse should never be allowed to graze with a bit in its mouth.

To the OP are you riding alone? How does the horse respond when riding in the barn area? Can you ride out in the pasture? What happens if you get off and lead the horse for a bit? What happens if you trailer the horse somewhere and then try to ride?

What type of horse, age, training, etc. What bit and saddle are you using?

China515 · 03-21-2008, 10:55 PM

What I mean is that when the horse does the correct thing, like walk forward, you give him carrots. Then you are rewarding positive behavior. Don't give him carrots if he is refusing to move forward! That defeats the point.

You don't have to let the horse eat grass b/c Haas Horse Farm is right that could lead to him expecting and grabbing for it but if you have tried to force him and lost the battle then you just sent the message to him that he won and you don't want to keep doing that, you need to change the approach...get smart and come at it from a diff angle...you don't have to do the carrot thing but you do need to outsmart him b/c you physically cant win this battle and you don't want to push him into doing naughty habits like rearing, spinning, or bucking which can happen when you push a horse to hard.

Come at it from a different angle. He is physically stronger but you are mentally much smarter.

China515 · 03-21-2008, 11:02 PM

Also you need to decide if he isn't going forward out of disrespect or if he's scared or doesn't want to leave home. Regardless, the horse needs to do it b/c it accepts you as alpha.

You also need to decide though if you think you can physically win this battle. I think in some cases whips and spurs can work, but in others the horse just doesn't respond and you need to trouble shoot.

Is it possible that your horse needs another horse walking out with you?

Chester · 03-21-2008, 11:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China515

What I mean is that when the horse does the correct thing, like walk forward, you give him carrots. Then you are rewarding positive behavior. Don't give him carrots if he is refusing to move forward! That defeats the point.

You could save on carrots with this theory. Tie it on a string and dangle it over the horses head. You could probably even get a canter going.

Firstly carry a nice whippy stick. As soon as you feel him about to stop use it on his butt. It is easier to stop a habit than break it.

If you miss the signal and he does come to a stop then I would turn his head to his butt real fast and push him in a very tight circle till he wants to stop, then keep pushing him in the circle . THEN after this ask him to walk forward. If he doesn't, circle hard again till he is so sick and tired of it that he will be only too willing to go forward.

Do this long enough, often enough and he will stop nonsense.

Haas Horse Farm · 03-21-2008, 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by China515

What I mean is that when the horse does the correct thing, like walk forward, you give him carrots. Then you are rewarding positive behavior. Don't give him carrots if he is refusing to move forward! That defeats the point.

You don't have to let the horse eat grass b/c Haas Horse Farm is right that could lead to him expecting and grabbing for it but if you have tried to force him and lost the battle then you just sent the message to him that he won and you don't want to keep doing that, you need to change the approach...get smart and come at it from a diff angle...you don't have to do the carrot thing but you do need to outsmart him b/c you physically cant win this battle and you don't want to push him into doing naughty habits like rearing, spinning, or bucking which can happen when you push a horse to hard.

Come at it from a different angle. He is physically stronger but you are mentally much smarter.

Why are you using food for a reward? I guess that is what is confusing to me. I never hand feed anything as that leads to biting. I also am not one to allow treats at all until after the work is done. Then they are given on a stump or in a bucket but never by hand. Plus I have many of my horses that will not eat carrots. I just cannot understand how feeding when riding is a positive thing.

When riding you make doing what is wanted a pleasurable thing instead of what is not wanted. It is very hard to guess from this side of the keyboard. It could be one of many things... starting with the attitude of the handler. My husband is grouchy... he could not move a mare today... I walked out and petted the stallion that was in the pen the mare was in. She came over curious because she wanted the attention too. I walked over to her and haltered her without a problem. The difference being I went in there without an attitude and focused on another horse using that as a lure for the mare. She was fine for me... because I do not have an attitude about her. I do not think about how she is going to act up, etc. Often as riders we set ourselves up for failure because we think of all the bad things that can happen and we psych ourselves into them.

