Riding in a strong horse's pasture?

[Jonesbug]

ETA: Reposting in the Off Course forum because this is probably the wrong place

Hey y’all! So I have a bit of a weird problem and I hope you can help.

My school farm has three Belgian-Morgan crosses, one gelding and two mares. One of the mares is chronically lame so we don’t ride her. For the most part, the other two are used to pull the various carriages, wagons, and manure spreaders we have. The rest of the time they’re in use, I’m riding them around our tiny little paddock. (And I do mean tiny–I couldn’t even set up a crossrail because it’s more like a large turnout that any sort of arena for riding in. I think they used it to ground drive the horses when they were in training. These horses have good minds when in harness, but under saddle often act a bit silly or spooky.

Anyhoo, because of insurance stuff, I’m not allowed to ride the horses off of farm property without a licensed trail riding instructor present. We’re not getting one of those anytime soon (big bummer since there are loads of nice trails on campus!) so I get to ride on the farm.

Our options aren’t good. It’s either the paddock, the alleyway between spooky piles of wood, a small pasture that has bad fencing and is currently occupied by calves anyway, or the horses’ own very extensive pasture.

Normally I wouldn’t hesitate to ride in their pasture. However, the girl who rode these horses before I did told me that when they went out in their pasture, the horses would pretty much decide that since it was their domain, they didn’t need to pay attention or behave, and so ended up galloping all over the place, bucking and being generally terrifying. And these are STRONG horses. They don’t get much work but they are powerful.

So. Strong animals. Spooky under saddle and apparently uncontrollable in the best place I could think of to ride them.

The only solution I can think of right now is to buy some stronger bits. The big gelding, the strongest of them, has to have a stud chain on his halter but is ridden in an egg-butt snaffle, which doesn’t make much sense to me. The mare is in the same bit. Should I try strengthening their bits? Would that solve the potential problem of them running away with me in the pasture? Or should I attempt to exhaust them by trotting around the paddock for a while before taking them in the pasture? Do you have any other ideas?

Thanks, you guys! I know it’s a long post.

[Chall]

In my personal opinion, its one of the most dangerous things to do. Seriously. Not allowed at my barn and rightly so.

[49_er]

Do you have anything else to ride?

[wcporter]

I would never ride around in a pasture with loose horses. Even if they were dead quiet 99% of the time. Way too risky. :no:

[mountainhorse]

Extremely dangerous-as a kid I would but quickly learned how dangerous it can be. Not worth it. Don’t do it.

[supershorty628]

Maybe I’m reading the OP wrong, so please correct me if I’m mistaken, but I don’t get the feeling that the OP would be riding in the pasture while horses were turned out. I think the question is about riding the horses in their pasture area, yes?

If that’s the case, then I would do it and really do exercises that force them to keep their attention on you. Small circles, spirals, serpentines - anything that is constantly changing direction and changing cues so their focus has to be on you. I’m a big believer in making horses understand the difference between “work time” and “play time,” especially when you’re riding, and I expect them to behave appropriately when their tack is on. I don’t do so by being rough, just by constantly changing what I’m doing so they have to pay attention.

If I misread the OP, completely disregard this post.

[katyb]

I think that horses are at their worst when ridden in their own pasture.

That said, I ride in mine, even with loose horses. My mare is solid and trustworthy, though, and the other horses respond to my verbal corrections if they start thinking about getting rambunctious. It’s just my three and the occasional foster on 30 acres too, so there’s plenty of room.

[buck22]

Riding in a pasture with loose horses is one of the most dangerous things you can do (though I can’t say I haven’t done it myself)… the horses can explode in a zillion directions, kicking up at each other and a rider can end up with a broken leg or worse very quickly.

I find horses are also at their worst when when asked to work in their “playpen”, very quick to want to blow you off. Imagine if you were sitting on your couch watching TV and your boss walked in the door and told you to get to work right now, right here. How enthusiastic would you be? :lol:

When you go to ride, why not collect the loose horses and put them in the small riding pen, or in their stalls, and then ride solo in the pasture? You’re still likely to have a horse trying to blow you off, but at least you don’t have the added difficulties of him trying to gravitate to his friends, or joining in the fun when they all decide to kick up their heels and run off into the sunset. :lol:

[beowulf]

while it is not ideal or safe, i have ridden in our horse’s pasture (we have a farm at home, no real “riding ring” to speak of ) for years without incident. they are ridden in their pasture, trained in their pasture, and then turned out in their pasture. nothing calamitous has happened yet - and in the rare case i was approached by another horse while doing figures, a good yell/growl chased them off. my horses never “blew me off” or were “distracted” or “dangerous”. if anything, they were always better behaved “at home” than say, at another farm or on a long trail ride. really, it’s the people that feed into their behavior - a horse is most comfortable in his home environment, and schooling in that environment is a great way to enrich both his training and your bond. i’ve never had an issue with horses feeling “disgruntled” by being asked to work in their “playpen” – but i dont think any of my horses ever viewed their paddock as a playpen and all of them thoroughly enjoyed their work.

op, i would try solo in the pasture. i think people here are misinterpreting your initial question.

[LoloWyo]

There are a few reasons I will not ride in my horse’s pasture.
First and foremost, I don’t agree with riding where my horse lives. Their pasture is their time for relaxing, eating, drinking, sleeping and socializing with other horses.
I have oodles of places to ride around our farm and when trailering out.
It’s dangerous with other loose horses around.
It’s unfortunate that they don’t have that designated person to take you out on the trails. I wonder if they can contact their insurance company and ask if they will allow trail riders with a signed waiver?