Stubborn horse?

[dodgers89]

Hi. I'm relatively new to riding; I've been having lessons for a little under a year. I have recently started loaning two horses and on the whole things are great. The owner has had one horse for 15 years (D) and the other for 5 years (L) D goes out fine on his own but L will go so far and refuse to go further. I assume it's because he isn't used to going out alone. When my friend and I ride toegther, L hacks out beautifully, it's only on his own that I have problems. I realise that I should perhaps be more forceful with him and I'm sure he wouldn't do anything silly but I don't feel a confident enough rider to really push him. If love some advice on this.
I hope this all makes sense, sorry if I'm rambling!
Thanks

 

[IAmCrazyForHorses]

If he doesn't feel comfortable hacking by himself, maybe only go as far as he wants to and then go back? Then maybe he will begin to like hacking more and you can go a little further?

 

[dodgers89]

I could try that. I'm very worried that if I let him only go as far as he wants, he'll feel like he's won the battle. I'm happy to only go out for a very short time but I want to turn for home on my terms and not his. Also, when he refuses to go forwards, he sometimes goes into reverse. He doesn't tend to move very far but I'm concerned he'll back into a ditch or a beck.

 

[kat2290]

How about walking him out in hand sometimes and get him used to going past the place where he refuses. You could take some treats with you and give him one once you get passed the bad bit as a reward?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I wouldn't let him choose when to turn round, I think you're right OP, you need to set the agenda, not him. Try to always go on a circular/lollipop shaped route, so that you don't need to turn round. We are lucky, in that we have a lot of circular routes available, from 10 minutes to 5 hrs, so can build up easily, do you have anything similar? We combine short circular routes to keep the horses listening to us, rather than thinking, 'I know we are going home now!'
You could take him round your chosen short route in-hand and then immediately go round again ridden or go half-way inhand and then mount for the last part of the ride.
We used to have mare who would go backwards as readily as forwards. She got a shock the day she backed herself into a hawthorn bush with a barbed wire fence and a metal barrel behind it. She was always a bit more careful about ignoring the rider after that, well until she threatened to throw herself and rider into the river.

 

[spacefaer]

Does L go out on his own with his owner? Ie is it just you he naps with or is it every rider?

 

[sandi_84]

If he doesn't feel comfortable hacking by himself, maybe only go as far as he wants to and then go back? Then maybe he will begin to like hacking more and you can go a little further?

Definitely not this ^ I'm afraid! You'd just end up worse off in the long run

I wouldn't let him choose when to turn round, I think you're right OP, you need to set the agenda, not him. Try to always go on a circular/lollipop shaped route, so that you don't need to turn round. We are lucky, in that we have a lot of circular routes available, from 10 minutes to 5 hrs, so can build up easily, do you have anything similar? We combine short circular routes to keep the horses listening to us, rather than thinking, 'I know we are going home now!'
You could take him round your chosen short route in-hand and then immediately go round again ridden or go half-way inhand and then mount for the last part of the ride.

^ Definitely this though

Another thing you could try is have someone walk out with you at your side. Gradually over a period of time have them walk further back and then have them follow you at a distance and then not at all.
He may feel more confident about going out with a security blanket like that and then you just gradually phaze the walker out

 

[dodgers89]

Does L go out on his own with his owner? Ie is it just you he naps with or is it every rider?

He does nap with his owner but she has more confidence to get him moving again. I think I just lack the umph a little bit.

We do have a lot of circular routes which he's happily been out on in company. They weren't ridden much while their owner was pregnant and so they've spent every waking moment together for about 2 years so I guess he just misses his buddy! I'm going to try him again today and take a stick with me which I've been told I might not have to use; just knowing the stick is there might be enough to stop the napping.

 

[dodgers89]

Definitely not this ^ I'm afraid! You'd just end up worse off in the long run



^ Definitely this though

Another thing you could try is have someone walk out with you at your side. Gradually over a period of time have them walk further back and then have them follow you at a distance and then not at all.
He may feel more confident about going out with a security blanket like that and then you just gradually phaze the walker out

The first time I took him out, his owner walked with us and he was fine. I have since tried to take him out with my mum walking and he wasn't keen on that. She can be quite nervous around horses so that might have been obvious to him. I might ask my OH to come with me, he's not so horse shy!