10 yr old mare & trail riding

Question
Hi Sunny,
My husband and I both have quarter horses that we trail ride with. My husband has a 13 yr old gelding and I have a 10 yr old mare. I have had her for almost three years.
She is my first horse and we have learned alot together, but she never fails to surprise me and she keeps me on my toes! She is a sweet girl, but does have alot of energy and LOVES to run. Sometimes more than I want her to.
It's winter the weather has been awful so we haven't been on the trails as much as I would like. Needless to say the horses are stalled (but with a big run w/24/7 access) but little to no turnout. We board them as we do not have our own property.
We took them out Saturday and the first part of the ride was great - no issues. The second part of the ride my mare became all worked up, sweating, dancing around, huffing & puffing and NOT listening to me. I let her run up a hill to help burn off some energy, but it didn't help. I am sore from fighting her all the way back to the barn. I have never seen her "worked up" like that before and no matter how many one-rein stops and circles we did, she wouldn't stop and calm down. I asked my trainer and she said that I will just have to be patient and keep making the wrong thing uncomfortable and the right things get rewarded with release and praise. She said sometimes things like this take alot of time and effort to correct. Everytime my horse acted "jiggy" we one-reined stopped, went in circles and the minute I released her she went back to the same behaviour which tells me I need to be doing something else as circles weren't working.
She's a great horse (a little fast - thinks she a race horse sometimes!) but very respectful and great on the trail. She has done this twice now. I don't ride with spurs, a bit or a whip and I never discipline with fear and I have NEVER raised a hand to her. Do you think her actions could be a result of "the winter cabin fever" blues and what else can I do to correct her when she gets like this?

Answer
Hello and thank you for your question. From what I hear you are doing everything correct (and keep up with it). Which is amazing! I am always getting questions from people who intend to do well but are making things worse. I think that your horse was enjoying getting out and stretching her legs. I don't do much riding in the winter too cold and its too hard on me! I would recommend lounging her or riding her in an arena BEFORE you go out on a ride just to get the extra energy out in a controlled environment. Getting her to mind you and let out the energy before will give you both a more enjoyable ride. Start out slow in the arena or lounging (5 minutes) then bring it up the pace to give her a work out (15 minutes) then slow her back down (5 minutes) to settle down, then I would go out and hit the trails, if she acts out do your one rein stop and circles as you have been and do what your trainer says she seems to be on the right track. I hope I have helped, best of luck and happy trails!