My beautiful 10 yr old seasoned quarter horse has been AWFUL on the last two trail rides. I have had her for three years now and up until the last two rides, she has been great. I live where the weather has been yucky and we haven’t been riding much so I am thinking part of it is the fact that she’s in her stall (it does have a large outside run) alot this winter. At the place where I board her they get very little pasture turnout in the winter.
The past two rides she starts out just fine, but then she gets “warmed up” and starts acting like Secretariat. She starts getting jiggy, sweaty and wants to RUN! And when I say run, she’s like a bolt of lighting. My husband says when she runs he can’t see her feet ever hit the ground. If I don’t let her go, or if my husband’s horse trots in front of her she bucks. She doesn’t buck so bad that I come off, but you can tell she’s pissy.
I have tried lunging her for long periods of time before the ride, I do alot of one-rein stops and spin her around in circles, I back her up, I am out of ideas. The last ride we did she was in a hurry to get back to the barn. As soon as we got back she thought she was done for the day, but I had news for her. I made her WORK in the arena doing alot of transitions, side passes, half passes, cantering etc. She was tired by the time we were done. But I am out of ideas for the trail. Anyone else have issues like this? Is it worse in the winter for you too???
If it’s safe to do so, I’d almost say let her run. Then let her run more. Then when she’s ready to stop, keep running.
Most trails aren’t really conducive to that, though.
A couple of thoughts.
Horse isnt obedient. Back to the arena and reinstall go, whoa, and walk, trot, canter on demand.
As the owner of a reformed runaway, I’d say no to letting her run. Unless you have a nice, long (and I mean loooong) hill (say, half to three-quarters of a mile long–that’ll tire her but out). Sadie had one of those front hoofs punching the air gallops that was terrifying in the extreme, and on the flat I’d come off or wish I could bail long before she’d get tired. She had a dirty stop, too, custom made to get me off and it worked well.
As the former owner of a jigger: you can and must be able to make hard work for the horse on the trail or wherever the jigging happens. With my old jigger i would do all that sidepassing, circling, transitions etc out in the open. Sugar didnt like it, but I didnt like her, so we were even. It will be a pain in the fanny for whoever is riding with you, so enlist the help and tolerance of your riding companions or do it on your own. Depending on where she is, you can make a “trail ride” of several miles duration circling back to the barn and then away from it so that she never really knows when the ride is over. You could ride back to the arena (assuming that’s where the ride starts) and work, then back out on the “trail” until Pookums gets the message that going calmly down the trail is less work than bucking, farting, and bolting.
If you are hauling to where you trail ride, then the parking area could become your arena.
If she is a seasoned 10 year old QH, I’d say it is a seasonal thing and when she gets more sweaty saddlepads, she will become her own self. It is so cold, windy and miserable (here) that I don’t like getting out often much either.
The trouble with the long gallops is that they get fitter and fitter, too. Use any hills available. Work, as you do it, making her use her head, is good, too.
She will get very good at moving off the leg, etc.
Make sure she is not over-grained.
Before the jig gets entrenched in her, practice half halts, thousands of them if necessary. I did that with a forward TB of mine and she got so good at them I’d just have to think half halt and she’d stop the jig before it really happened and my timing got perfect, a small body movement as soon as I felt the first inclination to jig. At first sign of relaxation, or walk, you relax and soften completely.
Never underestimate the value of a sweaty saddlepad. Been there…got the t-shirt.
[QUOTE=jeano;5427394]
A couple of thoughts.
Horse isnt obedient. Back to the arena and reinstall go, whoa, and walk, trot, canter on demand.
As the owner of a reformed runaway, I’d say no to letting her run. Unless you have a nice, long (and I mean loooong) hill (say, half to three-quarters of a mile long–that’ll tire her but out). Sadie had one of those front hoofs punching the air gallops that was terrifying in the extreme, and on the flat I’d come off or wish I could bail long before she’d get tired. She had a dirty stop, too, custom made to get me off and it worked well.
As the former owner of a jigger: you can and must be able to make hard work for the horse on the trail or wherever the jigging happens. With my old jigger i would do all that sidepassing, circling, transitions etc out in the open. Sugar didnt like it, but I didnt like her, so we were even. It will be a pain in the fanny for whoever is riding with you, so enlist the help and tolerance of your riding companions or do it on your own. Depending on where she is, you can make a “trail ride” of several miles duration circling back to the barn and then away from it so that she never really knows when the ride is over. You could ride back to the arena (assuming that’s where the ride starts) and work, then back out on the “trail” until Pookums gets the message that going calmly down the trail is less work than bucking, farting, and bolting.
