Balking / Rearing while heading home

[Catalyst]

[QUOTE=shiloh;8209101]
Yes, he needed to be punished for rearing - SO unacceptable, I don’t care what his problem is; but - don’t punish when you get back to the barn. Don’t lunge him, ride him in the arena, then tie him up. In his head he may be turning this into the barn is a bad thing. Now I realize, something rlse set him off but don’t antagonize the problem further by doing this. I would do this for the horse that was too hotsy-totsy to get BACK to the barn. One of my friends has the best line: she calls them barn sweet and trail sour.

But what started this? Maybe his back is sore? Something is bugging him. Be interesting to see what you find out.

And just throwing this out there maybe there is something going on at the barn that is making him unhappy. My last horse, at second to last barn, would buzz right out on a trail ride but drag his feet and try to pitch a hissy on the way home. Finally figured out that he hated the electric fencing around his paddock, the constant click-click-clicking was driving him mad. He had started doing that head jerk thing, I had the vet out and we were watching this poor horse jerking his head and my vet pointed out that he was doing it in time to the clicking. He never did it anywhere else and when I moved he stopped.[/QUOTE]

That’s very interesting, Shiloh! I chose working at the barn because it was close and in my head the safest option. Thinking about it now, I can see how it would be similar to punishing a dog who finally comes back after you’ve called for it - they associate coming back with negative consequences. I will most definitely keep that in mind.

I wouldn’t say he has negative connotations with the barn, however, since this is the best I’ve seen him look and act in a couple years. I moved him to this barn in November 2014, and he has quality feed, great turnout and the BO groups herds based on personality rather than strictly mare/gelding fields. This is actually the first time I’ve seen him happily connect with other horses. In a herd setting he’s pretty low in the pecking order, and at my previous barn he was pushed around constantly.

One thing that has changed is that two more boarders moved in over the weekend. They are being slowly introduced to the herd, so I’m not sure if something like this would attribute to the behavior.

I went over his back today, and there was no obvious ouchy or uncomfortable behavior from him. I poked and pinched - nothing. His legs felt fine and I could not find any heat, bumps, etc. I used my other pad on him tonight and had a lovely ride on him. He walked back to the barn without an issue, and I inspected him again after our ride and he showed no signs of being uncomfortable with my tack.

One thing I did notice is that perhaps my wool pad is rubbing part of his loins. He has a relatively short back and he has quite a bit of hip movement? His skin looked fine and the area wasn’t sore to the touch, but my wool pad is stiffer and I’m wondering if at the walk for longer periods of time it is rubbing uncomfortably.

[Catalyst]

[QUOTE=enjoytheride;8209269]
Have you tried turning him out when you get back from the ride?

See if he’s anticipating just having to do more/harder work when he comes back.[/QUOTE]

I can certainly try that and just get off immediately. Do you think doing short trail rides (10-15 minutes) and then returning to the barn to untack and put him away would be beneficial for a while?

[Malda]

This is interesting, my previous horse also didn’t like to go home, I thought he was the only one. He didn’t act up like yours does, but going out he was forward and liked to lead the group. When we got close to the barn coming home, he’d slow down and drop his head. He’d even move to the back of the group if I let him. Definitely not happy about going back. I guess some horses really like their trail rides.

My only advice would be maybe give him a treat when he got back? I avoid supplements/treats after riding because I don’t want them to get barn-sour, but perhaps he needs something to look forward to.

[wateryglen]

I vote that it’s a pain issue. Try shorter rides. More varied locations too. Altho’ I have a horse that gets balky when my dog doesn’t keep up…she stops and looks for her and wants to wait for the dog to catch up!! Plus it’s an excuse to grab a bite of grass…sigh!! Try a different saddle, different padding, bute him before you ride too. jmho

[Onetrickpuppy]

[QUOTE=Catalyst;8208241]
Hi everyone,

Long-time lurker finally posting in hopes of someone else having more insight to my current issue than I am.

I have a 24 year old gelding who is turning occasionally balky. This balking occurs only when heading home. He is in moderate work and we do a combination of ring work and trails. He is very fit and is pasture boarded with access to grass and free choice hay at all times.

