A runaway horse is a danger to the rider and to those around him. Gain control of a runaway horse with the help of an equestrian trainer in this video.
Hi. My name is Kimberly Dobin. I'm the trainer of Kimberly Dobin Dressage, located at the Classic Equestrian Center at Moorpark, California. I am here to discuss with you today about how to gain control of your horse on the trail if he runs away with you. When your horse runs away, calmly tell your horse to "Ho." Loudly and sternly is a good way of going at it, but do not panic. The quicker your voice is and the more high-pitched your voice is, your horse is only going to react in a more scared way, and that's the reason why he's running. Also, wherever your horse's nose is pointed is the direction your horse is going to go. So, look at your trail as this is happening. Do your best to stay calm, and send your horse in a direction that is safe. Also, circling your horse will slow him down and help you gain control over him. To do so, you can grab your one left reign or right reign, depending on which direction the trail is, as long as it's a wide pathway and allows you to make circles. Take the reign, turn the horse's nose towards your knee. This won't hurt your horse, don't worry--and circle your horse. Doing so will allow you to gain control over him and slow him down. Also, if you're out on the trail, and it might not be a wide enough trail to make circles, you can also look for a hill. Look for an area that points uphill, point your horse's nose up the hill, and eventually your horse will slow down. Always talking calmly to your horse while doing the circles, and while pointing your horse up the hill will only train him to listen to your voice and teach him to stop. Be safe there out on the trail, and do your best to stay calm if you're riding a runaway horse.
on April 5, 2012, 10:22 am