Excitable Hack

[TraceyP]

I own a 14year old TBx who is a sweet lovely mare who is never phased by anything. When trying to hack her out (unfortunately, the stables are on a amin road and near a housing estate) she is fine and calm but a soon as she senses that we are returning to the stables she starts to dance around and go side-ways. This is quite unnerving but I try to stay calm and she never runs away. Will she get over this with time?? and what will she be like if I try to take her to a bridleway a few miles away.?

[KB]

There are a couple things you can try. Make sure you always return to the barn at a walk. Don't feed the horse as soon as you get back. Try working a bit more once you get back - don't just turn the horse out right away. Or get just about to the barn and then go back out for a bit and then return. If you have a lot of time - keep turning away from the barn every time the horse starts to fuss. Eventually she'll figure out she gets home quicker if she doesn't fuss. Granted it may take a lot of time at 1st! It really sounds like is that your horse is just happy to get back to the barn. Not totally "barn sour" yet. Basically find a method to keep them from their "reward" (being in their stall, dinner...) until their behavior deserves it. Time and patience will help a lot. Good luck!

[Helen]

i have got a TB mare who is 17yrs old, she has just come back into work after a foal. She gets very excited on a hack, and when she does that she starts to knap, she also shys at everything, even white lines in the middle of main roads!!! I have been told to hack out with a quiet horse, also just to keep it very calm, ie to walk, and if she starts to mess around be very quiet but let her know who is the boss.