We move out at all speeds while on the trail, but balking has only ever occurred while we are walking home. He is perfectly fine out by himself, and this has only happened when with other horses. We were all together too, so it’s not as though he was being left behind. He will plant his feet and refuse to move. I can take his head and bend him either way - he will flex all the way around to my boot but still will not move. Hitting him with a crop sends him into panic mode where he just throws himself around and shakes. The last time he balked, I dismounted and got after him with my split reins and made him work. he will stand quietly to be mounted again.

Yesterday was the second time this has happened. I got after him 3-4 times and made him move, but the last time he balked he paused for a moment - not even long enough for me to get off - and he reared up, came down, and immediately went up again. At this point we were close enough to the barn that I beat the crap out of him, took him back into the ring, lunged him, rode him there, and then took him back out on the trail. Not a toe out of line. We returned, I gave him water, and tied him up for 40 minutes before going back out, this time with company. He was fine.

This is only the second time this has happened in 8 years of owning him. He was a retrain project I fell in love with. He is not spooky and on the trails is a very confident horse. I want to shut this down hard so it does not become a habit. Did I do anything wrong? What would you suggest? Nothing of his has changed - vet was just out, teeth are fine, tack has remained the same.[/QUOTE]

I haven’t read all the posts, so if someone has already made this suggestion, apologies for repeating it. I’ve had horses that do this and it can become quite dangerous if not dealt with. He’s throwing a fit b/c he wants to get home to be turned out, stalled, back with his buddies, etc.
Anyway, when they begin to act silly , I circle them and still head in the desired direction. When you get within walking distance to home, get off and tie him to the nearest shade tree, then walk home. Go back in an hour, untie and get on him, ride towards home. Repeat at every opportunity, and when you finally get home, dismount, tie him off again, and walk away. Later on, get on him, ride a quick circle or two, then get off and untack, rinse, etc. He quickly learns that going home isn’t all that. All this takes a lot of patience and time, but hopefully your horse will behave himself. In his little walnut sized brain, he’s thinking that once he gets home, he’s rewarded by being turned out or stalled. Hope it all works out for you and stay safe!

[SharonA]

From the anthropomorphic camp, I say that he feels that he did not get enough of a trail ride, did not like having to go out with the other horses, and feels that a real ride is just the two of you, and he feels gypped. I think he thinks going with the other horses is not a real ride.

(From someone whose horse gets annoyed when we go out with other horses. They are not her herd. She and I are The Herd, after having ridden just us so much of the time.)

[cutter99]

[QUOTE=candyappy;8208709]
I don’t have any experience with it, but could he be tying up? Beating the crap out of him is unproductive, especially when it causes him to shake. If he is agreeable in every other instance then it might be a pain issue, especially since it has just started out of the blue. At 24 he needs to be treated gently.

Also, the other horses you are riding with, the one closest to him could be giving a signal that you can’t see, but that he doesn’t like.[/QUOTE]

You rear up on MY time, all bets are off! Rearing should NEVER be tolerated, no matter what the age of the horse. The horses needs to know that behavior like that is a very bad thing!

[candyappy]

[QUOTE=cutter99;8211076]
You rear up on MY time, all bets are off! Rearing should NEVER be tolerated, no matter what the age of the horse. The horses needs to know that behavior like that is a very bad thing![/QUOTE]

She got off, beat the crap out of him when he was only balking the first time ( read the op). The next time, after repeated attempts to get him to move, he went up before she could dismount . I have no doubt that hitting was involved before she tried to dismount and I just bet he reared because of it.

A normally good horse just doesn’t start rearing for no reason. He was purchased at auction, he is 24 and I bet he has been rearing for a long, long time. I think he needs professional help if he is going to get over this. JMO.

[Attack]

Beating the crap out of a horse is never the answer to anything. It is hard to believe, and a shame, that people still do that in this day and age, but unfortunately it still happens.

[psb]

Mine does the same thing
I forgot the quote. He will lead home just fine.

[SmartAlex]

[QUOTE=Attack;8211580]
Beating the crap out of a horse is never the answer to anything. It is hard to believe, and a shame, that people still do that in this day and age, but unfortunately it still happens.[/QUOTE]

I believe in three good whacks.
#1. Hey you!
#2. That was wrong!
#3. That better never happen again.