If you are hauling to where you trail ride, then the parking area could become your arena.[/QUOTE]
That’s the funny thing. Her ground work and manners in the arena are impecable. She does everything I ask without hesitation and no sass. Both in and out of saddle. It’s only been these last two trail rides. Last summer we trailered to an equestrian park that has steep hills. I would let her go and we had great rides, but now I wonder if I created a monster. I don’t mind her running AS LONG AS IT’S MY IDEA - NOT HERS, but she gets all worked up if she doesn’t get her way. (She’s also a red headed mare!!!:D;) )
My TB mare–soon to be 27–can be terrible for this, and I’m sure I’ll have to give her this lesson this spring again. Half-halts. When she stops jigging for a second, I release the reins as a reward. Ride as relaxed as you can. If you hang onto the reins, things escalate.
In the worst-case scenario, I’ll park her behind another horse’s butt.
Not to start a train wreck, but should you rule out ulcers before thinking its behavior? This has been an awful winter to be cooped up, and that causes stress. Not just for us humans.
[QUOTE=Bank of Dad;5428046]
Not to start a train wreck, but should you rule out ulcers before thinking its behavior? This has been an awful winter to be cooped up, and that causes stress. Not just for us humans.[/QUOTE]
She’s been checked. No ulcers. The vet was out a month ago.
Can you free lunge her before a ride or even several times a week? (Instead of on the lunge line)
Mine loves to free lunge and runs, bucks, etc. IMO it is just not the same as a controlled lunge.
She is good on the trails anyway, but much better after she has had her fun even if it was the previous day.
At one time she did act up a bit on the trails. Trying to pick up a jog before I asked her.
Side passing was my friend. 
As soon as she’d do something I hadn’t asked for, I’d immediately, but gently side pass her for approximately 5 or so feet. Praise and continue on.
It was a trail ride of side passing (training)…But by the end she knew it was much more work than if she would have listened to me.
Still have to use it on occasion, but she immediately responds and listens to me.
IMO, circling just gets them more riled up.
Good luck.
[QUOTE=Huntertwo;5428302]
Can you free lunge her before a ride or even several times a week? (Instead of on the lunge line)
Mine loves to free lunge and runs, bucks, etc. IMO it is just not the same as a controlled lunge.
She is good on the trails anyway, but much better after she has had her fun even if it was the previous day.
At one time she did act up a bit on the trails. Trying to pick up a jog before I asked her.
Side passing was my friend. As soon as she’d do something I hadn’t asked for, I’d immediately, but gently side pass her for approximately 5 or so feet. Praise and continue on.
It was a trail ride of side passing (training)…But by the end she knew it was much more work than if she would have listened to me.
Still have to use it on occasion, but she immediately responds and listens to me.
IMO, circling just gets them more riled up.
Good luck.[/QUOTE]
Ooooooohhhh, good idea. I never thought about side passing. I have found that circling does exactly what you said: It riles her up even more. She is great at side passing in the arena but you can tell it’s work for her. It may be difficult on some of the trails (uphill & narrow) but on some of the logging roads, it just might work.
Believe me, I’ve side passed up and down hills. Narrow too. Even you you have to angle your horse to fit on a narrow trail, it’s still work for them. 
Edited to add: It should be immediate, gentle and consistency is the key.
It could be a pain for awhile, but unless you are consistent, they’ll get confused.
[QUOTE=Huntertwo;5428432]
Believe me, I’ve side passed up and down hills. Narrow too. Even you you have to angle your horse to fit on a narrow trail, it’s still work for them.
Edited to add: It should be immediate, gentle and consistency is the key.
It could be a pain for awhile, but unless you are consistent, they’ll get confused.[/QUOTE]
Thanks Huntertwo. I am going to try it if she acts up again on our next trail ride. She really is a good girl and very smart. Sometimes too smart for her own good. I got really frustrated with her the first time she did it and she TOTALLY picked up on my vibe. It just made it worse.
I bought her from a ranch where she was used for a “beginners” trail horse because of her mellow temperment. What a two-sided sword that is: Great that she has a mellow temperment, but with total beginners, she has also HAD to be the one in charge. Now I get on her and she has learned she isn’t the boss, but she tests me still to this day - three years after I bought her.
