Re: Won't walk through gate and won't walk back to barn

Posted by Alexa Miller on January 15, 2001 at 18:22:41:

In Reply to: Won't walk through gate and won't walk back to barn posted by stephanie on January 13, 2001 at 17:49:53:

Hi, my name is Alexa and have been actively involved with horses my whole life. I have owned thoroughbreds and warmbloods and ride hunter/jumper.
I am surprised to hear that your horse is unwilling to go back to the barn, most horses would like to run all the way back. So, when you're walking back to the barn are you walking alone - meaning just you and your horse? Maybe you should try walking your horse back along side a trusty, calm horse that does not have a problem with it. I would also NOT suggest getting off, you have WAY less control when you are on the ground than when you are mounted. If he rears I would personally use a crop and smack him (not too hard of course) right between the ears. Rearing horses are very unsafe as you know.
I would also suggest that you try bringing your horse out on a halter and lead rope (maybe even a stud chain) and walk him back and forth trying to make him comfortable with his surroundings on days where you don't actually ride or maybe on light hack days.
My trainers horse is a thoroughbred that is Secretariat's grandson, but because of his size (over 17 hands) he did not last long on the race track. Regardless, he is an absolute nut when it comes to walking through gates. We think that this is because he is clostrophobic because of his size - we think that walking through gates might remind him of squeezing into a starting gate. He hates to go through gates (not to mention in between jumps) and usually rushes through them than prances the whole way back to the barn. It is hard for me to believe that this horse could possibly remember the race track since he is almost 13, but it's possible. If your thoroughbred is registered than most likely he has been raced. Or, it's possible that this is all a part of the thoroughbred hot-head personality.
Also, when you're going back to the barn are you leaving the rest of the horses that are still being worked out by the field and jumps? Horses are herd animals (safety in numbers you know) he probably gets panicked (sp?) when he is alone.
The only other things that I can think of are that he is afraid of going back to the barn for some reason or he has just gotten away with murder for way too long.
I am interested in hearing what your progress is. I wish you the best of luck, hopefully I could help out. :)
-Alexa

: hi
: I have a 8 year old thoroughbred who will not walk back to the barn or go through the gate. When you walk out the barn their is a gate that you go through to get to a big field with jumps and a dirt area where you can ride. After riding I will go back to the gate to go get off. My horse will not just walk back. He will prance, side step, try to run off toward the gate and sometimes rear he will do everything not to go. Sometimes he will just stop and not go anywhere no matter what I do he will only go backwards. If I get him to go through the gate he does everything he did infront of the gate. I've tried everything!! My trainer and I don't know what to do. He has never raced never been to a racetrack. His old owner was the first to do really anything with him she was very timid and let him get away with everything.
: please help me

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