Now I'm scared - What would you do?

mrebele · 11-05-2006, 12:10 PM

I just decided that it is a nice day and I can't ride so I will just work with Clancy on the ground. I set up a little course in our 40x80 pavillion as that is where we will train the horses during the winter. Clancy came out with me fine, walked over the boards, between the barrels, and over the tarp with no problem at all. I thought that I would just let him stop at the obstacles and go when he was ready but he didn't have any problem at all. We stopped and I praised him, gave him a rub and we started walking away, not even near the obstacles, and all of a sudden he starts running in circles and bucking like crazy. I held on to the lead line, he never came near me so I didn't feel endangered, and he finally stopped. I calmed him down and we started to walk out of the pavillion. We have about 16 feet between the beams. Well smart horse that he is, he turns at the last minute and goes around the beam on the other side. I had to let go of the lead line. He ran away toward the barn and stopped to graze on the grass. He let me take him back to the barn as if nothing had happened.

Here is my problem. I am a bit of a timid beginner rider. Now I am questioning what would have happened if I was on his back and it is scaring me a bit. Up until now, he has not bucked. I was told that he might just be feeling frisky because of the cool days and lack of exercise. BTW he is 5 yrs old and will be spending next summer with my trainer.

Anyone have any thoughts on what might set him off like that and suggestions for what I should have done. The pavillion does not yet have the electric fence up so I was reluctant to continue in there. It was probably wrong to just take him back but I was afraid that something worse might happen to him or me if I didn't get him back to safety.

miss leanne · 11-05-2006, 01:18 PM

I'm sure mine won't be the popular opinion. But it sounds to me that he just feels like he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, which spells disrespect. If he's starting to take off with you hanging onto the lead line, I'd get a stud chain and start working with him in the round pen. That's dangerous behavior, and if he gets in the habit of it, you've got a real problem.

Case in point: My cousin had a horse in for training, a little buckskin 2 year old colt, that would go along just fine for a couple of steps until you were off guard, and then he'd take off running because he learned that he could jerk the rope out of the her hands. Eventually, my cousin gave him back to the owner as a safety hazard, because he would run down the road to the highway after getting loose.

I guess the owner, having had his fill of that behavior and being a calf roper, would just pull the colts legs out from under him and put him on the ground every time he tried to run off. It might not sound like the best way to do it, and even as I write it, it sounds inhumane. But for that colt, that's what worked. If he didn't learn the rules of not running off while leading, he would likely have been on the fast track to the dogfood processing plant.

If you don't feel comfortable doing it, I'd maybe spend the money and get 30 days put on him by a reputable trainer for respect, and maybe a couple of lessons by the trainer as to what you can do to cement what he's taught the horse. It doesn't have to be the scene I just outlined in my previous paragraph, but it does need to be addressed by a firm hand.

But that's just what I would do if I were scared of him, and if this wasn't an isolated incident. But I'm afraid it won't be now that he's learned how to get away from you. Hopefully he was just feeling good and felt a little frisky. But if he does it again, or it becomes a habit, that's what I would do.

Good luck, whatever happens.

babycakes · 11-05-2006, 02:01 PM

I am going to agree with miss leanne on this one. I would use a chain.

I am going through something similar with my horse. Every once in a while (only like twice) he would bolt when I was lunging him. He could never get out because we were in a ring.

Well he hadn't done it a while. So yesterday he did it, twice. And I was unable to catch him when he bolted because he caught me off guard. Went back in the barn and got a chain. Next time he tried it I was able to catch him. And the look on his face was like "holy s**t what was that". He tried it one more time and then he realized when he tried to bolt he got "bit".

I've been lunging him with the chain now just in case he tries it.

I'm not too sure on an answer on what woudl happen if he did it to you while you were on him. I would make sure he understands a one rein stop just in case he ever does try. And hopefully once he realizes he can't do it on the ground he won't do it under saddle either.

I'm sure someone will have better advice with that.

carlagsd · 11-05-2006, 02:26 PM

I guess if it were happening to me I'd spend a LOT of time leading, stopping, backing, turning on the lead line. No lunging for awhile. I'd want to make sure my horse never took his attention off me when he's being led no matter where we're going.