To the OP just saddle the horse and get on one day and just let the horse go... It would be interesting to see what the horse does without being asked or expected to do anything. Just expect the horse to stand and stand and stand... I bet that will get a lot of movement out of the horse.

You make a trail a safer spot. If it was me I would lope the **** out of him until he was begging me to walk and then I bet he would be happy to walk out on the trails.

The above is ONLY true if there response is attitude and not pain related. I wonder if there has been a change in bit, saddle, pad, etc... Shoeing, etc. Something that is causing pain and that would then need to be addressed first.

foxx · 03-22-2008, 01:47 AM

SOunds like your horse is barn sour. Have you checked to make sure he is not having any discomfort with his tack or mouth?

iridehorses · 03-22-2008, 03:55 AM

How long have you had him? How new is the problem? What is going on around you when it happens (other buddies in the pasture, another horse calling to him, etc)? Does he do this when you are alone or with other riders along? Can you ride him around the area or is it just when you hit the trails? Is your tack new or is there anything different - how long have you been using it? When was the last time you had him vetted?

03-21-2008, 07:57 PM	#1
Bob Read Junior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Posts: 1	refuses to go out on trail My qh 7 yr gelding is starting to refuse to go any further when I'm on trail going away from the house. I can spank him, spur him, back him up over and over and make him do circles for 30 Minutes. Nothing is working. I can get off, and walk aways then he will go sometimes. Any suggestions?

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03-21-2008, 08:03 PM	#2
blueeyedhorse Senior Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Lake Geneva, WI Posts: 327 Images: 4	I would suggest having a trainer evaluate the problem It is hard to say why he would be doing that...whether he is honestly scared or just being naughty. Also, if he is being naughty what you are doing as far as correcting goes is not working so maybe they could give you some additional tips..good luck!!

03-21-2008, 08:20 PM	#3
China515 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 381 Images: 16	I agree with Blueeyedhorse, talk to a trainer. You might need to make going on the trails a positive thing. I would take carrots and he starts to refuse then get off and lead him, giving a piece of a carrot every few steps or if you can get him to take a step on his back, then reach down and give him a piece. Or let him eat grass that way he sees going out onto the trails a good thing.

03-21-2008, 10:55 PM	#5
China515 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 381 Images: 16	What I mean is that when the horse does the correct thing, like walk forward, you give him carrots. Then you are rewarding positive behavior. Don't give him carrots if he is refusing to move forward! That defeats the point. You don't have to let the horse eat grass b/c Haas Horse Farm is right that could lead to him expecting and grabbing for it but if you have tried to force him and lost the battle then you just sent the message to him that he won and you don't want to keep doing that, you need to change the approach...get smart and come at it from a diff angle...you don't have to do the carrot thing but you do need to outsmart him b/c you physically cant win this battle and you don't want to push him into doing naughty habits like rearing, spinning, or bucking which can happen when you push a horse to hard. Come at it from a different angle. He is physically stronger but you are mentally much smarter.

03-21-2008, 11:02 PM	#6
China515 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Sacramento, CA Posts: 381 Images: 16	Also you need to decide if he isn't going forward out of disrespect or if he's scared or doesn't want to leave home. Regardless, the horse needs to do it b/c it accepts you as alpha. You also need to decide though if you think you can physically win this battle. I think in some cases whips and spurs can work, but in others the horse just doesn't respond and you need to trouble shoot. Is it possible that your horse needs another horse walking out with you?

03-22-2008, 01:47 AM	#9
foxx Senior Member Join Date: Nov 2004 Posts: 330	SOunds like your horse is barn sour. Have you checked to make sure he is not having any discomfort with his tack or mouth?

03-22-2008, 03:55 AM	#10
iridehorses Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Upstate of SC Posts: 363 Images: 35	How long have you had him? How new is the problem? What is going on around you when it happens (other buddies in the pasture, another horse calling to him, etc)? Does he do this when you are alone or with other riders along? Can you ride him around the area or is it just when you hit the trails? Is your tack new or is there anything different - how long have you been using it? When was the last time you had him vetted?