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  Discussion on Horse always wants to go home
Author Message
New Member:
jenny234

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 - 4:30 pm:

Hi,
We don`t have a arena, we just ride out in the pasture and whenever i ride my new horse he always wants to go back to the barn he is hard to turn away from the barn. Does anyone know what i can do to make him stop this behavior?
Member:
cometrdr

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 - 6:27 pm:

I have heard that when you bring them back to the barn area - WORK THEM HARD. Make it more difficult for them to be back and more fun for them to be out and about.
If you don;t have room not sure what you could do - I was in a similar circumstance and I did the big NO NO - I always treated my horses when they were out - allowed them to eat grass on a que for that and would stop and just get off and love on them. Eventually they equated leaving the barn with FOOD and Treats and Special Attention. so it was something they wanted to do. But you have to work that out in your own way to make it work for them - but you could always try my way?
Member:
dustee

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 - 7:27 pm:

You just said he's your new horse. A horse needs a minimum of 30 days to begin to adjust. Don't get too worried, act natural, relax, don't make an issue of things, try to get to know him and enjoy him. We tend to get overly worried about a lot of things. Take one day at a time - this is a very big deal for a new horse - everything in his life has changed. Just help him along...
Member:
shannon7

Posted on Tuesday, Jan 18, 2011 - 7:40 pm:

Hi Lynn. One of our horses has this problem as well. This is what we've been doing, and it's working well, but we've had to repeat every few months if he starts showing signs of "get home-itis" again. He's only 3, so maybe as he matures, he'll get over it, but I think for now we must keep constantly reiterating until the problem goes away.

We go out riding on our land, just like a normal ride. Then from whatever spot we choose and at whatever time (be it 5, 10, 30 minutes out,etc.) we turn & head him back towards the barn. Sometimes we only turn back a few minutes, other times we go about 50 feet from the barn. Then we turn around and ride back out in the opposite direction. Other times we actually go to the barn, ride around (even if it's a walk) and then go back out away from the barn. The more he acts up and wants to go home, the more we repeat the exercise. Once we turn towards the barn, and/or get close to the barn, he's relaxed and doesn't care, we reward him. We may still keep riding, but if we've been battling the bad attitude for a long time, we give him the chance to show he's "over it" several times before we go back to the barn.

I think this is a process that is not going to take 1 session, depending on how bad the habit is.

The idea here is to keep them guessing so they really have no idea when they are going to get home. Any time he's show resistance in going away from the barn, start working him. Doing figure 8's, backing up in circles, something to take his mind off of the barn. When he gives in, you release the pressure of whatever work you have him doing.

Make the right thing easy, and the wrong thing difficult! I learned that from Clinton Anderson, and by golly, it works great!!!!

Another thing that someone advised me to do is to not loosen his cinch at the barn. This has also been working well for us. I rarely stop at the barn and get off & un-cinch now. Usually we un-cinch at a different spot each time, that is away from the barn & then walk them to the barn. I'm not talking about a mile away, but far enough away so he doesn't start associating the barn with getting the saddle off.

I hope this helps. I am only speaking from my experience and what we've done that has worked for us. Good luck!

P.S. I highly recommend not to use treats at any time with training. We give our horses treats at random times, for no specific reason, or when we are just hanging out with them.

I think it's a mistake for them to associate treats with performance or behavior. They are darn smart creatures, and it doesn't take them long to figure out how to push the buttons.

They are herd animals, and you need to be the alpha in your herd, no matter if it's 1 or 50 horses. They need to know that you are boss or they will walk all over you.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Wednesday, Jan 19, 2011 - 7:35 am:

I find it also helps to take walks with your horse, especially if he's a new member of the herd. In fact any time is a good time to walk; you can always get on and ride home!

I enjoy leading my horses out in our woods and coming back up on the road. I get some strange looks as I guess people are used to seeing dogs being walked but not horses ;-).

I walk about 8' in front and look where I am going, head up, and don't make a big deal out of anything the horse hesitates over. NO grazing, just exploring. And many times I do get on bareback, depending which horse, and if I can find a downed tree to stand on, and ride back home with halter and lead rope.

I think the horses really enjoy going out this way, I get some exercise, and the pressure is off the horse when we are leading versus when we are riding and perhaps our leadership isn't so obvious?

All 3 of my horses love to leave the yard & I think taking walks is why they do love to explore.

Oh, as for treats, I don't do many. Sometimes I will have an apple or carrot that I give AFTER I get on for the ride home.
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