No crowding into my personal space, no looking around to see where his buddys are, or where the greenest grass is, or where the spooky mailbox is...you get the idea. His complete attention, all the time. Of course you'll have to work up to it little by little because his attention span is probably short right now, but you can get there in time.

You need to feel safe around this guy and you sure can't be feeling real good right now wondering when he's gonna flip the switch again. I agree with the stud chain, but be careful not to over do it and if he breaks loose with the stud chain attached he could injure himself by stepping on the lead rope. Take it slowly, or if you don't feel you can do it, have someone you trust take over for you. He was probably just feeling good that day and decided to show you just how good!!

Rudy · 11-05-2006, 02:32 PM

I used the stud chain method also.

When Moon was younger I was trying to show him how to lunge but in an open area because of lack of round pen. By this time I was already handling him with a stud chain at all times for added control in case he had a baby, stallion, or drafty moment.

At first he took well to longing and seemed to be catching on but when I asked him to speed up past a walk he went around a couple times then tried to run out a bit but it didn't work. I knew he was going to try it again so I set him up for failure. I prepared myself and asked him to continue on and then asked for more speed hoping to provoke the response. Sure enough he did, but this time he made a bee line to go cantering down the hill. I went with him a couple strides to keep slack in the line and just when he front end came off the ground I put all my weight down on the line and yanked backwards and down. It pulled him off his feet and he almost did a nose dive. Surprised the hell out of him, BUT he hasn't even attempted it since. *knock on wood*

mrebele · 11-05-2006, 03:10 PM

I agree with the disrespect part. I am working on being tougher and "bigger" but it is not easy for me. He will spend all of next summer with the trainer so that should help but I have to learn to be more in charge. I will be taking my lessons on him next summer and she will be there to help me. I have been doing a lot better with keeping him out of my space and he is usually good about it now but today when we were walking I had to spin the lead line to keep him back. He didn't like when I did that, it surprised him, but he did respect my space. It seemed to be a wild day and it might not happen again but I still keep thinking "What if I was riding him when he did that?' I know I would not have stayed on. I am rethinking the whole riding thing. I might want to get an older "been there, done that" horse. I guess I won't make any decision till after next summer. For now, I will work him on the ground and probably keep my husband with me when I am doing it. No more training him alone for awhile. Thanks for the advice.

PS -I forgot to add that I don't know much about stud chains but I will look into that also.

snickers · 11-05-2006, 03:37 PM

Ok, after reading it twice, here is my take on it.

If he did everything just fine, and was walking off just fine and then all of a sudden started running in circles and then bucking, sounds like to me he had a bug bothering him. He did not act up when you caught him and led him back.

Our stud does not like bugs or bee's around his legs or belly and will act the same way.

Sorry, but I dont agree with taking a stud chain to him until you know for sure this is disrespect.
If not used properly can cause more damage than good and unless you know for sure what it was, you can also make him head shy.
To me, a stud chain is the last resort and there are many training methods out there that does not require a stud chain.

Without being there and actually seeing it, I in good conscience cannot tell you what training you should do with him and screwing him up and making a problem where there is not one.

As for bucking, its there and can happen. Once you hit the ground, it gets easier each time.

Before I go to any drastic measures, I would wait and see how he acts next time you take him out.

JMO and experience.

miss leanne · 11-05-2006, 04:14 PM

I would agree with Snickers if it had been the isolated incident of him running off and bucking. But since he did it twice, I think it may be more behaviorally influenced rather than an outside influence such as the weather or bugs.
And I definantly agree with Snickers about the stud chain. It's something that has no place in inexperienced hands, and should only be used as a tool for training a horse to behave, not a means to make a horse behave all the time. If that made any sense...

If you don't feel comfortable with it, you should probably leave it up to someone who has had some experience with it.
Falling off is a part of riding. Sad, but true. An old horseman told me once that you weren't really a rider until you've taken a spill off a horse at least 10 times.

snickers · 11-05-2006, 04:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by miss leanne

Falling off is a part of riding. Sad, but true. An old horseman told me once that you weren't really a rider until you've taken a spill off a horse at least 10 times.

I guess I am a rider, because I have passed the 10x mark.

Unless the bug or bee followed him.
We spent about 20 min. chasing and trying to kill a bee that was flying around his legs. Even when we lead him away and around, that darn bee followed until we killed it.

If this is the first time ever, I would take him back out and work him and if he did it again, then I would say it is a training issue.

