Horse has an issue with gates...

[Mongoose11]

Now we are doing longer hacks in a newish area (we only moved back end of last year so hacking is really being explored much more now) we are coming across more and more gates. She isn't careful at gates, doesn't seem to get the instruction for a tiny step forward or sideways etc and so usually rushes through the gap or barges at the gate itself.

In the last few weeks this problem has led to bruished shins for me and my sharer and now today a bit of a disaster. Sharer rode her though a gate gap that didn't have a gate on it and at the last minute the horse swung her left hand side and caught the rider's leg on the gate catch. This was pretty severe as she has ended up with a hole in her very new leather boots, jods and skin! She is completely oblivious to the rider on board it seems.

Clearly I need to teach her a gate technique and that will take time and I also think that this is a schooling issue (we start with a new instructress in the morning) BUT would I be wrong to think that it might be a bit of nerves too, perhaps she has had a real bang before? Not too sure about this as wouldn't this make her ultra careful rather than anything else. I guess the fear might be making her rush but then I think I am just making excuses for my bolshy madam that I just need to go back to basics with!

Literally as I was coming out of the school the other day, I had unlatched the gate and hadn't even opened it a tiny shred and she just barged at it with her chest and went through before I even knew what had happened. Is this a rider issue, horse issue or both?


Does anyone have any advice about going back to basics with gates?

Thanks
X

 

[Bionic Boy]

Mine used to be the same with gates and I think it does turn into your issue as well as hers.

I went back to basics and I remember my instructor saying to me not to look at them as gates but to concentrate on getting your horse to stand still (it just happens to be next to a gate). Things got much better after that and from then on we practised at/with the gate into the school and thankfully we don’t have a problem anymore.

 

[Orangehorse]

She might have had a fright, but you are going to have to insist on her waiting for your instructions.

It took me several months to train up one horse, but it was worth it in the end as she became very good.

Actually "wait" is a good command to have. She has to learn to wait until you say she can move. I use "wait" under several circumstances, when unloading from the trailer, for instance, and it is very good when you are fastening up gate and they want to charge off!

To do gates approach from the hinge end, so you can undo, and then the horse should slowly step forward, do a turn on the forehand, so you can lean over and do it up again.
However, this is OK when you can easily get at the fastening.

Start off by making her halt during a ride/schooling/somewhere away from a gate and making her stand still until you say move again. When standing make a fuss, some people even give a food reward with a really difficult horse, although others say do not feed tidbits! I had once horse that was very spooky and would shy at anything, and so I didn't end up on the bonnet of a passing car I made her halt every time a car came past, and wait until I said move and this also ended up with a wonderfully responsive and obedient horse and it translated into all sorts of situations.

When your horse will reliably stand still until you say move,then try doing a gate. However long it takes make sure she does it right, and repeat it until she does do it right. I promise that although this might take a long time and seem very wearing, it is worth it in the long run.

 

[ghostie]

if you think she is scared of gates, could you give her her feed stood in a gateway for a bit so as to reassociate them with nice things? I'm sure your instructor will be able to come up with lots of useful schooling tips to deal with this - plenty of turn on the forehand etc. should be helpful. Also, if she doesn't do a gate nicely (and it's safe to do so) just keep doing the same gate until she does and don't ride on until she behaves - might take a dozen times of going back and forwards through the same gate but eventually she'll get the message, particularly if you give her loads of fuss when she is a good girl Might help to get someone to come out on foot with you whilst you work on it?

 

[PandorasJar]

I'd do lots of walking through slowly, stopping before, in between and after. I'd do it in hand until she gets bored of them and they lose their scary factor. Then lots of ridden walking.

As the others say, making her wait under any circumstances is a good thing. Mine hears the word stand and will stop instantly and bless her when learning would freeze with a leg still in the air.

Pan

 

[dorito]

I will watch this thread with interest - my mare (RIP) used to be very nervous at gates; pretty sure she had a bang when not in my care.
Unfortunately it never was cured, because even trying to practice at easy gates would have caused a disaster of the kind described by OP. She was sillier at some times than others, possibly to do with her seasons.
The narrower the gate, the more she rushed through; even when I got off and led her through it - and you may need to think about doing that for a while?
It's so annoying as once they have learned a bad lesson, it's hard to remove the issue completely.

 

[Mongoose11]

Thanks for the replies so far guys. Am heading up now to start some 'wait' work with her and some lead work. My heart tells me that she has had a gate issue in the past (as I don't want to think bad of her) but my head tells me that she is just rude and impatient.

I am looking forward to getting started as until today I have kind of ignored it and just tried my best to guide her at gates, two incidents so close together have made me see that I can't continue to ignore it and I need to put the time in.

Ok, less canter, more wait!

x

 

[DollyDolls]

She may have a phobia about being hurt when going through gates, but you need to work on manners first.

Any horse with manners will wait for the rider to give the aid.
Yes, it may take 6 sessions at 30mins each to get her to wait at a gate that has just been opened, but the time you invest on this part is as much about your safety and hers.

Good luck. Keep the training consistent and always praise when she gets it right. Ignore her when she gets it wrong, but ask straight away for the correct thing.

I use my voice rather than leg aids at gates as I want them to move over or turn around. I find it keeps my two much calmer and they do understand (after a while) what you want.