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i read on the internet about dealing with a barn sour horse. the tips are dont gallop while heading home just walk them (which i do that for a cool down and he always starts going a little faster and i do circles to slow him down), dont feed after you put the horse away from a ride, improve your relationship with your horse which i think i am doing good with that, and think ways for the trail ride to be fun for the horse. what are your other ideas that you try dealing with a barn sour horse? i am trying to find other ways to help me try to help wiht my barn sour horse. thank you.
I was always told to ride and work my horse really close to the barn, and then when it is time to cool down take them out on a trail or in the pasture or wherever. This generally worked for me, but I think it kind of depends on your situation. Hope I helped!
I agree with Kaylene. But do MOST of your hard work at the barn/near his buddie, and when you trail ride keep it at a walk for the most part, with a few canter and trots. No galloping for a while. Also lots of transitions and circles to keep him slow and be RANDOM to keep him thinking when you will do this on the trail, so he will be interested more :)
When you reach the barn, go back out for a short ride. Repeat as necessary. So, sometimes you come back and stay and sometime you come back and leave again, and again. Mix it up. Also, if he gets real strong, large circles are a great idea. Do you know how to use a pulley rein in an emergency? We cover that at www.myhorseplay.com
If you have an arena, make your horse work when you get back from a trail ride, don't just hop off and be done, stay on and work for a good ten to fifteen minutes. This shows them that there is no point to rush back because they still have to work, anyway.
Take your time. When you head home, if he speeds up, turn him around and go. When he slows down, turn around and head home. Lather and repeat. As many times as it takes. It will take less the next time. If he wants to jig and be a butt, let him - away from home (not likely that he'll continue). But remember, it took a while to get to this point. It' will take a while to get away from it.
