Annoying Habit

AllThePrettyHorses:


I wouldn't worry about it at all. Your horse just sounds inexperienced. He'll learn, just give him the time to figure things out for himself. In the meantime assist him with the guidance he needs. All animals tend to prefer the easiest place or track to walk on and follow. Your horse will do that too when he becomes a little more experienced unless you tell him to put his feet elsewhere.


One thing that I was thinking of, are you sure that it's not you who are unconsciously cuing the horse to wander off the trail, by slightly turning your body when you are admiring the landscape or looking for something. For fun, try to let go of the reins or even better, ride at home on safe ground without a headstall and see how much or little/subtle cues it takes to ride the horse with the body. But concentrate on the surroundings not on the riding 'cause that's what you probably do when you are riding outside the property. You might get an “aha” experience..

I think being responsible for your horse and micromanaging are two ends of totem pole. Kind of a huge leap you are making there.

My Fox Trotter Isabelle is a little like this. I have never had her fall off the trail or anything, but it's like she is insecure and sight-seeing the whole time we are going out, and if there is a bush or limb or anything like that in front of us, she will go right through it or trip over it like she isn't even aware it is there.

That is a little bit different than what I am used to, because my Mustang is so self-preserving.

It's not that Isabelle is blind or dumb, but it's almost like she is looking so hard for buggers in the bushes (or in her case, birds in the bushes) that she really doesn't look where she is going.

What I have found helps is to ride her more assertively. To give her a little more leg and more steering, whereas with my Mustang I can just sort of point and go. But if I am more assertive with Izzy, she wanders and sight-sees less and goes out better. So in a way I feel she is making me a better rider, because she makes me think, and my Mustang is so perfect that I get lazy.

Going back she is like a homing pigeon, so I don't have to ride assertively going back.

Wonder how much riding a touch faster would help? I've found with Mr. Big that the more forward energy he puts out the less messing around he does.

Thank you all for your input. We rode off the property again today, and already she's slowly starting to come around. There's only one real track we can follow-the rest are under 3 feet of snow, so she's starting to get used to it.

Btw, SailorGriz, I like your signature

Thanks Pretty! I gotta own up: I didn't think of it. I saw it somewhere--or, at least, something similar.

Glad you're already having better success!