bad behaviour on return home

Question
i have an 8 yr old tb geld.  he is fine to ride when going out on road and until we get to destination, once there however he starts jogging, spinning, prancing on all fours and wont calm down.  he then does this at least half of way home.  i have to keep spinning him in circles but when on road this behaviour is very dangerous with traffic around.  he also does it in the paddock doing flatwork.  i also sometimes have trouble catching him.  any help would be great.

Answer
Hi Kristine!

My first piece of advice is to STAY OFF THE ROAD for now!!  There is nothing you can teach him there right now and it will all only end up in an accident for someone!

Your guy is telling you in a very obvious way "I want to go back the barn right now!"  Especially if you often turn him around to head home in the same place.  He knows all he has to do is walk to point A and he will turn and head back to his beloved barn.  And he is in a hurry, paying no attention to you whatsoever.  When a horse stops listening to and respecting YOUR decisions....that's bad!

I would also be willing to bet that when he is bad in the paddock he's always pointing in the direction of the gate and/or barn.  He's not tired or fussy or ornery.....he wants you off his back.  He wants to be done.  All very rude and will only escalate in danger.

Start with the very basics.  He will not come when called.  You may love him very much but, by ignoring and often evading you, he is saying "I do not care about you!"  Whether in his stall or pasture, all you should have to do is whistle and he comes running, ears forward and happy to see you!!

Always keep a halter on him, all leather or one with a leather break-away crown or stip.  A naked horse is no fun to chase.

Put him out with no grain for breakfast, just plenty of hay and water.

When you go to collect him, take a special treat, one he loves and will now only get when he comes to the whistle.  Keep the treat in a bucket of grain and the whistle always the same note(s).  He needs to recognise it instantly.  Stand at the gate and whistle.  Nothing?  Do it again but, DO NOT shake the grain bucket for him to hear.  Whistle again.  When he ignores you, shake the grain and walk towards him slowly.  Aviod direct eye contact and keep your shoulders slumped down and speak softly, calling his name.  Shake the bucket softly and let him hear the grain.

When he comes to you, snap on the lead line and give him just the treat.  He can have the grain in his stall.

Repeat everyday until he just sees you at the gate and all you will have to do is whistle and he will come running for the special treat.  

Then, only give him the treat ever other day.  But, always reward him with lots of praise and attention for responding to you!!

Then, only give him the treat when he comes to the whistle twice a week...and then only as you feel like it to keep him interested.

It will not take long and he will start to see you in a new light.  He will think "Hey!  I like this human and her treats!  What else can she do for me?!?"

Now, about the bad behavior in the paddock.  You need to stay right there in that safe, enclosed area until he is riding perfectly and ALWAYS listening to all your cues and requests.  It is hard work and not as much fun as a hack or trail ride but, it is safer!  And it sounds like you are not having much fun right now riding him on the road anyway.

You need to start at the basics with him in the paddock.  It would be such a long answer to fix this problem here, I can not do it.  Think about lessons for yourself so that you can begin to see where the problems are starting and you can then fix them.  Talk to a trainer or other knowledgeable person in your area and have them watch you ride him in your paddock.  You need to go slow and watch him as he speaks to you.  Reward good behavior and get off him.  Say no and correct him when he is fussy and get him to do something small that he knows and likes, reward him and get off.  But, in the end, you need help right there by a person watching you.  No tack change or new bit or anything like that is necessary right now.  He just isn't listening to you.

A real relationship with a horse is about you always telling them what you want in a clear, understandable (to him) way.  He is not a mind-reader or "magically" trained to just do anything you want.  He is speaking loud and clear to you in "horse-talk".....you two are just not speaking the came language right now.  It is your reponsibility as the owner to fix this problem by learning to understand him.  Not the other way around!

Good Luck, Stay Safe and always remember to wear an ASTM/SEI approved helmet!

Solange