gate sour

XtendedTrot · 08-23-2008, 04:51 PM

Okay here's my question: Scenario. When I ride in the arena counter clockwise with the gate on the right hand side my mare decides to pick up the pace at the corner of the arena before the gate and start leg yielding to the far right where the gate is. She is very gate sour. I try to keep her bent toward the inside of the circle and slow her before the gate but she is super strong and braces pulling out toward the gate. My trainer tells me to half-halt on the ouside (right) and kick with outside leg... I understand that the trainer is trying to prevent me from pulling on the left and turning only her head because her head would be to the left and body still moving sideways to the right. Help me please...does anyone have a problem like this and a solution? My Quarter Horse didn't have this problem. I had the trainer get on her and my mare does the same stuff to her.

EquineAlberta · 08-23-2008, 09:09 PM

I would try to keep her more occupied at you approach that area. I may also cut that end off a little until things get better. I think it is important to remember to ride/control your horse's shoulders and not her nose.

Ideas to try:
- as you start down the right side do a circle, then down the track a few steps, then another circle all the way down the side to keep her attention. Keep her body fairly straight on the circle so she can't bulge to the outgate.
- Do a shoulder in to keep her bent and focused on the inside of the circle and to keep her shoulder in and away from the outgate.
- Cut the end off a little and do a counter bend around the end to keep her shoulder in to the middle of the arena.
- As you approach the trouble end, do a reverse half circle (come off the track and head towards the outgate, then loop back to the track going the other way.

I think it is most important to not make a big deal about it, or she will continue to fixate and over react at that end. Using basic shapes and steering to break the cycle will change her habit.

Karen

nrhareiner · 08-23-2008, 10:17 PM

With reiners we NEVER ride out the gate and never stop at the same place. Always loosen the girth and take off leg gear before leaving the arena. Keeps them from getting gate sour.

If they are they will get their but worked off by the gate and then allowed to rest and relaxe in the middle of the arena.

Heidi

Carri · 08-24-2008, 04:32 AM

In addition to the great suggestions you have already received, I would add that backing your horse out of the gate every time you leave the arena might help also.

My daughter's pony has been getting a bit gate sour, so now her trainer has us backing her out of every gate. She hates to back up, so she is getting where she does not like the gate so much.

**taelesean** · 08-24-2008, 10:52 AM

Another tactic to use on the gate sour horse - continue work even after riding out the gate. Just keep right on riding. Use this one along with working them near the gate and resting in the middle of the arena, or backing them out the gate, or all three. It's just another way to tell them that going through the gate does not mean the end of work.

snickers · 08-24-2008, 12:01 PM

Here is a few free vidios I found that might help.

http://www.horsecity.com/videos/onli...gatesour.shtml

http://www.expertvillage.com/video/8...-gate-sour.htm

mustang_hope22 · 08-24-2008, 08:13 PM

My colt used to do that to! What i did was i started working him in the middle at first. Then the next day i would make the circle a little bigger. and so on. It worked fine with me. and if your horse ever tries to side step towards the gate, tell her to stop, and back her up until you get her where you want her and then start over. I hope this helps! if it does please find a way to let me know! i love it when i can help people!

mustang_hope22 · 08-24-2008, 08:15 PM

i also took my horse close to the gate and walked him back and forth to each side of the arena, each time getting a litte farther away from the gate...hope my advice helps!

XtendedTrot · 08-24-2008, 08:55 PM

Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I'm going to try these suggestions and keep you posted. I appreciate it!

zippinalong · 08-24-2008, 09:05 PM

try riding at the far end of the arena (away from the gate)...also try mixing things up with obstacles,ground poles,barrels,spiralling circles at different gaits,serpentines, etc etc whatever suits your fancy to mix it up. Your horse may be bored and is used to the whole routine thing.Dismount as far away from the gate as possible EVERY time and lead back. Never put your horse up after a ride. Make him/her stand tied under saddle for a bit,lunge,place on hot walker..mix it up so they never get into that whole "I know what's coming routine." I reformed a really ring soured showhorse by doing all these things and I make it a practice now to do it with all my other horses. If you have a horse who can tolerate a trailride...do that everynow and then..the few more laid backed horses I have owned-really seemed to enjoy this. Ring soured horses usually are just BORED and DREADING doing the same thing as always over and over.

XtendedTrot · 08-24-2008, 09:06 PM

Karen-I'm going to try these suggstions you gave me.... I have made a big deal about it because she's great under saddle with the exception of this. It's hard when I'm working in an arena setting and have to keep reiterating (sp) the same point over and over again to her! It's gets a bit tiresome. I mount and dismount her in the center of the arena too so she doesn't get any ideas.

