AboutRick Gore (www.thinklikeahorse.org) Expertise Visit Rick Gore's Horse Site: www.thinklikeahorse.org --I am a student of the horse. I can answer questions about sacking out (Desensitizing vs. Sensitizing), dealing with spooky, abused or ex-race horses, rearing, bucking, horses that won’t tie or load into a trailer, working in a round pen/round corral, starting colts, dealing with aggressive or so called "mean" horses, herd behavior, biting, kicking, horses that won’t let you mess with their feet or head, horses that are hard to take a bit and hard to catch. I can also answer questions about using a bosal or hackamore, do's and don'ts, soft hands and direct reining verses neck reining. If you expect me to tell you feel good advice, you will be disappointed. 95% of all my answers will include the problem is you and not your horse. About 90% of most answers that I give out are on my web site, so if you read it you will probably answer your own question and may learn a few other things. I am like Gordon Ramsey (Hell's Kitchen) and Simon Cowell (Idol), you may not like what I say or how I say it, but it will be pretty true and accurate, in my opinion, judging from my experience.
Experience I am an experienced horseman with many years of riding and handling horses. I grew up in Texas around horses and horse people. I have started colts, ridden many horses with behavior issues and worked with problem horses. (I believe that most horse problems are normally people problems) I believe in and practices natural horsemanship. I continue to read and study books by great horsemen. I routinely attends clinics, talks with and discuss horse issues with other clinicians and trainers. I have never met a horse that could not be fixed. I believe it is never the horse's fault and with proper handling, all problems can be worked out.
Education/Credentials Rick has life long experience in being around and working with horses. Over the years he has watched good horsemen do the right thing and seen the wrong things done with bad results. Rick has a Bachelor of Science degree in Education.
Question Hello:
My am 59 and I've ridden since I was 12. I've tried to hold my horse Cruiser (whom I've had for 6 years) back. He is with 2 other horses in a pasture. Cruiser is a 15.1 12 yr old stout gelding.
Although this horse has had over 1000 trail miles (steep mountain trails), when he is in the lead if I allow by slacking the reins, he will slowly build into a trot and keep picking up speed until reaching a run, uphill or down (a 100 or 200 steep rocky incline, places where I'd like him to pick his way through, he charges sometimes to the point of running into the horse in front of him!). I've tried to hold him back, but he tosses his head and throws a fit. On some of trails we ride, this isn't a good thing!
If he is behind other horses, he won't walk fast enough to keep up, he either drops back and trots to catch up or trots all the time. Also, if other horses start to move at all away from him, he will act up and want to start going before I am completely mounted.
The main 2 issues are he won't walk fast enough to keep up (he'd rather trot all the time) and he doesn't lope. And #2: He goes from trot to a full run.
Thanks for help!!
Rocky
Answer Your question is confusing and it sounds like the horse is confused. A horse needs direction, holding a horse back only make him want to push and pull more. It sounds like you need to be cleared on what you want and give good clear direction to the horse. He is trotting when he wants. You keep telling me what the horse is doing. I am more concerned about what you are doing or not doing.
If he walks too slow make him trot, stop him, back him up and tell him to walk. I would be you end up fighting with this horse, you both get worked up and fuss and neither is having much fun and it is dangerous.
Take control with one rein. Use ONE rein to redirect his head, change his direction, get him attention back on you and not on keeping up or doing what he wants.
He is asking you for direction, he is telling you that he is confused and is trying to find the right answer. You said he had 1000 trails, either has been doing this for all 1000 or it just start, why did it start, did it start with you, how was he before, all these answers will help you find the answer. Every time this horse changes gaits, you need to stop him and back him up. You have to do this so the horse connects the two.... if you wait too long it will not work, so timing is key.
Once this horse sees that you control his feet, you control which way he moves, you can stop him and that not listening to you means he gets work he will start wanting to listen to you.
I still see this as a you issue. Fix what you are doing or not doing and the horse will get better.
