How to train your pony to wee before we ride, or wee out on a ride?

[Tarragon]

First full year of riding my recently backed pony, and almost 9 times out of 10 we come back from a ride and he has a HUGE wee as soon as he can. Normally as soon as he is back in the stable but sometimes he hasn't even been able to wait that long and has wee'd while still tacked up and tied up outside the stable.
It must make him feel so uncomfortable for most of the ride!
The routine is that we bring the field-kept ponies in for a feed first thing, and poo pick and do odd jobs while they are finishing up, which takes about 20 minutes. Then groom and tack up and ride. On return, untack, put back in the stable for a bit of hay and cool off for about 20 minutes while finishing off jobs then turn back out. Rides are about 1 hour to 1 and a half hours during the week, and 2 to 3 hours at a weekend.
Any ideas?

 

[Jambarissa]

You can train them to wee on demand, I've seen the police horses do it. I believe they whistle when the horse wees naturally and eventually the horse will wee when you whistle. You do need to be around a lot to train it though.

Your horses behaviour is very common, some will only go in a place they feel safe and relaxed. I don't think you can do much unless you are able to train them.

 

[Landcruiser]

My old horse always had a wee on the yard, even if he'd only just come in. I think he liked the splashes on his legs, lol.
Anyway, are you really tuned in to the signs he might need a wee when he's out OP? Like gravitating towards grassy patches, or subtly slowing down, or even just tail swishing?

 

[Dave's Mam]

Dave wees when I catch him. I accidentally started it when he had a wee as I fetched him in one day & I happened to have a bit of carrot in my hand & gave it to him. Now he stops to have a wee as soon as his headcollar on. It's quite handy so I continue to reward it, except when he keeps trying to have one when he doesn't need to, in sideways rain, just because he wants the carrot.

 

[AShetlandBitMeOnce]

Could you hop on, walk him out and then back for literally 30 seconds and hop off to see if you can trick him into weeing then? PITA but if it works it works

 

[FitzyFitz]

It takes them a long time to feel comfy enough to wee while being ridden usually. I think the balance feels weird. I try and train mine to a whistle, takes awhile, but does mean you can often persuade them to have a go if they are doing the wet knicker walk but being stubborn about it. I do find that young/green horses will be quite stubborn about it for quite a long while, usually I find once they are doing long enough rides it kind of forces the issue, then you can praise them, and they usually improve from that point.

 

[Caol Ila]

When the horses are on overnight turnout, my gelding tries really hard to not wee, ever, in his stable. He has a few favourite spots, depending on where you're taking him (arena, turnout, back gate, front gate) where he will stop and pee when you start a ride or take him to the field if not riding that day.

My young mare is learning this skill. She's starting to pee reliably at certain spots when we're hacking, and there is less pee in the stable. Lucky me! I'm not doing anything in particular, just praising them when they stop for a wee.

My old mare never peed whilst ridden unless you were on a 3+ hour hack. Not once in the 21 years I owned her. Other than her stable being more of a ballache to clean, it was never a problem. She always seemed to be able to time herself and hold it, and it never caused any stress.

My friend had a gelding who would not pee under saddle or even in hand in the school, not for love nor money. But when he was desperate, he would suddenly explode and start bucking and acting spooky and leak pee from his willie, but he would not do the deed until you got off and led him to his stable or to a grassy patch he liked in front of the barn. She knew a bit about his history and thought a trainer in his youth had given him a hard time about stopping for a pish. And he was a sensitive horse. Poor guy.

 

[Britestar]

Get in the habit of going to the same place before you ride and sing the pishy song.
Treat when you get a pee.

All ours now do this. Pee before mounting, get a treat. Pee before loading, get a treat.

Mine hates having a poop whilst you're on her. As soon as she gets into the tacking up box she poops, and on return from a ride same again.

 

[Tarragon]

Great ideas! Thanks all. Looks like I need to find a wee spot and the pishy song
I just want to be able to say “make sure you have a wee before we go”!

 

[Tarragon]

My old horse always had a wee on the yard, even if he'd only just come in. I think he liked the splashes on his legs, lol.
Anyway, are you really tuned in to the signs he might need a wee when he's out OP? Like gravitating towards grassy patches, or subtly slowing down, or even just tail swishing?

I have tried stopping on grass when I thought he wanted to go, standing up in my stirrups and whistling, but no luck yet.

 

[Tarragon]

Could you hop on, walk him out and then back for literally 30 seconds and hop off to see if you can trick him into weeing then? PITA but if it works it works

Could try that

 

[Flame_]

Could you hack out with someone who's horse always stops and wees regularly. Your horse might eventually copy the idea.