[QUOTE=jazzrider;3853793]
:lol::lol::lol: I use “Thumbalina,” changing my horse’s names to make the syllable thing work (Luke-avizi or Jazz-y-moto). :winkgrin:[/QUOTE]
:lol::lol::lol: I use the Oscar Meyer Weiner song, substituting “fluffy grey pinto pony.”
The idea is to take breath normally and not tense up and hold your breath.
[QUOTE=ayrabz;3856520]
don’t you think it often comes down to: your relationship with this horse (?) I mean…as in, what comes first as far as priority for you: keeping THIS horse or getting a perfect trail horse?
Yup, I agree with all who have posted that life is short, and there are better fits for your riding preference RIGHT NOW (and, maybe forever!). Is that what you want? Then, realize that and go for it!
I know my horse will never be the perfect trail horse. He just isn’t! But we keep at it, and I know I’ll have him as long as I’m in control of that decision. Yes, he’s grown because of that…yes, its been tirering…(and YES I’ve wished he was the ‘trail horse extrodinaire’ many many times!:lol:) But the difference for me, is he’s my one and only. I enjoy trail riding. I enjoy him with all his issues. So! I say, the trials and the journey can be worth it, if this guy is the one you want to stick with. It can and will ‘get better’…but only you can decide if thats ‘good enough’.[/QUOTE]
well said.
In horses (and everything else) perfection is the enemy of excellence.
I’d agree that if the OPs choice turns out to be unsuitable after a reasonable period of trial it should be moved on down the road and replaced with a more suitable mount. Just how long a “reasonable period of trial” might be is dependant upon the needs and wherewithall of the owner.
G.
you guys are right- each person has their own idea of what they want. I want a horse that oozes life and expressiveness- but has a big fat dose of sense, too. totally calm and placid, I’m zzzzzz. You have to find what clicks for you, and realize the animal’s limits in meeting that need. They are not machines.
[QUOTE=wateryglen;3857410]
It’s mileage, mileage, mileage, mileage, consistency, consistency, consistency, becoming the boss & brains of your relationship and mileage, mileage, mileage.
Many horses are best when ridden more often. They learn a routine and not to waste their energy. A little fatigue can be very calming![/QUOTE]
dats what i says… only u’s seezzz in less wurds! 
(I LOL spek)
[QUOTE=chicamuxen1;3854569]
Lot’s of issues IMO come down to rider confidence, overcoming your own fear and lack of assertiveness. And failure on the part of instructors. Yes, I said instructors, not trainers. Most instructors are traditional arena instructors, they will teach you a position to use in the saddle, heels just so, hands, elbows, this is how you do a half halt, etc. [/QUOTE]
But you have to start somewhere with a timid rider. And best place, IMO, is to teach them how to sit in the middle of the horse and ride. Not “equitation” or put your hands just so. But learn how to feel when the horse is straight, how to keep him balanced, how to get him to stretch over his topline. Because that’s how you get a horse to relax and how you stay in the saddle if he gets jumpy. Without learning that feel, being assertive will just get you dumped on your ass.
Also, instructors can only do so much with the material they have to work with. A lot of the adult women I see taking lessons don’t bother trying to figure some of this stuff out on their own. It’s easier to let the trainer ride the horse, then get on and potter around. Wheeeee!!! you may as well put your quarter in the horsey at the grocery store for all you’ll learn from that.
Ooops - I’m ranting, too. 
OP, I posted on your other thread about this horse. Get some help, work with him and see if he’s a good fit for you. If the horse is looky or balky because he’s green, he may settle down to what you want. But if he’s just a livelier, more sensitive horse than you need, no amount of miles on the trail, wet saddle blankets or consistency can change that. The added work will help you get to know him better and vice versa. But it’s not going to change his personality.
What does it take to make a nervous horse bold?
It takes a confident rider. If the horse is not naturally bold and you are timid the combination will never work. No amount of arena work/dessage will teach you to be brave/confident and thus the horse will always pick up on you and remain timid.
Being older makes us more timid and no amount of work will overcome that.
Start with a bold horse and he will make you more confident.
ding ding ding
[QUOTE=wateryglen;3857410]
It’s mileage, mileage, mileage, mileage, consistency, consistency, consistency, becoming the boss & brains of your relationship and mileage, mileage, mileage.
