barn sour and hard headed

Question
ok this young mare is a fast one nothing slow bout her but she is sour and stubborn. i love this horse so much but when i come out of the arena at the 4h club she runs straight to the trailer what do i do to break her of this? and she dose the same when out in the pasture she runs to the barn what do i do???

Answer
Hi Jessie!

You horse is not hard headed...she is just doing what she knows and what makes sense to her!  We CAN change her mind.  When you exit the arena, give her something more to do!  If you are riding back to the trailer, ride back while doing "sage brush trail"  This is a series of very tight "S's" with all four feet moving evenly on the line.  Your horse is very busy, so you will have to be just as busy as she is!  Have a plan in mind and don't give her the time to take over.  When you FEEL her just starting to leave you mentally, this is long before she bolts off to the trailer, start bending!  Make her walk back to the trailer with purpose.  You have a plan and stick to it.  Your plan needs to be getting control of each and every footfall.  

If you are walking her in hand back to the trailer, or into the barn,  do the same thing.  Have a plan and have her WORKING all the way back to the trailer.  I might back circles, or do front quarters and then hind quarters (we call this the dance), I may side pass to the right and to the left...do you see what I'm saying...Get busy with something meaningful.  You are teaching your horse every second you are with them, not just while schooling in the arena.  Your trip back to the trailer, or into the barn,  for where your horse is today, is the most important lesson in her life right now.  Take the time to get everything she does with real quality.  

If you have not seen how to do "The Dance" let me know and I'll explain in detail.  If I have used other terms and concepts that you are not familiar with, let me know and I will clarify.  The DVD's by Buck Brannaman and Ray Hunt are really great resources for your learning library.  You may be able to rent them from your local tack store if you cannot buy them.  

Let me know how things are going and if I need to fill in some more blanks!  Have fun.  I know you love your horse and that is why I know you have the commitment to make things better.  I'll help!

Smiles!  Denise

Hi Jessie!  How are things going??? I noticed on my log that this answer was not yet read.  I hope you have seen it.  I'll send it again just to make sure.  If you have any questions, or if I have used terms or concepts you do not quite understand, let me know and I'll clarify!  Later!  Denise