After that you’re just taking out your frustrations because the horse now feels threatened and is calculating either escape or revenge.

[rcloisonne]

@candyappy;8211549

She got off, beat the crap out of him when he was only balking the first time ( read the op). The next time, after repeated attempts to get him to move, he went up before she could dismount . I have no doubt that hitting was involved before she tried to dismount and I just bet he reared because of it.

Agreed

A normally good horse just doesn’t start rearing for no reason. He was purchased at auction, he is 24 and I bet he has been rearing for a long, long time. I think he needs professional help if he is going to get over this. JMO.

I think you missed the part in the OP that said she’s had the horse for eight years? It’s highly unlikely the horse has a rearing problem from previous ownership.

Given the horse’s age and amount of work (very fit according to the OP), arthritis would be my first thought. Arthritis is very painful and most horses are very stoic compared to people. I strongly suggest having his lower legs xrayed looking for signs of ringbone. While appropriate exercise is very good for the older horse, too much can make them sore. That “too much” point may be less as he ages.

A change to his shoeing/trimming may be in order also depending on radiographic findings. There may be an imbalance somewhere. Are you using a new farrier?

I would also consider an anti inflammatory such as Previcox on a regular basis - again depending on how much arthritis is seen on the radiographs.

He sounds like a wonderful horse. Please don’t beat him. It’s not as if he’s biting or kicking. He’s trying to tell you something but you’re not listening to what I’m sure are more subtle cues. He has to resort to “screaming” (rearing) to get your attention. Sad,bbut at least you’re asking.

[Catalyst]

[QUOTE=candyappy;8211549]
She got off, beat the crap out of him when he was only balking the first time ( read the op). The next time, after repeated attempts to get him to move, he went up before she could dismount . I have no doubt that hitting was involved before she tried to dismount and I just bet he reared because of it.

A normally good horse just doesn’t start rearing for no reason. He was purchased at auction, he is 24 and I bet he has been rearing for a long, long time. I think he needs professional help if he is going to get over this. JMO.[/QUOTE]

Bolded is mine, and you are incorrect.

I did not hit him with anything while I was mounted. Every time he balked, I got off him and got after him with my split reins. After he reared, I beat the crap out of him. I don’t know what happened to him before I purchased him, but I never carry a crop, pop him with my reins while riding, etc because I know how afraid he is of that. He’s gotten a thousand times better- I can use a lounge whip without an issue, and I use a dressage whip when I do ground work with him. I do not carry a crop while riding, and I do no hit him while riding.

I did not purchase him at an auction. I apologize if my OP was unclear. The woman I purchased him front had originally bought him from the individual who picked him up from an auction. I have no past history on my gelding.

Until these past two times, he has never reared. I knew him before I purchased him, and I also cannot recall him ever rearing back then.

[Catalyst]

To clear up any confusion, I have owned him going on 8 years now. He is very fit. I ride about 4-5 days a week, and between flat work and trails I average anywhere from 5-7 miles. Some rides we do just ring work, other times (like tonight) we just go for a stroll. He is a horse that very much enjoys going out and up until these past two incidents had never given me an issue outside of the ring. I ride frequently over varied terrain, and I am able to access multiple different parks. Currently, I ride with skilled endurance riders.

He is an appaloosa, and I work closely with my vet because he’s had enough flare ups in the past to determine he has ERU. He is supplemented with MSM and a 1/2 tablet of bute daily. The bute is not for arthritis or stiffness, it is for his ERU. Keeping inflammation under control is one of the key aspects to controlling the disease. My vet has evaluated his bad eye, and while there is some degree of vision loss, it is not severe and would is not currently a cause for concern.

I did start using a new farrier over the winter time, and that was due to my previous farrier going down to only doing barefoot trimming. He is shod in the front and I have not had any lameness issues or other causes for concern, but I will keep the xrays/radiographs in mind and see what both my vet and farrier think and options I have available.

I appreciate all the feedback; you have all given me quite a bit to think about and options to explore. I rode him yesterday with friends, both ring work and trail, and he was his usual self. I had Jury duty today and took him for a little stroll alone this evening, and he was fine - just slow to return. He definitely walks out faster when we leave the barn, and he was in no hurry to return tonight.