Many horses are best when ridden more often. They learn a routine and not to waste their energy. A little fatigue can be very calming![/QUOTE]
Amen! I have a 21 year old hot has heck mare and the first 20 minutes of almost any ride are jig jig jig snort snort snort. She’s not being “bad”, she’s not trying to be intimidating, she just has a LOT OF FREAKING ENERGY! I work her hard the first 20 minutes and she settles right in. The upside to a horse like that is you really can ride a looooooong distance in extreme terrain without ending up with a dead horse.
Tial period…
[QUOTE=Guilherme;3857538]
In horses (and everything else) perfection is the enemy of excellence.
I’d agree that if the OPs choice turns out to be unsuitable after a reasonable period of trial it should be moved on down the road and replaced with a more suitable mount. Just how long a “reasonable period of trial” might be is dependant upon the needs and wherewithall of the owner.
G.[/QUOTE]
Yeah, we’re on year four. bwahahaha
I have to say I would do the opposite - provided the horse is fit enough I would get on him and ride until he was tired as often as possible. He will develop trust with mileage and a confident rider. If leaving the barn was is a major production (if he’s likely to rear) then I would lead him the distance it took for him to feel he was away from the barn so I wouldn’t have to deal with that issue right away and/or I would go out with another horse. If going out with another horse helps, then mileage with slowly increasing distances between the horses until he is able to be confident on his own.
If he is so spooky, scary or dangerous that it took me months to go a ten minute ride to the trail head then I would either find a superbly confident rider/trainer to trailride him to see if he is worlds better with them or I would sell/rehome him in a non-trailriding environment. Life is too short and there are plenty of horses out there that are fun to ride.
[QUOTE=didgery;3852765]
I have a newish eight year-old crossbred gelding who is a little lazy, a little green, and a little manipulative when it comes to pulling tricks to end a ride.
I will be getting professional help to resolve his issues, but at this point he is so balky and spooky on the trail that I just don’t feel safe.
I am an intermediate level rider and he’s been handled mostly by beginners, so he has gotten used to calling the shots and I think I’m the first person who’s really said “no.” At this point, our ringwork is improving but he’s still snorty outdoors. I have led him on the trail with a whip and rope halter and gotten compliance, and I have lunged him in several scary outdoor areas (scary to him - safe from a human perspective!) and been able to retain his attention with some effort. When riding on the trail he is such a ball of frayed nerves that he can barely go on, and during one group ride his behavior was still very flighty.
On the assumption that I can improve (through dressage lessons) and that I might be able to put him with a trainer who will ride him out on the trail for a month or two, what are the chances that he’ll be a good steady trail horse one day? Is he always going to be a nervous nelly, will I always be pushing and coaxing and waiting for the snort and spin, or could it be that he’s smart and capable, if barn sour and inexperienced? Could we have happy trails in our future, or am I kidding myself to think that this situation could resolve with training?
He was advertised as good for lower level riders, good on the trail, sane and calm. He’s on a hay-only diet, out 24/7, definitely sound and healthy, has no vision issues, has had his saddle professionally fitted, and is easy to ride in a french link loose ring snaffle. I rode him in the arena before buying and took one nerve-racking trail ride, when I blamed his misbehavior on ouchy bare feet. I’ve since tried him shod and had no real improvement.
I’m asking now because I really like a lot of things about this horse but my number one goal is to ride out on the trail in a safe, relaxed fashion and I want to figure out if this gelding has it in him to do that one day before I get so attached that I can’t imagine selling.[/QUOTE]
you say you led him out on trials with a whip and rope halter
hes broken so get on him you are a- stronger on top and b- if as profficent as you say you are you can correct him instintly once your on his back by giving him the aids and q;s and a direct signal
you ask what can make him bold----------- you can
if you treat him liek a namby pamby coo coo baby talk then you gonna have a neddy that spooks
so get on him and be assertive and use your riding skills and antispate his moves rather than him antispate yours and take the p
I agree with gothedistance. This horse isn’t going to work for you. There are just too many great horses out there that will work for you, I’m not sure what good keeping this horse and trying to fit him into your program is going to do for you. Possibly ruin your confidence, get you hurt etc. Move him on to a job he is comfortable with. He will be happier and so will you when you find a truely well broke trail mount. I train horses for civil war cavalry re enacting. Our horses have to tolerate gunfire, from all around and on their backs, while standing still. I have learned that there are certain signs that tell me if a horse is EVER going to learn to accept this job or if it is better to not waste my time and torture the horse with the training. Sounds like this horse is trying to tell you something. Maybe spoiled, maybe more time and training, but do you really want to put all of that into this horse on the outside chance it will work? Just my two cents, which probably isn’t worth that!