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08-23-2008, 04:51 PM
XtendedTrot Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 103	gate sour Okay here's my question: Scenario. When I ride in the arena counter clockwise with the gate on the right hand side my mare decides to pick up the pace at the corner of the arena before the gate and start leg yielding to the far right where the gate is. She is very gate sour. I try to keep her bent toward the inside of the circle and slow her before the gate but she is super strong and braces pulling out toward the gate. My trainer tells me to half-halt on the ouside (right) and kick with outside leg... I understand that the trainer is trying to prevent me from pulling on the left and turning only her head because her head would be to the left and body still moving sideways to the right. Help me please...does anyone have a problem like this and a solution? My Quarter Horse didn't have this problem. I had the trainer get on her and my mare does the same stuff to her.

08-23-2008, 09:09 PM
EquineAlberta Seasoned Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 4,470	I would try to keep her more occupied at you approach that area. I may also cut that end off a little until things get better. I think it is important to remember to ride/control your horse's shoulders and not her nose. Ideas to try: - as you start down the right side do a circle, then down the track a few steps, then another circle all the way down the side to keep her attention. Keep her body fairly straight on the circle so she can't bulge to the outgate. - Do a shoulder in to keep her bent and focused on the inside of the circle and to keep her shoulder in and away from the outgate. - Cut the end off a little and do a counter bend around the end to keep her shoulder in to the middle of the arena. - As you approach the trouble end, do a reverse half circle (come off the track and head towards the outgate, then loop back to the track going the other way. I think it is most important to not make a big deal about it, or she will continue to fixate and over react at that end. Using basic shapes and steering to break the cycle will change her habit. Karen __________________ Hillside Stable, Ardrossan, AB Do unto others as you would have them do unto you...is it really that hard?

08-23-2008, 10:17 PM
nrhareiner Yearling Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Ohio Posts: 743	With reiners we NEVER ride out the gate and never stop at the same place. Always loosen the girth and take off leg gear before leaving the arena. Keeps them from getting gate sour. If they are they will get their but worked off by the gate and then allowed to rest and relaxe in the middle of the arena. Heidi __________________ Double Eagle Photography www.doubleeagleph.com Definision of Gun Control: Hiting what you aim at.

08-24-2008, 04:32 AM
Carri Bombproof Member Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Alpharetta, Georgia Posts: 10,086	In addition to the great suggestions you have already received, I would add that backing your horse out of the gate every time you leave the arena might help also. My daughter's pony has been getting a bit gate sour, so now her trainer has us backing her out of every gate. She hates to back up, so she is getting where she does not like the gate so much. __________________

08-24-2008, 10:52 AM
taelesean Administrator Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Virginia Posts: 5,675	Another tactic to use on the gate sour horse - continue work even after riding out the gate. Just keep right on riding. Use this one along with working them near the gate and resting in the middle of the arena, or backing them out the gate, or all three. It's just another way to tell them that going through the gate does not mean the end of work. __________________

08-24-2008, 12:01 PM
snickers Bombproof Member Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Twilight Zone Posts: 8,855	Here is a few free vidios I found that might help. http://www.horsecity.com/videos/onli...gatesour.shtml http://www.expertvillage.com/video/8...-gate-sour.htm __________________ " You cant fix stupid " Ron White Life is to short to argue with ignorant people.

08-24-2008, 08:13 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	My colt used to do that to! What i did was i started working him in the middle at first. Then the next day i would make the circle a little bigger. and so on. It worked fine with me. and if your horse ever tries to side step towards the gate, tell her to stop, and back her up until you get her where you want her and then start over. I hope this helps! if it does please find a way to let me know! i love it when i can help people!

08-24-2008, 08:15 PM
mustang_hope22 Halter broke Join Date: Jul 2008 Posts: 138	i also took my horse close to the gate and walked him back and forth to each side of the arena, each time getting a litte farther away from the gate...hope my advice helps!

08-24-2008, 08:55 PM
XtendedTrot Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 103	Thanks! Thanks to everyone who responded to my question. I'm going to try these suggestions and keep you posted. I appreciate it!

08-24-2008, 09:05 PM
zippinalong Newborn Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Oklahoma city Posts: 15	try riding at the far end of the arena (away from the gate)...also try mixing things up with obstacles,ground poles,barrels,spiralling circles at different gaits,serpentines, etc etc whatever suits your fancy to mix it up. Your horse may be bored and is used to the whole routine thing.Dismount as far away from the gate as possible EVERY time and lead back. Never put your horse up after a ride. Make him/her stand tied under saddle for a bit,lunge,place on hot walker..mix it up so they never get into that whole "I know what's coming routine." I reformed a really ring soured showhorse by doing all these things and I make it a practice now to do it with all my other horses. If you have a horse who can tolerate a trailride...do that everynow and then..the few more laid backed horses I have owned-really seemed to enjoy this. Ring soured horses usually are just BORED and DREADING doing the same thing as always over and over.

08-24-2008, 09:06 PM
XtendedTrot Halter broke Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: Florida Posts: 103	Karen-I'm going to try these suggstions you gave me.... I have made a big deal about it because she's great under saddle with the exception of this. It's hard when I'm working in an arena setting and have to keep reiterating (sp) the same point over and over again to her! It's gets a bit tiresome. I mount and dismount her in the center of the arena too so she doesn't get any ideas.