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Ask Chelsie...
Hi Chelsie,
I love your website. I am an older rider and my horse is a 13 year old
Tennessee Walking Horse gelding. He is great for me. I live close to the
state forest land, and most of the time I just ride from my home. My horse
is wonderful on the trail, going out he is just calm and quiet. But here is
the thing - on the way home he gets in a big hurry and spooks on things. How
can I make the ride home as pleasant as the ride out?
-Sally R. Paulden AZ
Q.
A.
Hi Sally,
First thing is, you have to teach your horse how to do a lateral bend in the saddle. Most people get a good lateral bend to where their horses neck and body is soft but is his mind soft. I want to be able to be on the trail and if my horse starts acting upset all I have to do is bend there head around and they will get soft mentally and physically. This is the key!
The next thing is you have to notice the smallest signs of your horse starting to feel this way so that you can shut him down and not let it escalate to where it can go.
Your horse is doing this because home is where he feels safe and he gets to Rest. Most people will ride there horses on a trail ride and then come home and turn the horse loose and feed them and love on them a lot. But all you’re doing is saying that home is where the rest and love is going to be.
So try this: Next trail ride bring a few carrots (or a few treats) with you and half way through your ride give your horse his carrots. Then come home and don’t give your horse anything to eat for at least a half hour. But when you come home spend a few minutes playing with your horse in his corral or arena so that he still has to work a little when he gets home. Now I am not saying to circle him for hours or not give him food or water for a long time, that would be cruel. Give him a drink of water and just play with him for a while before you turn him loose, do some ground work tasks. This will help him to see that home is where he is still going to have to work a little.
This will help, try it a few times and you will see success. The other thing is, I know gaiting is fun but it should not be done on the way home. I don’t like to canter my horses home and the same with my gaited horse. The speed and going home is just a little too much for horses to stay calm.
Thanks for the question!
Chelsie Kallestad