Good luck!
jane
Just wanted to update - I have listed him for sale. I like a lot of things about him, but I like riding my neighbor’s bombproof mule more. The main difference? When I’m on the mule I think about the pretty scenery, and how fresh the air smells, and how nice my neighborhood trails are. When I’m on my horse I think about how I mustn’t get hurt unless I die - my husband would need the life insurance and we can’t afford medical bills! Like someone said - life’s too short. I don’t have the time to give him the mileage he might need, and I can’t be flexible with my schedule due to the demands of life/work/family. I think a change is in order.
Thanks for all the advice. It’s nice to hear other perspectives.
[QUOTE=didgery;3879714]
Just wanted to update - I have listed him for sale. I like a lot of things about him, but I like riding my neighbor’s bombproof mule more. The main difference? When I’m on the mule I think about the pretty scenery, and how fresh the air smells, and how nice my neighborhood trails are. When I’m on my horse I think about how I mustn’t get hurt unless I die - my husband would need the life insurance and we can’t afford medical bills! Like someone said - life’s too short. I don’t have the time to give him the mileage he might need, and I can’t be flexible with my schedule due to the demands of life/work/family. I think a change is in order.
Thanks for all the advice. It’s nice to hear other perspectives.[/QUOTE]
That sounds like a great decision. I’ll give you my perspective anyway, even though you’ve made your call.
My first horse was lovely in many ways -had done lots of lessons, great ring horse, but I could not for the life of me ride her out on trails. Not even around the farm. She had a spinning spook that unseated me every time, and she knew it!!! LOL
Years later she was laid up for a year and I got another horse - an old Amish driving horse - and week one I was riding that mare ALONE all over the fields and woods. She had no spook. She went anywhere I pointed her. She stopped when I asked. She had some retraining needs, but she was safe, serious and reliable, and I felt absolutely ecstatic to have that whole world of trail riding open up to me!
Then the kicker - my old mare came up sound for work after her year off, to our surprise! My husband got this look on his face, and decided he wanted to learn to ride. I showed him some basics, lead-lined him on two trail rides, lunged him twice, and he was ready to trail ride. On that horse??? Yes, on that horse. And off we went, and my old spooky mare doodling along on a loose rein, my oblivious husband relaxed in the saddle… deer jumped out, weird stumps and rocks she would have been terrified of when I rode her - she didn’t even look at them. They are the best matched horse and rider! It still amazes me.
I ride that old mare sometimes still, but I still hate trail riding with her, and she knows it, and she still spooks with me! Doesn’t unseat me anymore though! 
So just to say, having a horse you click with, that can do what you want to do, is SO worth it, especially if you are a pleasure rider. There are so many out there. Don’t waste the time and energy, and learn the bad riding habits, that come from struggling with a horse that’s not suitable.
Sounds like you already made the right decision. Good luck. I love mules!
[QUOTE=wateryglen;3857410]
It’s mileage, mileage, mileage, mileage, consistency, consistency, consistency, becoming the boss & brains of your relationship and mileage, mileage, mileage.
Many horses are best when ridden more often. They learn a routine and not to waste their energy. A little fatigue can be very calming![/QUOTE]
Excellent advice. This horse needs lots of wet saddle blankets and you to say, oh yes you are going down that trail because I said so. My little mare likes to test me in this way every so often but she gets the point that when I say go, she says yes ma’am. You need to tell him/her, not ask. Ignore the spooks, keep him/her headed down the trail and remain calm. Keep your seat in the saddle so he can feel it and if you tense up expecting a battle, you’ll get one. He’s got your number and knows it. You have to be the leader.
The OP has updated that she’s already put the horse up for sale .
Sad!
Trying not to get defensive here, but feeling like explaining myself!
I have been enjoying my ringwork more and more with this horse, but I still don’ t think we’re a perfect fit. I’m trying to keep my resolve to sell him after a traumatic experience this weekend (showing him to a totally unsuitable buyer who really liked him but who was completely not what I expected).
While I love the “more mileage” idea, there’s simply no way I can ride more. I would give my right arm to be able to ride more, but I am working two jobs, have three little children, have a husband who works 70 hours a week, and cannot spare more than two to three afternoons a week between 3 and 5 for riding. I wish it were otherwise, but this horse cannot become a confident trail horse for me with my current riding skill level and my current schedule.
I think he’d be a great horse for me in five or six years when I have the kids in school, more work (and more money), and more time to ride. I don’t think it’s fair to him or me to keep having these bad rides in anticipation of a time, some day, when things can be different.