She also LOVES TO RUN and knows I will stay on her so she wants to GO! It’s like “Hey mom! It’s a hill! Let’s go!!!” But I don’t always want her to run like she’s in a race, AND I move her feet - She doesn’t move mine, and her little bucks out of HER frustration is something else we need to work on, though I am good at riding them out,so far.
In addition to sidepassing you may want to try backing. I have been known to back my horse across an entire field if he is riled up! It calms him, head comes down and calms me down too. I have tried the “trot circles until he is out of breath” but it also gets him more agitated. In our case, calmer works better. I then ask for forward calmly and quietly and he gets a nice loose rein when he behaves.
Just wanted to add… I have a horse similar to this… She was/is my dream girl on the trails… anyone can ride her… But one day, she just ‘flipped’ into a new horse… About 30 minutes into the ride she would turn into a jiggy nut job… It didn’t matter what I did with her, it didn’t stop her (side pass, circling, backing, half halts, etc)… I FINALLY realized it was her saddle… Now this was the same saddle she has ALWAYS worn… but she had gained some weight (and muscled up more) and now the saddle didn’t fit her. She could take it for so long, then she let me know that it HURT… Once I switched saddles she has NEVER done it again…
so maybe if she’s gain/loss any weight her saddle might be pinching her.
Just thought I would toss that out there.
ok I am going to be the voice of doom. Any horse I have ever had that jigs and is an ass on the trail does it til the day it dies. Of course, they get better if rode a ton, but if the OP cannot ride this horse daily and hard then this is how it is going to be. BUT from reading the intro the horse has not had turnout.
Turnout is king. Being confined with no turnout can completely change a horse.
Kick him out if you can!!!
TURNOUT. NO TURNOUT MAKES FOR LOONEY TOONS AND ULCERS!!!
if he is on pasture and jigs…arrgh. Sell as an endurance horse and let him run.
Older chicken that I am, I have started just hand walking my mare out (she’s 13) to get her listening to me and Not have to deal with bucking nonsense.(haven’t been able to ride much this winter) We walk alone together and if she gets silly, I snap the rope halter, back her up. Etc. She seems to relax and then I come back and we ride some. I like to have that ground work in place before I get on.
She does have turnout, I can’t imagine what she would do cooped up!
That’s a very good point for anyone…:yes:
Circling
Ah,I’m so glad to hear others have horses that don’t calm down when circled. My little mare is great, but if something upsets her, circling just ramps her up, big time. I get tired of people yelling ‘JUST CIRCLE HER’ if she even tosses her head or dances. If the same thing worked for all horses, they would all be well-trained auto-horses, and we would have no need for clinicians. :winkgrin:
My mare, who is a blond, not a red-head pretty much is level headed. But if she thinks ‘we’ are in danger, she likes to make the executive decision to get the hell out of Dodge. Usually a ‘quit’, and ‘face it’, will stop her in her tracks. Occasionally she likes to remind me she is a living, thinking being, with her own opinion. :lol: Sidepassing works well too.
If I wanted a boring, no opinion ride, I’d get on a bicycle. :winkgrin:
[QUOTE=lawndart;5438985]
Ah,I’m so glad to hear others have horses that don’t calm down when circled. My little mare is great, but if something upsets her, circling just ramps her up, big time. I get tired of people yelling ‘JUST CIRCLE HER’ if she even tosses her head or dances. If the same thing worked for all horses, they would all be well-trained auto-horses, and we would have no need for clinicians. :winkgrin:
My mare, who is a blond, not a red-head pretty much is level headed. But if she thinks ‘we’ are in danger, she likes to make the executive decision to get the hell out of Dodge. Usually a ‘quit’, and ‘face it’, will stop her in her tracks. Occasionally she likes to remind me she is a living, thinking being, with her own opinion. :lol: Sidepassing works well too.
If I wanted a boring, no opinion ride, I’d get on a bicycle. :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
This is totally my mare too! Mind of her own. AND she’s a talker too. She is always giving me the “what for” and telling me all about it. I have often said if she had a voice and could talk like a human, she would never shut up!
We rode in the arena the other day and she was perfect. Once the weather clears we will try the trails again and see how she does. It may be a ride of backing and side passing, but she needs to learn that getting ansy will get her work.
My 14 yr old gelding is as gentle as a lamb if we ride alone or with his two pasture mates. Intrudce a fourth horse, or a horse he doesn’t know and he is an opinionated, mean, “dancing like a parade horse” monster that is so much work on a trail ride that is supposed to be nice and relaxing. Any other scenerio, he’s a saint… I mean a saint… alone. Its so very exhausting…