[CindyCRNA]

No help, just hugs. I had this horse until I started working his butt 4-5 days a week and that cured him but you are doing that already.

[enjoytheride]

I would try light rides and then turning him out on grass when you get back for a week or two. It isn’t going to hurt anything.

Since you say he’s fit and sound it is a weird bad habit.

Only other thing I can think of is that the way home is all downhill and he has a tendon or suspensory or butt issue that causes him discomfort.

[RPM]

She got off, beat the crap out of him when he was only balking the first time ( read the op). The next time, after repeated attempts to get him to move, he went up before she could dismount . I have no doubt that hitting was involved before she tried to dismount and I just bet he reared because of it.

Either that or since the first time she beat him after she’d dismounted, maybe he was rearing with the idea that if he gave her a chance to dismount she would beat him again and he reared to forestall that.

Tying him up in punishment after you get back won’t teach him anything. Horses don’t think that way.

I recommend keep using the pad that isn’t stiff and doesn’t brush/rub his loins. Since he came back nicely when you used this less-stiff pad, keep using it and toss the other one.

Maybe the stiff wool one gets so sweaty that by the time you are getting back near the barn it is doing something different to him than it did the rest of the ride.

I bet that there is something about the barn he does not like coming home to. Like a human who does not like his home and has a great day out and then when he sees home on the horizon he rebels inside (though being human he probably won’t pitch a fit about it but will just drag his feet).

I reiterate that since he behaved well when you used the left-stiff pad, keep using it.

[Pocket_Pony]

[QUOTE=Catalyst;8211973]
To clear up any confusion, I have owned him going on 8 years now. He is very fit. I ride about 4-5 days a week, and between flat work and trails I average anywhere from 5-7 miles. Some rides we do just ring work, other times (like tonight) we just go for a stroll. He is a horse that very much enjoys going out and up until these past two incidents had never given me an issue outside of the ring. I ride frequently over varied terrain, and I am able to access multiple different parks. Currently, I ride with skilled endurance riders.

He is an appaloosa, and I work closely with my vet because he’s had enough flare ups in the past to determine he has ERU. He is supplemented with MSM and a 1/2 tablet of bute daily. The bute is not for arthritis or stiffness, it is for his ERU. Keeping inflammation under control is one of the key aspects to controlling the disease. My vet has evaluated his bad eye, and while there is some degree of vision loss, it is not severe and would is not currently a cause for concern.

I did start using a new farrier over the winter time, and that was due to my previous farrier going down to only doing barefoot trimming. He is shod in the front and I have not had any lameness issues or other causes for concern, but I will keep the xrays/radiographs in mind and see what both my vet and farrier think and options I have available.

I appreciate all the feedback; you have all given me quite a bit to think about and options to explore. I rode him yesterday with friends, both ring work and trail, and he was his usual self. I had Jury duty today and took him for a little stroll alone this evening, and he was fine - just slow to return. He definitely walks out faster when we leave the barn, and he was in no hurry to return tonight.[/QUOTE]

My horses also move out more on the way out and are pokey on the way home!

Just one thing stood out to me and is perhaps a shot in the dark. If he’s got ERU, is it possible that on the way home you are heading into the sun and just when you get to a certain point on the trail it hits his eyes just so and causes him some pain? Does he wear a mask when you ride him?

[Posting_Trot]

In general I would scale things back for a while. Do less strenuous warm-ups before heading out on the trail, go for shorter trail-rides, come home, untack and give him a treat (assuming that all has gone well).

If he seems to be okay with that, maybe mix in some variations–longer trail rides, very brief trail rides with more ring work, etc. Try doing some of your ring work exercises out on the trail.

I’d try to keep everything as positive as you can. Lots of neck scritches for just being a good boy on the trail; maybe get off him on the trail when he’s being good and walk him for a minute or two before hopping back on (and do this while you’re still going away from the barn).

I’m going to comment on a previous suggestion just because it bothers me so much: I would not just tie him up on the trail and leave him alone for an hour. That’s asking for trouble in a major league kind of way, in my opinion.

[tpup]

I would test him with shorter trail rides (like go out for 5-10 mins), reward for good behavior and rinse/repeat. My suspicion would be he attributes going back to barn w/possibly the arena and much prefers to to be out on the trail, OR there is a pain or medical issue going on.