The Problem: 

I've had my eight year old gelding, Scout, for the past five years. Although he has had the same problem since I got him, it has gotten worse the last three years and I'm getting really annoyed. He "rides with his brakes on"!

If we take the lead or we're out by ourselves, it's very hard to get him to walk out or canter down a trail. He's continuously changing the length of his stride: short, long - and then he comes to a dead stop. He always appears to be looking for the boogie man - even in an open field.

I've used spurs and a crop but I've never gotten him through this irritating habit. He never rears, bucks or tries to run away; he just rides jerky no matter what gait he's in. Other than that he's a calm gentle horse! And he doesn't do it at home - just on the trail.

Please help. I need some sound advise.  Carol in Indiana

The Answer:

If Carol had told us that Scout was a three year old, we would have said "Don't worry! This is a normal behavior pattern for a young horse out on the trail. The curiosity of the youngster will cause him to wander ahead of the other horses in the group. Bravely, he will explore his new environment until the moment he realizes that he no longer has the security of the herd. Quickly his confidence will be replaced with self-doubt - an emotional flip flop that will abruptly replace his investigations with movements to return to the herd.

Scout, however, is not a curious, naive three year old. This horse has some miles under his hooves and, theoretically, should have overcome most of this infantile type of behavior. The fact that he hasn't leads to a couple of suppositions. We suspect that Scout is what we call a low ranking individual - the opposite of a herd leader - a follower. In the horse world, there is no moral guilt associated with this ranking. It's just the way things turned out. In most instances, these individuals are content to stay in their inherent position since there is no great social pressure to change.

Our second assumption would be that since old Scout is a zeta disposition type, without the presence of a leader, he is a very insecure horse. Lacking the intense curiosity of youth, it only makes sense that Scout would go to the front under pressure from his rider. Driven to the lead, Scout looses the security of the other horses and his reaction is rooted in the behavior of the green colt. Time and training, however, have taught Scout to be more controlled. He realizes that he can not run to the back of the group. So, instead, he frequently stops to check things out, hoping that another individual more programmed for the part will take over the lead.

Since it is impossible to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, if Carol wants to ride a horse who can lead a charge down a dim-lit wooded trail into the enemy's camp, she should find another horse. If she can be happy with a less aggressive horse, there are some things she can do to try and improve ol' Scout's ability as a trail horse. And they all start with an understanding of the security that those young trail horses were looking for from the herd.

To move green colts into confident mounts in new situations, the rider gradually replaces himself as the security blanket provided by the herd. Over the course of several rides, the trainer assumes the position of the surrogate herd leader and gives the colt needed security to go forth. He does this by behaving as a herd leader: always being watchful but riding with the confidence that he can ward off any danger that may threaten. It is an attitude - a dominant, secure, confident attitude that establishes the rider's dominance over the horse and, subsequently, controls his every movement.

Carol must, first, assume this attitude to win Scout's confidence. Then she must train him through his "bad habit" -which is more like escape behavior. The training should begin at a walk and move up step by step in speed only after Carol has convinced Scout at each level that she is THE HERD LEADER.

Carol should, also, realize that this is going to take time. Scout has been exhibiting this type of behavior for five years and it isn't going to get fixed in one or two sessions. He has to be sure that she can handle each new situation and he is going to test her to be sure. Each win gets Carol closer to her goal; each loss moves her two steps back.

To win each trial, Carol should be prepared to become aggressive when Scout begins "riding with his brakes on". Spurs, crop or quirt - the choice is hers but Carol she must (confidently and aggressively) drive him forward at the designated gait. Scout must get the message: " As the herd leader, I said go ahead."

If Scout fails to comply, force must be immediately applied. And the strength of the force must have enough direction and impact for the horse to become more concerned with offending the rider than some nebulous spook hiding somewhere up the trail.

This attitude must never falter. If Carol finds it hard to continuously maintain this stance, she can relax by easing back into the trail herd where Scout can follow a horse leader. During each ride, Carol should take the lead each time she feels confident she can win. Don't forget to completely master Scout at the walk before going to the trot. The same should be true before going to the canter. Good luck - we hope you get it done!

Copyright © 1994.  Dr. Jim and Lynda McCall