A. Going for a trail ride can sometimes be one of the most difficult things for a horse to handle. It sounds like, on occasion, Duke becomes insecure and emotional when he is on the trail. Try to think about the trail ride from your horse’s point of view and it might help you understand his need to run.

When you are in the round pen, or doing groundwork, Duke has the security of a very small area where he feels safe. Also, your groundwork with Duke is probably consistent and predictable, so he knows what to expect and that gives him a sense of security, too.

Once Duke is out on the trail, where life is not as predictable, he may get scared or feel insecure—his prey animal instincts take over and tell him to, “Run for your life.” To top it off, there is a predator (you!) on his back. You might be gripping with your legs and holding tight on the reins, which makes the trail even scarier to him.

Here are a few things to try to help Duke overcome his emotions:

Use the round pen as a safe place to slowly increase the amount of pressure Duke can handle. Do a variety of exercises and change things up to keep him thinking. Use tarps, poles, barrels and other items to build Duke’s confidence. Allow him to be curious and explore the items before you ask him to go around, over or through them. If he is frightened by something, take him away from the scary thing and then go back to it. Be patient.

While on trail, teach him to put his nose on various things. Focus on a tree, a fence post, or anything else that’s around, and guide (leading or in the saddle) your horse to whatever you are focusing on. When he looks at it, give him a release (stop asking). Ask him to get closer and closer until he gets curious and puts his nose on it. You will be surprised at how quickly your horse learns to follow your focus.

Be sure you can disengage his hindquarters and go sideways (on the ground and mounted). Disengaging a horse’s hindquarters takes away his power, so he can’t run off.

When you’re out on trail, pay close attention to what happens before Duke runs off. Try to get his mind by giving him something to do with his feet: Ask him to move his hindquarters over, go sideways or put his nose on something. Remember, you are trying to get your horse’s attention focused on you and you’re trying to build his confidence so he can think instead of using his instincts (and running) when his emotions rise.

Expert: An avid horsemanship student, Traci Falcone has completed more than 4,000 miles on endurance rides including four Tevis Cup “100 Miles in One Day” rides. In 2004, she rode Tevis completely bridleless.

The post Trail Runaway appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A. Your horse is definitely trying to tell you something! Don’t get mad—try to understand her.

If going downhill is the only time she exhibits this behavior, consider these possible factors:

1. She may get out of balance when carrying you downhill; and/or
2. your saddle could be slipping forward, causing pain in her shoulders.

Try to pinpoint the reason for this behavior as soon as possible. Until you can find the reason for the kicking out and bucking, just get off and walk down hills with your horse. Here are some solutions to try.

Balance Issue:

Lead (or pony) your horse downhill, observing her movement and attitude. Does she walk downhill comfortably, or is she agitated or worried? If she is having trouble balancing herself downhill, experiment on a hill that is not as steep to help her become comfortable and confident on a decline.

Many horses do not use their hindquarters to their advantage when traveling downhill, which puts too much weight on their forehand. A simple exercise to help your horse use her hindquarters more efficiently is practicing backing up.

Try this on line at first (i.e., not mounted) and on level ground. Ask for a few slow steps until she can back straight, soft and calm. Slowly work up to more distance and speed while backing. You can also try backing up a slight incline. Every time you ride, practice backing up.

Saddle Issue:

If your saddle is causing your horse pain, you can certainly understand why she would be upset. The kicking out and bucking is her way of saying: “GET OFF!” A simple tack adjustment, such as using a crupper, could help to keep the saddle from sliding forward. You may also want to investigate other saddle options to find one that will keep your horse comfortable and happy.

Before you ask your horse to wear a crupper, you must prepare her for it. Most horses do not like having something under their tail—it is a very sensitive and vulnerable area. Start off by gently petting and scratching around the top and sides of the tail until your horse lifts her tail. Then use a soft rope, until you can put it up under her tail without worrying her.

The first time you ask her to wear the crupper, she should be in an enclosed area. Adjust the crupper so that it has some slack to allow for the horse’s normal movement. Let her eat off the ground so she can feel the crupper under her tail. Don’t get on until she has walked, trotted and cantered with the crupper on and she is comfortable wearing it.

An avid Parelli Natural Horse-man-ship student, Traci Falcone has completed more than 4,000 miles on endurance rides, including four Tevis Cup “100 Miles in One Day” rides. In 2004, she rode Tevis bridleless.

The post Downhill Dilemma appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.

A. Try not to get frustrated or mad when your horse gets frantic. He is simply relying on his instincts to stay with the herd where he feels safe. Prepare your horse ahead of time for these separations and try not to put him in a “sink or swim” situation.

• At the start of every trail ride (whether I am with one other rider or in a group), while we are walking, I ask my horse to stay back a few horse-lengths. I allow him to catch up and then ask him to stay back a little farther. I establish my leadership role at the beginning of the ride, and I make sure my horse can handle these small separations. Don’t wait until you have ridden several miles to find out that your horse is going to “lose it” if he gets separated or behind.
Here are some other fun things you can do to prepare your horse and to make it less stressful for him to be separated from the herd:

• Leap frog: Start by riding with only one other rider—a good friend on a trail-savvy horse is best. Make an agreement that the goal is to help your horse. Ride on a trail that your horse knows, and start the training at the walk. Take turns passing the other horse and rider: When your horse is in the back, ask him to drop back a little (a few horse-lengths at first), then allow him to catch up and take the lead. Gradually increase the distance and length of time your horse can comfortably stay back. This may take many sessions. When he is good at the walk, try it at the trot. If your horse gets anxious, go back to the distance, length of time and pace he can handle and try again. Add more riders and new trails as your horse gains confidence.

• Out and back: During this exercise, one rider turns and rides in the opposite direction (or off on another trail), away from the other horses. Then that person turns back and joins the group. Start with small separations and increase the distance and time apart.

• Watch ‘em work: For this lesson, one horse at a time leaves the group (a short distance at first) to go to “work.” The “working” horse is going to be busy doing his “job” while the other horses that are left behind get to rest. Here are some ideas for “jobs”: trot in a circle around a tree; ride a figure eight around two rock piles, bushes or trees; side-pass down the trail and side-pass back; jog or lope away from the group and walk back. Start with an easy job and slowly increase the difficulty. The goal is to have the working horse calmly doing his job away from the herd while the other horses stand quietly.

Expert: Traci Falcone has completed more than 4,000 miles on endurance rides, including four Tevis Cup “100 Miles in One Day” rides. In 2004, she rode Tevis completely bridleless.

The post Herd-Bound Help appeared first on Horse Illustrated Magazine.