Periodically letting a horse "blow off steam"?

[yaya]

Mine are out about 12 hours a day, but today they were let out late due to overnight/early morning rain. Normally, they just put their heads down and eat, but today was the first really cold cold front, so it was windy and cold (low 40s), and all three went tearing around their paddocks (they are each in their own). My big guy (18h) really got going, running and bucking, and a few times I waited for the crash as he would go full speed, then slam on the brakes and slide up to the fence, since it was still wet from the rain. Scared me to death, but luckily no crash. Even the 24 year old was tearing around like a youngster, bucking and rearing.

I don’t turn out in the arena. They could go through the fence (it’s just a two-board rail, not a kickwall), hit the sprinkler heads if they go down the fenceline with their heads over the rail, or just plain tear up the footing. If they feel “balled up” like they are going to blow under saddle, they get lunged.

[Scribbler]

@GraceLikeRain

At the barns where I rode it was always explicitly written out in the rules that free lunging was not tolerated. I also saw an unbelievably talented young horse experience an acute career-ending injury free lunging. Case study of one does not mean that others do not do it with success but it was very scaring to witness. I guess I’ve lucked out that mine never seemed to have a need to blow off steam like that. We have mild winters and 12+ hour turnout, which I know is not feasible in many areas and likely plays a big part.

Isn’t it nerve-wracking to watch your horse slide to a stop, gallop wildly around turns, etc.? It sounds like my worst nightmare. Do you lunge them to warm them up first or let them out and trust them to self-moderate?

If our horses had pasture turnout I’m sure they’d never need to whoop it up in the arena.

We actually like watching our horses cut loose and they have lots or practice. I wouldn’t longe a horse in that state. I think having a buck n run fit on the longe line and continually hitting the end of the line, running on such a small track, is much harder on their bodies.

What we do looks risky but our horses stay sound.

Whereas the more bubble wrapped expensive horses that buck n bolt on longe but never get turnout, they do break down.

And yes most high end barns don’t allow it. We are not high end but have a dedicated large turnout arena and two sand pens that allow horses at liberty. They are not allowed loose in the indoor arena or the outdoor arena.

[CanteringCarrot]

I used to do this with my WB from time to time, and I think he needed it.

I cannot do this with my PRE. He won’t do it. I chase him away and he goes away and then looks at me. Or begins “lunging” in a perfect circle in the arena. At the end of a free lunge session he did roll when I finally got him to “disconnect” and meander around a bit (at the walk). I rarely use a lunge line with this horse because he is so focused on his human and can lunge in a large area and be very responsive still. We normally long-line instead.

I am wondering if he will get pent up enough to do it this winter. I don’t know if anyone else has a weirdo like this?

Then again, this 5 year old can be in for a few days, taken out on a cold day with 10-20 MPH winds and work quietly in the arena and go for a hack. He’s happy, healthy, and forward…almost too obedient/wants to please. :rolleyes:

Note: We have two indoors, one is for riding, lunging, long-lining, ground activities etc. The other is exclusively for riding. Similar footing in both.

[2DogsFarm]

@Scribbler

If our horses had pasture turnout I’m sure they’d never need to whoop it up in the arena.

Sigh… if only… :rolleyes:
My 3 are out 24/7 & still, in inclement weather if I let them into the indoor, 9 times out of 10 there is going to be a Liberty Display that would make an Arab jealous.

[Scribbler]

@CanteringCarrot

I used to do this with my WB from time to time, and I think he needed it.

I cannot do this with my PRE. He won’t do it. I chase him away and he goes away and then looks at me. Or begins “lunging” in a perfect circle in the arena. At the end of a free lunge session he did roll when I finally got him to “disconnect” and meander around a bit (at the walk). I rarely use a lunge line with this horse because he is so focused on his human and can lunge in a large area and be very responsive still. We normally long-line instead.

I am wondering if he will get pent up enough to do it this winter. I don’t know if anyone else has a weirdo like this?

Then again, this 5 year old can be in for a few days, taken out on a cold day with 10-20 MPH winds and work quietly in the arena and go for a hack. He’s happy, healthy, and forward…almost too obedient/wants to please. :rolleyes:

Note: We have two indoors, one is for riding, lunging, long-lining, ground activities etc. The other is exclusively for riding. Similar footing in both.

Ah don’t add to my longing for a nice super civilized PRE.

[Melusine]

I went to the Carl Hester clinic in Maine recently and one of the horse and rider teams did just that in their session. A gorgeous 6 year old Swedish horse was a little stuck, not quite moving forward. Mr. Hester encouraged the rider to let the horse out, let it gallop around a bit. The horse let go a lovely running buck while doing so. Hester said that was a good sign as the horse still knew how to be young and in good spirits.

I went to a Tristan Tucker clinic last year and he routinely got the horse into a gallop to as he said, “get the engine going.”

I’ve seen other comments like this from trainers, let the horse let it out and buck around. Better you not in the saddle. But, it’s a good sign when they do this.

[beau159]

I don’t have video and I didn’t quite catch him in full extension but THIS is how you have fun in turnout. :lol: Gives most rodeo broncs a run for their money…

This was my old horse (no longer with us) who was severely arthritic and living his time out 24/7 in the pasture. Despite that, he still felt the need to romp around like a 2-year-old from time to time. Thank goodness he never chose to throw a buck like that under saddle.

I’m fortunate that our horses do get to live 24/7 in the pasture with turnout. I’m sure we would have to do arena turnout too like the OP for him to keep his sanity, and me my safety, if he had been stalled or had limited turnout during his life.

I believe that if a horse doesn’t have room to RUN and PLAY, then they need time to do that if they are so inclined. And as one poster eluded to, if you NEVER let them do that, sure, they will be more prone to an injury if they over-exert themselves. But if you have them on a good schedule with adequate time to play if they want, it’s going to be a “freak accident” if they injure themselves while playing.

[Scribbler]

I agree, they learn how to play and they get fit for playing if they get a chance to do so often. I also think those multiple big bucks are probably good for something, maybe along with rolling a big bucking session is how they get the kinks out.

[MCF1991]

Mine does this exact thing. He is always a little high compared to other horses anyway, but every couple of months just like yours, I need to throw him on the lunge. If I turned him out in the ring he would just stare at me. On the lunge he lets out two or three massive bucks followed by a good run for about 30 seconds then he is fine and back to normal. Horses. so weird.