Faceman · 11-05-2006, 04:45 PM

I'm not sure I understand the "since he did it twice" - I can't find a reference to 2 episodes, but maybe I'm missing something.

In any case, I don't think you either have, or have provided, enough evidence at this point to determine if it is a behavioral/respect issue. You stated that - up until now- he hasn't bucked before. Also, he seemed to be well behaved during the actual training session.

My questions would be is he kept turned out or stalled, and did you either warm him up in a roundpen or turn him out to air out before your session? If he was confined at all, and with the cooler weather, he may just have needed to expend a little pent-up energy, which you should give him the opportunity to do before the training session.

If he is turned It may indeed end up being a behavioral issue, but before jumping to conclusions, I would try to zero in on the exact cause before taking a course of action...

Jadesmygirl · 11-05-2006, 05:25 PM

Babyface actually had the statement about her horse bolting twice-so I think she and mrebele-the original poster- were mixed up.
However, I wondered about the fact that the horse bucked and could see how it could be a bug or bee thing, but then after that the horse walking on the other side of the post and then bolting does sound like the horse was testing her. I say this only because also being the timid type, all horses have conspired against me and tested me in pretty much every way known to horses.

Little did they know though it would backfire eventually, because I am toughening up!
And mrebele-I understand exactly how you feel!

miss leanne · 11-05-2006, 05:31 PM

from what I understood, she was longing him and he bolted, bucking like crazy. *could have been a bug, or just feeling good, I agree on that.*, then, as she was leaving the pavillion, he went the wrong way around the beam and instead of just stopping, or trying to turn around, he took off and she had to let go.
If I understood it wrong, then that's my bad.

But yeah, I'd rule out a couple of other things first before I took any more action, and see if he does it again of course.

Faceman · 11-05-2006, 05:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jadesmygirl

...all horses have conspired against me and tested me in pretty much every way known to horses.

It's an equine conspiracy - maybe they instinctively want to get back at us for domesticating them...

snickers · 11-05-2006, 06:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mrebele

Clancy came out with me fine, walked over the boards, between the barrels, and over the tarp with no problem at all. I thought that I would just let him stop at the obstacles and go when he was ready but he didn't have any problem at all. We stopped and I praised him, gave him a rub and we started walking away, not even near the obstacles, and all of a sudden he starts running in circles and bucking like crazy. I held on to the lead line, he never came near me so I didn't feel endangered, and he finally stopped. I calmed him down and we started to walk out of the pavillion.

We have about 16 feet between the beams. Well smart horse that he is, he turns at the last minute and goes around the beam on the other side. I had to let go of the lead line. He ran away toward the barn and stopped to graze on the grass. He let me take him back to the barn as if nothing had happened.

Up until now, he has not bucked.
.

The horse was fine through the training session and I say something spooked him or bothered him and he went in circles and bucked, than calmed down and was walking back and just went on the wrong side of the beam, did not bolt, she let him go, and then he ran off to the barn.
If she had pulled back and said whoa. the horse most likely would of stopped. He then stood while she caught him and lead back to the barn with no trouble.

Green handler with a semi green horse, mix signals can be given.
I still say do not assume it is a training issue until you are sure it is a training issue.

More harm can be done if it is not.

miss leanne · 11-05-2006, 06:17 PM

true story, snicks. no sense in putting the proverbial cart before the horse...

**Range** · 11-05-2006, 06:32 PM

I agree with Snickers, I would do some more sessions before I decide it's a respect issue. Some of those insects can be very painful.

As for "what if", well, you can't worry about them. It may happen, it may not. Just be the best rider you can and worry about being prepared for an incident as opposed to being worried about the incident. I was on a mare once, stepped on a bee's nest. Bee's on me, bee's on her! She bolted, I was unprepared and being stung...as was she. I just hung on and hollered whoa until we stopped - far away from the bees. Things happen. I was riding Dixie in the arena for the first time yesterday and we trotted past the gate. She tried to exit through the gate while I was still riding forward. We almost had a parting of the ways! But, even though I was unprepared for the manuver, I was cued into her body signals and managed to get through it. So, you can't worry or you'll never ride! Horses will do the most unexpected things.....

recklesshoundog · 11-05-2006, 06:53 PM

How old is Clancy? If he's of age, I guess maybe don't wait until summer to send him to the trainer. Why not send him now and have him ready for summer?!