Thanks again for all the encouragement and advice. I agree with many who said that confident riding and more mileage might be the solution, but that unfortunately is something I can’t manage to do right now.
Poowee! I had all this typed up and it got cleared out UGH!!
Here goes again!!
I think you’re making the right decision on selling your horse. Speaking from experiece. I truly believe there is a horse for everyone out there – one that you can enjoy riding and have fun on, I mean isn’t that the reason we get into horses, is to have fun and enjoy riding? It’s not fun when you’re scared or frustrated, it affects you in ways that you have no idea. Of course no horse is perfect, but each horse has different issues and some people can handle certain issues and some issues are best handled by another person.
I bought a 5 year old gelding a while back, and of course no 5 year old is going to be dead broke,I knew that. He had been shown, trail rode, camping, etc. Said he was calm. And it’s not like I didn’t do my homework, I did. From vet records, speaking with previous owner, etc. but you just never know how one is going to act with you.
Ok, so our 1st ride out, he’s in the middle of 2 other horses, safe right, NOPE, and I was relaxed on him as well, he caught 2 other horses sitting in the river to the right and did a flat 180 spin, ran over the horse behind us – ok, so no big deal, I got him stopped and turned around and continued on.(the reiners and cutting people would have flipped out, it was a sweet rollback) Well, that was the 1st of many. I started a lot of ground work with him, sent him to a trainer and in the mean time, continued riding him weekly, camping, etc. Thought like most, the more wet blankets, the better. He was smart beyond words, never did I have to go back and repeat a lesson. He had the most smoothest trot, best personality and gorgeous. I really wanted this to work and tried for a year, but finally realized that I was not the STRONG leader that he needed. Through out this year, I had lost my confidence both on the ground and in the saddle and I was holding him back and we definitely were not helping each other and I got to where I didn’t enjoy riding anymore. I was happy to get back safe and without incidence. The last straw is when we were camping and just started on a ride, something spooked, he took off thru the tree’s, back on trail and heading up the mountain. Got him back under control and we continued on for 5 more hours. We had good rides and bad rides, which is what makes you 2nd guess yourself about selling them. He needed a very strong leader for him to excel and he had a lot of potential but I was his downfall. Truth is he had startled me after a few months of this and I never got over it. I was on guard with him every time I road and he sensed it. Horses can pick up on little things that we don’t realize. I knew I would never get over it no matter how many excuses I made up
So I put him up for sale. It was hard because I felt like a failure. I felt like I failed him and myself. I had a lady come out and see him, she worked with him the 1st day and instantly she said she knew he was perfect for her. She had looked at 8 other horses in the past 6 months, she was a trainer and I watched her handle him and she was exactly what he needed. She was very confident where I wanted a horse where I didn’t have to be a leader all the time, one that I could relax on with no worries.
Going thru stuff like this takes a toll on you mentally. I have sense had to start lessons back to re-gain my self confidence in the saddle. And Im not a real scaredy cat either. After selling him, I found my soul mate. A mare, we just clicked and Im soooo happy now. I enjoy riding and look forward to it again.
Im rambling, Im sorry but my point is, there is a better suited horse for you out there where you wont have to worry so much and can enjoy yourself.
Digdery, you know I’m right there with you, but just wanted to mention… if you’re still struggling with the decision to sell him or if there are no suitable buyers at the moment, is there anyone at your barn who would work with him for you without charging alot? Maybe there is someone fearless and with time and discipline to work on him on the trails for you. Then, on the days you do have time to ride, he’ll be in a more attractive mood.
Still, though, if you can find him a nice new owner, a clean break might be the easiest thing all around. I’m just suggesting the above as an alternative until that new owner comes along.
Hay
An old horse trainer once told me to build confidence in a timid horse is let it “chase” something. For example, have a friend ride a bike passed and then away from you. Then you riding the horse “chase” after the bike. Give the horse the impression/confidence, he is chasing this thing away.
I may not be saying it right but have tried it on my horse when we were on a trail and some bikers passed me. You could see the horse actually wonder and think that he is chasing the thing that scared him previously. My horse has never been afraid of bikes since our chasing incident but then again, maybe he wasn’t overly afraid of them in the first place.
I thought I would put it out there not sure if this is something you’d try but this is the internet and anything can fly.
I don’t think selling a horse that is not a match is a bad thing. Good luck and would love picts of the mule?!?! Sounds like a nice match.
By submitting your email, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. You may also receive promotional emails from The Chronicle of the Horse. You can opt out at any time.
For Customers
Company
Terms of Use
