Barn sour :(

Colleen I could not agree with you more! I have tried everything that I know of. Ground work, working with a trainer... And she is still like that. I don't know what to do, I mean im at a totall loss...Ive had her for more then a year and she is still as mean as the day I bought her.

When she was in training she only rode her out side a few times. That was it and I went out on rides with the trainer and she helped with me there...But im always on Gypsy to keep her from taking over.

I guess all you can do is ride as much as possible.

Make the barn not so fun of a place, and make the trails seem like heaven.

When at the barn make your horse work...either by riding or some ground work. When you're in the trails just walk and take it easy...sometimes working backwards will move you forwards,..let your horse nibble at some leaves, and just be as relaxed as possible and try to keep it at a walk/slow trot.

If you ask her to stop and she keeps moving...as soon as she moves make her do a circle or work her some how...if she stops and then tries to move again...repeat...and repeat if needed.

If she's trying to get back to barn and is not responding to you...as soon as you get to the barn....give a good 10 minute workout before you undsaddle her. If you just unsaddle her and put her up...then she's getting away with it...again make the barn a not so fun place.

I'm not sure if all that will help, but it does for me. Lol Worth a shot though I guess.

Thanks guys ill try that dtwh... WELL. I think something did happen on that trail ride with me and my horse! When we were lost in the thick bruch..lol I tried to give her as much comfort as possible while trying to get us out...so anyways I go to the barn and I well I was crying.. lol a little trying to hold it in I watched the moving long shot and got all worked up how her horse loved her and blah blah...well I went in a started petting her and she rapped her head around me...it was nice! She usually dosent do that, well never really. Then I did ground work and she was really good. So I hope she has found some more respect and thinks of me as a leader more..I would like to go out tommorrow.. I hope it goes better. I try and not canter at all on the trails I know she's not ready and im not either I never trotted on a trail until a few days ago. So slow and stedy...

Near the fence where the other horses can see and be seen. I walk in circles making them bigger and bigger. As the circles get bigger my horse and I get farther from the fence. The horse you are riding go in to scared mode farther away and then calm again closer. As you keep doing this they eventually get tired of panicking because that takes a lot of energy. Eventually they calm down and relax. Hope I explained that right. I better at drawing a picture.

The horse I have now is just the opposite. She fights me when I turn for home... I know weird
I've had horses like that though and I know how you feel. Just keep going, you have gotten some really good advice here. I'm sorry you had one of those 'geesh why can't my horse be like that' moments and it ended in tears. I feel for you, but when you do get that one great ride when everything goes perfect, its well worth it.

Thanks, yah she has her tricks with circles to no matter if im trying to go the opposite way she some how gets us the other direction. But she has been doing really really well. Our last trail ride was sooooooooo good. She didnt try to take over no bucking no problems leaving the barn or anything. I was even able to TROT up a hill and she didnt take off at the canter. That's big for us because of her past and her feeling that she needs to be runned on trail rides and that's all you do is go go go.... YAY im so happy she's better. Thank you guys for your adivce! As you can see it really helped. Im going out this morning and I might try and canter we will see. Wish me luck!

Glad she's improving! :)

Another suggestion was given to me the other day. If you are ok with giving treats.

When you get out on the trail, and she relaxes on her own, give her a treat. Then give some time, when she least expects it, and she is relaxed, and listening, give a treat. That helps to let her know a ride is not all that bad, and if I am Relaxed, I might get a reward. Plus it helps the rider relax a bit, too. Since they know when we are nervous, it helps to try to relax ourselves a lot, too.

I haven't had much of an issue with the horses not wanting to leave the barn but sometimes they will get anxious as soon as we turn around to go home. What I do is as soon as we get home unsaddle them put their halter on and tie them up by the barn but in a safe area for an hour or so. This is teaching them that getting home right away isn't so great after all, I don't get to eat, drink, and play with my buddies immediatly so maybe trail riding really isn't so bad afterall. It may be hard for you to do at first and seem like you're giving them a consequence for no reason but they will understand quickly if you do it every single time you get back from a ride. I know this has helped all my horses tremendously. There's nothing worse than a horse that wants to run home and you can't stop it!

Heather