Ooops, just saw he's 5, send him to the trainer for the winter and he'll be ready come warm weather!

sugarsgal · 11-05-2006, 07:47 PM

Tackle the issue one day at a time. Little by little take your horse a little further untill you reach your point ( riding pen, field etc) you may only get a few steps each time, but a few steps is better than being steped on!!! I to had a bad experience with my horse. I rode side-saddle while she was bucking and bolting. I was very afraid of her for a while.as I was out of commission for 3 weeks. Every day I did something different, even if were just brushing her in the hall-way or a short walk away from the barn. This really helped me build my guts back up. This is a horse that I rode bareback with only a halter and lead-line, I had full trust in her (then only 2 year old) to NO trust at all. Trust is the key (I believe) you must trust your horse and your horse must learn to trust you. It's a heard and leader thing to a horse, they trust their heard leader to protect them from danger, you must become your horses leader so he/she will fully trust you.

barnmom · 11-06-2006, 10:25 AM

does he know anything about the chain? my daughter just hooks it on the clip and when she feels the energy she just pulls enough to get the noise and it gets his attention

i also agree, use the winter for traing, that's what we're doing, 4 months over the winter, we don't have an indoor and she'll get to ride her a lot more and get a lesson a week on her

RhettsMom · 11-06-2006, 11:28 AM

sorry but I am reading this thinking
"Hey, I am experienced (more than 20 years riding, training, taking care of horses) and I STILL need to use a "chain" on Rhett every now and again. AND always need to use one when he is being worked on the longe line!"

He gets daily turnout in a BIG pasture and longed every afternoon, since I cant ride daily. He is 10yo going on 11 and goofs off for about 3 minutes EVERY TIME. Chain or not. Off he goes!! No bucking,, but he really digs in. Every once in a while I still need to remind him to walk into the barn/stall and not rush. Normally the cotton lead is all I need, but every now and then he gets all TBish and on goes the chain.

your boy is 5, the weather in the North East has been warm then cold then warm. I dont think it was a respect issue(although it could turn into one) but more of a "Yeee Haaawww I feel GREAT!!" moment. As far as the time he got loose. You let that happen by allowing him to get too far away from you and be able to go around the beam/post. Stay closer to him. I never let Rhett away from me, except when we are working on the longe line. If we arent working he is only a lead rope length away. Even if I still have the longe line on him. He stays right with me. Do more ground leading work with him. Lots of walking, stopping, backing even trotting on the lead. I spent my entire first year leading Rhett around the property since he abscessed badly. Usually I dont have to say a word, he just stops when I do and walks/ trots out when I do. you'll gain his respect and that will transfer right into the saddle

11-05-2006, 12:10 PM
mrebele Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 431	Now I'm scared - What would you do? I just decided that it is a nice day and I can't ride so I will just work with Clancy on the ground. I set up a little course in our 40x80 pavillion as that is where we will train the horses during the winter. Clancy came out with me fine, walked over the boards, between the barrels, and over the tarp with no problem at all. I thought that I would just let him stop at the obstacles and go when he was ready but he didn't have any problem at all. We stopped and I praised him, gave him a rub and we started walking away, not even near the obstacles, and all of a sudden he starts running in circles and bucking like crazy. I held on to the lead line, he never came near me so I didn't feel endangered, and he finally stopped. I calmed him down and we started to walk out of the pavillion. We have about 16 feet between the beams. Well smart horse that he is, he turns at the last minute and goes around the beam on the other side. I had to let go of the lead line. He ran away toward the barn and stopped to graze on the grass. He let me take him back to the barn as if nothing had happened. Here is my problem. I am a bit of a timid beginner rider. Now I am questioning what would have happened if I was on his back and it is scaring me a bit. Up until now, he has not bucked. I was told that he might just be feeling frisky because of the cool days and lack of exercise. BTW he is 5 yrs old and will be spending next summer with my trainer. Anyone have any thoughts on what might set him off like that and suggestions for what I should have done. The pavillion does not yet have the electric fence up so I was reluctant to continue in there. It was probably wrong to just take him back but I was afraid that something worse might happen to him or me if I didn't get him back to safety.

