Sky

I have a new horse named Sky but every time I try to ride him out of the arena he gets very antsy. I know it's because he doesn't know the area but he wont know everywhere we go when we go to other parks. Any suggestions?

Tell us more about his background. Has he been ridden on trails before, or only in an arena or similar controlled space? If the latter, it could be that he's just nervous about doing something that's new to him. Does he trust you more when you lead him? If so, a few outside walks might be a way to start. Are YOU confident about riding out? Could be he's picking up on your nervousness...

If you have someone with a calmer, more mature trail horse that can go along with you to start with, things will go much smoother. The only thing that gets any horse ready for trail riding is trail riding. Just ride. Log in several hundred miles and he'll be fine. I would suggest that you keep your pace slow to start with. If things go wrong, it is much easier to stop a horse that is walking than one that is galloping.

I'm given a lot of horses and most of them come out of an arena setting and their owners just can't afford to keep them any longer. They all for the most part are great horses, good and broke but.....they only know the arena type setting. I always pony them behind me the first few times on the trail, then I run them in my pack string. The big problem I run into is they won't cross water. I'm sure the only water that they have ever seen before has been in a stock tank. Take it slow and easy and he'll come around.

He used to be in parades and I know the old owners didn't even use arenas. They had mules and a Tennessee Walker (Sky) That's pretty much all I know. When I tested him out I rode in the side yard so I don't know why he wouldn't be fine with it. I don't go any faster than a walk right now so it's not that.

Yeah, had that same problem with Ellie the first few times we went out (this past spring). A little 1-foot wide stream, and it's like "What the heck is that? Is it going to eat me? I'm not going anywhere near it?" 15 minutes of not-very-experienced me trying to get her to cross, and failing, followed by about the same from my vastly-more-experienced friend, and it's still "Nope, no WAY are you going to ride me across that!". Finally led her back & forth half a dozen times, and then she figured it was ok. Now, just a few month later, she just jumps right across anything.

Point is, horses have feelings too. They can get nervous or scared about new things, even though they may seem perfectly safe to you. Then it's up to you to find some way of showing them it's ok. I'm far from being an expert, but so far walking Ellie through new things (I mean me on foot, her on a lead) has always seemed to work.

Thats funny you said that because I walked him around my side yard (where I tried to ride him before but right when I got on him I could tell he wanted to bolt) and he did fine he didn't have a care in the world so after I finished walking I got on and he still freaked out?????? Do you think he's trying to test me?

Yes...........

Thought so... well at least that means he's getting more comfortable lol