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[RC] dealing w/herdbound/barn sour older horses? - heidi sowardsSomeone may have posted this already, I didn't read all the responses, but anyway, this worked for me. Two geldings, one more herdbound/barn sour, so when I rode him I took a crop and when he balked at the edge of the property he got a tap that continued until he walked even one step forward. (It's the kind of crop with the wide popper.) Just a constant nagging tapping on his rear. Sometimes he would spin and when he did that, I'd keep spinning him until "I " said we could stop. I took his bad behavior and made him continue it. He stopped spinning pretty quick!!! He's a very smart horse. Anyway, so I finally got out to do the ride, of course he walked like a rental horse going away from the barn, stopping and looking over his shoulder, etc. On the way home, he was the supreme rental horse, tail up, prancing, dancing, etc. So every time he wouldn't walk when asked, we did circles, more and more and more circles. I figure they're never as stubborn as me, I'll stay out til 11 pm doing circles, "I" don't care!!! :) Then when we finally got home (it took over 2 hours to go 2 miles one of the first times I did this) and I walked him past our place (heavens!!!) and we went down to where the neighbors have a ditch, and practiced crossing water, walking through water, etc. At least 20 min. worth of more work. THEN we walked home and he was promptly tied up for 30 more min. while still tacked up. In his stall, where he couldn't eat or visit with his buddy. I also got to where I was taking a snack out on the trail with me as a treat. So, long story longer, I punished him every time he acted like home was the best place to be. And I only made home not nearly as wonderful as he thought it was. About 5 times of this and he was 110% better. Occasionally he needs a tune up, we sometimes still do a few circles out on the trail, only now it usually takes only 5 or 6 to remind him that I could care less how many circles we do and I haven't had to tie him at home in forever. He HATES that!!! Food and his buddy are his life!!! Hope something helps, it is sure frustrating when this happens. My new gelding leaves the house and buddy so well, it's like he could care less about anyone. At least I know if he dumps me, he won't run home, the other gelding would still do that!!! (Hey, I didn't say he was perfect!! :) heidi --- Julie <hdnpines@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I am also new to the list and have the same problem. I recently purchased a 7yo Standardbred gelding that has been living at my place along with a quarter horse mare for the past 7 or 8 months. Neither horse had been ridden since they came to live at my place. After I purchased the gelding, I sent him off to a trainer for 6 weeks. While at the trainer, I rode him several times with no problems other than an occasional spook. Once we got back home and he was back with the mare, I have had severe problems trying to ride him w/o the mare. I talked to the former owners and they said that this has always been a problem and they just always rode with them together. Obviously I need to be able to ride him alone but I'm not sure how to get him less herd bound. Everytime I try to ride away from the mare, he throws a fit, bucking, throwing his head, and trying to spin around and head back to the other horse. My thoughts right now are to make him go just a little farther away from her each time we ride but any suggestions would be much appreciated. He's a great trail horse and I'm really hoping to do my first endurance ride with him this summer. TIA Julie ----- Original Message ----- From: Joslyn Seefeldt To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Sent: Tuesday, April 29, 2003 11:03 AM Subject: [RC] dealing w/herdbound/barn sour older horses? Hello: I recently joined this list and have been enjoying reading the questions and posts. Pardon, if this topic has been discussed over and over, but - I have a 22 year old 3/4 Arabian that I would like to use for competitive trail. I only began conditioning him 2 weeks ago. I train on a 2 mile loop around a field. Yesterday, he became extremely agitated to the point of almost dumping me when the other horses we were riding with went out in front of him. We were on the last 1/4 towards home. My biggest concern is how is going to react at a ride? How to work through this? I do have opportunities to ride with other folks, but do quite a bit of riding alone. Any comments appreciated. By the way, I took my 6 year old Paso to a novice competitive trail this past weekend and placed 3rd. Had a great time! Thanks for all the great posts, Joslyn. ===== Heidi-aerc#M20935 /\_/\~ http://www.synjinarts.com ~~/~~ \\~~~~ (Wildlife/Western & Equine / O> ) \~~~~~ Art) / __/ \~~~~~~ (_@_/ | \~~~~ | \~~~~~~ | \~~~~ __________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? The New Yahoo! Search - Faster. Easier. Bingo. http://search.yahoo.com =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
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