11-05-2006, 01:18 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	I'm sure mine won't be the popular opinion. But it sounds to me that he just feels like he can do whatever he wants whenever he wants, which spells disrespect. If he's starting to take off with you hanging onto the lead line, I'd get a stud chain and start working with him in the round pen. That's dangerous behavior, and if he gets in the habit of it, you've got a real problem. Case in point: My cousin had a horse in for training, a little buckskin 2 year old colt, that would go along just fine for a couple of steps until you were off guard, and then he'd take off running because he learned that he could jerk the rope out of the her hands. Eventually, my cousin gave him back to the owner as a safety hazard, because he would run down the road to the highway after getting loose. I guess the owner, having had his fill of that behavior and being a calf roper, would just pull the colts legs out from under him and put him on the ground every time he tried to run off. It might not sound like the best way to do it, and even as I write it, it sounds inhumane. But for that colt, that's what worked. If he didn't learn the rules of not running off while leading, he would likely have been on the fast track to the dogfood processing plant. If you don't feel comfortable doing it, I'd maybe spend the money and get 30 days put on him by a reputable trainer for respect, and maybe a couple of lessons by the trainer as to what you can do to cement what he's taught the horse. It doesn't have to be the scene I just outlined in my previous paragraph, but it does need to be addressed by a firm hand. But that's just what I would do if I were scared of him, and if this wasn't an isolated incident. But I'm afraid it won't be now that he's learned how to get away from you. Hopefully he was just feeling good and felt a little frisky. But if he does it again, or it becomes a habit, that's what I would do. Good luck, whatever happens.

11-05-2006, 02:01 PM
babycakes Coming two Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: New Jersey Posts: 1,586	I am going to agree with miss leanne on this one. I would use a chain. I am going through something similar with my horse. Every once in a while (only like twice) he would bolt when I was lunging him. He could never get out because we were in a ring. Well he hadn't done it a while. So yesterday he did it, twice. And I was unable to catch him when he bolted because he caught me off guard. Went back in the barn and got a chain. Next time he tried it I was able to catch him. And the look on his face was like "holy s**t what was that". He tried it one more time and then he realized when he tried to bolt he got "bit". I've been lunging him with the chain now just in case he tries it. I'm not too sure on an answer on what woudl happen if he did it to you while you were on him. I would make sure he understands a one rein stop just in case he ever does try. And hopefully once he realizes he can't do it on the ground he won't do it under saddle either. I'm sure someone will have better advice with that. __________________ Jena <3

11-05-2006, 02:26 PM
carlagsd Yearling Member Join Date: Sep 2005 Location: Michigan Posts: 730	I guess if it were happening to me I'd spend a LOT of time leading, stopping, backing, turning on the lead line. No lunging for awhile. I'd want to make sure my horse never took his attention off me when he's being led no matter where we're going. No crowding into my personal space, no looking around to see where his buddys are, or where the greenest grass is, or where the spooky mailbox is...you get the idea. His complete attention, all the time. Of course you'll have to work up to it little by little because his attention span is probably short right now, but you can get there in time. You need to feel safe around this guy and you sure can't be feeling real good right now wondering when he's gonna flip the switch again. I agree with the stud chain, but be careful not to over do it and if he breaks loose with the stud chain attached he could injure himself by stepping on the lead rope. Take it slowly, or if you don't feel you can do it, have someone you trust take over for you. He was probably just feeling good that day and decided to show you just how good!! __________________ Shoot for the moon. Even if you miss, you'll land among the stars.

11-05-2006, 02:32 PM
Rudy Yearling Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Middle Tennessee Posts: 979	I used the stud chain method also. When Moon was younger I was trying to show him how to lunge but in an open area because of lack of round pen. By this time I was already handling him with a stud chain at all times for added control in case he had a baby, stallion, or drafty moment. At first he took well to longing and seemed to be catching on but when I asked him to speed up past a walk he went around a couple times then tried to run out a bit but it didn't work. I knew he was going to try it again so I set him up for failure. I prepared myself and asked him to continue on and then asked for more speed hoping to provoke the response. Sure enough he did, but this time he made a bee line to go cantering down the hill. I went with him a couple strides to keep slack in the line and just when he front end came off the ground I put all my weight down on the line and yanked backwards and down. It pulled him off his feet and he almost did a nose dive. Surprised the hell out of him, BUT he hasn't even attempted it since. knock on wood

