horse behavior problem

Question
I have an 8 year old gelding I have had for 3 years. We have had our ups and downs behavior wise. The main problem that showed up first was buddy sour. I found out he had been ridden extensively but only with other horses. The problem got worse every time we went out. He would try to turn around, we would then have circling exercises for hours. He would slam on his brakes etc just generally act like a fruitcake. He was and is still the most well mannered horse on the ground. But it seemed like he would forget I was there when we rode and he completely lacked self-confidence. Finally we couldn't even get out of the yard and he suddenly developed an aversion to the trailer.

I had a friend of mine work with him, we both subscribe to Clinton Anderson's methods. It took her three hours the first time to get him near the trailer, bless her heart, i I do not have that much patience. She took him to her place and worked with him for several weeks. She came to the same conclusions I did about his self confidence. But she also found that he was better in just a hackamore than a bit. Along the way I had gotten the usual cowboy advice of a harsher bit and even I had figured out that the harsher ones made him worse. I had ridden with a halter in the round pen but was afraid to trust that out on the road.

He came back recently. His round penning was much better, no touch, just point. She told me that when he had gotten scared she had just stopped and comforted him  until they could move on. Oh and she did ride him over here to see if it was something out there that was scaring him. She said the first time he was shaking but the second time he was fine. So I took him out last Thursday. We went right out of the driveway. We got to some of his scary spots and he would stop but not a slamming stop like before. I would reassure him and he would move on. We got about 2 miles out and things were going beautifully. We went up a hill along our usual route. I was almost ready to call it a day and end on a good note. Then some unknown horse eater scared him, he tried to turn to go toward home which put us in a precarious position with his backend facing a fairly deep barrow pit. I tried to get ahold of his head to turn him gently. I wasn't even forcing him to go my way. But he must have thought I was because he violently shook his head. I thought maybe a bug got under the hackamore because they were out in full force. I checked both sides. He tried his little rearing, kind of a half-hearted raising of the front feet. I knew he was getting agitated and I did not want to fall backward down the hill. I decided the best thing was to get off and go from  there. He never let me. He started bucking hard. I was thrown over his head and came to a screeching halt when my face and body hit the ground. He did not leave me. He knows the way home but he stayed. I don't get that.

But this has me so upset. Out of all the stupid things he has ever done he has never bucked and for that reason I have always trusted him. Now my trust is gone, unfortunately my love isn't. I don't know what to do. I am getting way too old to be bucked off. A friend told me there is a way to stop a horse from bucking but she failed to divulge that info. Same friend, she feels very guilty even though I know it's not her fault and I told her that.
If you can help me by telling me how to keep me and my horse safe I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you
Trish
west@3rivers.net

Answer
Hello Trish,

I think you have a Quarter horse?  That is the one breed of horse I will never again own. I have never found a more stubbord, ornery, defiant breed than that.  However, you do have one so IF you plan to keep him, and I advise you not to, you have to conquer his will.

Horses are herd animals and, like dogs, they instantly find out if one horse is tougher or stronger or higher in the herd than they are.  It is their instinct to do this.  It is the pecking order.  Your horse knows without a doubt that he is higher than you are. HE is the boss!  And unless you are willing to ride it out and BECOME the boss, you will never have a trustworthy horse.  And even then, he will constantly try you out to see just how tough you are "today", "tomorrow" and next Wednesday!

Instead of round penning him, take him out on a lunge line, under your control, and make him work (WORK!) for at least 30 minutes, 15 each way.  This may get rid of a lot of negative energy. If his teeth have been taken care of by an equine dentist, or vet, there should be no reason why you can't put a snaffle bit in his mouth. Try a rubber straight bar snaffle. It is the most gentle that I know of.

I don't know how old you are, but I doubt if you wish to waste another three years fighting his problems.  Get rid of him. Sell him or give him to a young man who is an excellent rider and have him conquer his will.  I am not talking about breaking his will, I am talking about conquering it...becoming the boss hoss in a herd of two...the rider and the horse.

Circling was the worst thing you could have done.  Instead of that, hold him straight. Keep his head pointed in the direction that you want to go and just sit there for hours if you have the time.  If he rears or bucks, let go one rein and pull his head all the way around until his nose touches your knee and THEN you can circle; kick his side and circle him and circle him in a tight little circle until he is dizzy.  You will be dizzy too, so it is no fun, but that is the best way to stop rearing or bucking.

I think your horse is spoiled,much more than afraid, and I think he needs much more solid work...the work of going forward on command.  The shaking is simply a sign of where his mind is...full of negative energy.  If he were in my care I  would lunge him for 30 to 45 minutes a time, twice a day for 6 weeks, at a good lively working trot and canter, until he is lathered and his nose is touching the ground.  Then I'd get on him in an enclosed ring and ride him there ... get him obedient before going out on the trail.

I might be wrong. You may have a little fraidy cat who will want to run home every time you take him out, but I doubt it. In either case, you have no horse to ride.  If you love that horse more than you love riding,then keep him in the paddock and pet him.  If you love riding, get another horse.

Where do you live?

Happy riding,
Dorothy