Did I do the right thing on our problematic solo trail? What would you have done?

Don't worry horses have a funny way of trying to teach us lol just stay positive and work with her. You guys will be fine in no time.

That sounded like a rough situation and you did well for thinking on the fly.

Some good suggestions have been offered to you to try next time it happens.

Happy trails.

Tinyliny was right on, I think you did good and pretty much what I would have done, I would have walked more of the trail ride though. Let her know one way or the other we are going down the trail if I have to drag you. When I got my horse I had to walk him the first mile or so, he'd go bonkers otherwise. Each time he got better and better. There is one bridge about a mile along, every now and then he still likes to pretend he is afraid there and spin around.. I think its just become a game for him now.

I've heard also that taking a lunge rope with you on the trail works. When the green horse begins to act up like that, this lady said she moves her horse to an open spot (not the farmers' field and lunge them on the trail until they are back under her control. Then they continue to move forward. I guess they finally will put 2 and 2 together and realize it's easier to move on or their is a consequence of more work. Don't know if it is true or not but thought I would pass it on. Good luck. I've got a green horse who fortunately loves to trail ride but I've never taken her out on my own because I am a big chicken. They can be very different when out alone.

Working a really upset horse on a longe line out in an open field is a good way to learn a sport called "Georgia Red Dirt Skiing Spectacular". Very fun if you stay on your feet. Not so fun if you are doing the belly flop version. That one is hard on your glasses.

Think it was John Lyons I was reading and he said use their lungs against them when training. They'll quickly figure out what causes them more work and what doesn't.

Been there, done that. Didn't think I could "waterski" on my belly, but it can be done. And the rope burn, it was a thing to behold.

But, if I had had a rope halter on the horse, and been wearing gloves, and been prepared, (aware that he might dash away) I would not have been pulled off my feet.

I have worked many barn sour horses and lets just say they are a fun ride ha ha. What I have done before to solve similar issues is when the horse gets fussy and acts like it is wanting to go towards the barn is, first turn them in a circle and get them to disengage the hind quarters and then move them out a time or two, continuing in your desired direction. If the horse is still fussy after this is done a time or two I push them to a trot, do a quick stop and back them up a few steps. You can then do a roll back and repeat this a time or two to get the horses mind on YOU not the barn. I did this yesterday on one of my own personal horses and it worked great give it a try :P

Forget the bonding thing and work more on respect is my thoughts.

Horse is not your herd mate, it is a horse, and you aren't its. You signed the check.

Bonding takes time, and at this point the horse has figured out who is the boss and it is not you. And while horse may have trail ridden with other owner, that does not transfer over to a rider/owner that horse has figured out it can buffalo. And that is what is happening here I think.

Instead of heading back to barn and working snot out of horse to teach her a lesson? In her mind she got to go back to barn, the workout didn't enter into equation to her. She got what she wanted, back to barn. That is all she learned. Throw a fit, get to go back. Will be worse next time, not better, and will probably throw fit faster too.

Next time, just sit, when she reaches idiot point. Don't battle her, just sit there. If she steps out in right direction, don't praise at all, just keep her moving, if she spins towards home, turn her around and just sit there. No talking either.

When my horse gets stupid like that, we do donuts until she gets her stupid out, then stand for a few minutes, so she can absorb the lesson herself.
Sometimes it takes a couple rounds of this to get my point across, and she still gets her moments on occasion, but the improvement in her behavior is quick.
It comes back to how you are perceived in the herd.
Either you are lead mare, or you aren't.
The lead mare may get tested from time to time, but she always asserts herself as the HBIC.