11-05-2006, 03:10 PM
mrebele Weanling Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: New Hampshire Posts: 431	I agree with the disrespect part. I am working on being tougher and "bigger" but it is not easy for me. He will spend all of next summer with the trainer so that should help but I have to learn to be more in charge. I will be taking my lessons on him next summer and she will be there to help me. I have been doing a lot better with keeping him out of my space and he is usually good about it now but today when we were walking I had to spin the lead line to keep him back. He didn't like when I did that, it surprised him, but he did respect my space. It seemed to be a wild day and it might not happen again but I still keep thinking "What if I was riding him when he did that?' I know I would not have stayed on. I am rethinking the whole riding thing. I might want to get an older "been there, done that" horse. I guess I won't make any decision till after next summer. For now, I will work him on the ground and probably keep my husband with me when I am doing it. No more training him alone for awhile. Thanks for the advice. PS -I forgot to add that I don't know much about stud chains but I will look into that also.

11-05-2006, 03:37 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 8,989	Ok, after reading it twice, here is my take on it. If he did everything just fine, and was walking off just fine and then all of a sudden started running in circles and then bucking, sounds like to me he had a bug bothering him. He did not act up when you caught him and led him back. Our stud does not like bugs or bee's around his legs or belly and will act the same way. Sorry, but I dont agree with taking a stud chain to him until you know for sure this is disrespect. If not used properly can cause more damage than good and unless you know for sure what it was, you can also make him head shy. To me, a stud chain is the last resort and there are many training methods out there that does not require a stud chain. Without being there and actually seeing it, I in good conscience cannot tell you what training you should do with him and screwing him up and making a problem where there is not one. As for bucking, its there and can happen. Once you hit the ground, it gets easier each time. Before I go to any drastic measures, I would wait and see how he acts next time you take him out. JMO and experience. __________________ " You cant fix stupid " Ron White Life is to short to argue with ignorant people.

11-05-2006, 04:14 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	I would agree with Snickers if it had been the isolated incident of him running off and bucking. But since he did it twice, I think it may be more behaviorally influenced rather than an outside influence such as the weather or bugs. And I definantly agree with Snickers about the stud chain. It's something that has no place in inexperienced hands, and should only be used as a tool for training a horse to behave, not a means to make a horse behave all the time. If that made any sense... If you don't feel comfortable with it, you should probably leave it up to someone who has had some experience with it. Falling off is a part of riding. Sad, but true. An old horseman told me once that you weren't really a rider until you've taken a spill off a horse at least 10 times.

11-05-2006, 04:45 PM
Faceman Kid Safe Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Arkansas Ozarks Posts: 7,260	I'm not sure I understand the "since he did it twice" - I can't find a reference to 2 episodes, but maybe I'm missing something. In any case, I don't think you either have, or have provided, enough evidence at this point to determine if it is a behavioral/respect issue. You stated that - up until now- he hasn't bucked before. Also, he seemed to be well behaved during the actual training session. My questions would be is he kept turned out or stalled, and did you either warm him up in a roundpen or turn him out to air out before your session? If he was confined at all, and with the cooler weather, he may just have needed to expend a little pent-up energy, which you should give him the opportunity to do before the training session. If he is turned It may indeed end up being a behavioral issue, but before jumping to conclusions, I would try to zero in on the exact cause before taking a course of action... __________________ Read what I said, not what you THINK I said...

11-05-2006, 05:25 PM
Jadesmygirl Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Minnesota Posts: 2,543	Babyface actually had the statement about her horse bolting twice-so I think she and mrebele-the original poster- were mixed up. However, I wondered about the fact that the horse bucked and could see how it could be a bug or bee thing, but then after that the horse walking on the other side of the post and then bolting does sound like the horse was testing her. I say this only because also being the timid type, all horses have conspired against me and tested me in pretty much every way known to horses. Little did they know though it would backfire eventually, because I am toughening up! And mrebele-I understand exactly how you feel!

11-05-2006, 05:31 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	from what I understood, she was longing him and he bolted, bucking like crazy. could have been a bug, or just feeling good, I agree on that., then, as she was leaving the pavillion, he went the wrong way around the beam and instead of just stopping, or trying to turn around, he took off and she had to let go. If I understood it wrong, then that's my bad. But yeah, I'd rule out a couple of other things first before I took any more action, and see if he does it again of course.

11-05-2006, 06:17 PM
miss leanne Seasoned Join Date: Mar 2006 Posts: 4,532	true story, snicks. no sense in putting the proverbial cart before the horse...

11-05-2006, 06:32 PM
Range Super Moderator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Back of Beyond Posts: 5,898	Horse I agree with Snickers, I would do some more sessions before I decide it's a respect issue. Some of those insects can be very painful. As for "what if", well, you can't worry about them. It may happen, it may not. Just be the best rider you can and worry about being prepared for an incident as opposed to being worried about the incident. I was on a mare once, stepped on a bee's nest. Bee's on me, bee's on her! She bolted, I was unprepared and being stung...as was she. I just hung on and hollered whoa until we stopped - far away from the bees. Things happen. I was riding Dixie in the arena for the first time yesterday and we trotted past the gate. She tried to exit through the gate while I was still riding forward. We almost had a parting of the ways! But, even though I was unprepared for the manuver, I was cued into her body signals and managed to get through it. So, you can't worry or you'll never ride! Horses will do the most unexpected things..... __________________ If it harms none, do what you will.

11-05-2006, 06:53 PM
recklesshoundog Started Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: NY Posts: 2,549	How old is Clancy? If he's of age, I guess maybe don't wait until summer to send him to the trainer. Why not send him now and have him ready for summer?! Ooops, just saw he's 5, send him to the trainer for the winter and he'll be ready come warm weather!

11-05-2006, 07:47 PM
sugarsgal Started Join Date: Oct 2006 Location: Ontario, Canada Posts: 2,727	Tackle the issue one day at a time. Little by little take your horse a little further untill you reach your point ( riding pen, field etc) you may only get a few steps each time, but a few steps is better than being steped on!!! I to had a bad experience with my horse. I rode side-saddle while she was bucking and bolting. I was very afraid of her for a while.as I was out of commission for 3 weeks. Every day I did something different, even if were just brushing her in the hall-way or a short walk away from the barn. This really helped me build my guts back up. This is a horse that I rode bareback with only a halter and lead-line, I had full trust in her (then only 2 year old) to NO trust at all. Trust is the key (I believe) you must trust your horse and your horse must learn to trust you. It's a heard and leader thing to a horse, they trust their heard leader to protect them from danger, you must become your horses leader so he/she will fully trust you. __________________ There is no such thing as an Ignorant horse, there are only Ignorant people!

11-06-2006, 10:25 AM
barnmom Coming two Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: northeast pennsylvania Posts: 1,876	does he know anything about the chain? my daughter just hooks it on the clip and when she feels the energy she just pulls enough to get the noise and it gets his attention i also agree, use the winter for traing, that's what we're doing, 4 months over the winter, we don't have an indoor and she'll get to ride her a lot more and get a lesson a week on her

11-06-2006, 11:28 AM
RhettsMom Long Yearling Join Date: May 2006 Location: MA Posts: 1,431	sorry but I am reading this thinking "Hey, I am experienced (more than 20 years riding, training, taking care of horses) and I STILL need to use a "chain" on Rhett every now and again. AND always need to use one when he is being worked on the longe line!" He gets daily turnout in a BIG pasture and longed every afternoon, since I cant ride daily. He is 10yo going on 11 and goofs off for about 3 minutes EVERY TIME. Chain or not. Off he goes!! No bucking,, but he really digs in. Every once in a while I still need to remind him to walk into the barn/stall and not rush. Normally the cotton lead is all I need, but every now and then he gets all TBish and on goes the chain. your boy is 5, the weather in the North East has been warm then cold then warm. I dont think it was a respect issue(although it could turn into one) but more of a "Yeee Haaawww I feel GREAT!!" moment. As far as the time he got loose. You let that happen by allowing him to get too far away from you and be able to go around the beam/post. Stay closer to him. I never let Rhett away from me, except when we are working on the longe line. If we arent working he is only a lead rope length away. Even if I still have the longe line on him. He stays right with me. Do more ground leading work with him. Lots of walking, stopping, backing even trotting on the lead. I spent my entire first year leading Rhett around the property since he abscessed badly. Usually I dont have to say a word, he just stops when I do and walks/ trots out when I do. you'll gain his respect and that will transfer right into the saddle