ducking out the gate!

[stormchaser]

...what do do when a horse ducks out an open gate or heads towards home when he isn't supposed to? What should I do to remind him that we don't go running home before the lesson's over? :o

[hormonalmare]

Personally speaking, I'd get off and cry, but as I've said before, I'm a total wimp!

[stormchaser]

I read somewhere that I should give the horse a good dig with the heels on the side of the gate and maybe whip him on that side. But sometimes he's so determined to get home and even ignores my aids to turn him away!

[carrimclaren]

Hi,
When you say open gate do you mean when you are schooling in an arena? Or does he do it while out hacking as well?

Napping towards gates can be quite a common problem but the real problems come when we let them get away with it. Easier said than done though correting it as it can be scary when they start to nap. When you are riding past the gate keep the leg on nearest the gate to push him on and away from it. If he naps to the gate take him back to where you were before he ran off and make him redo what you were asking. I don't know if this is what you're meant to do but i always find when my mare starts to maybe try and drop back into the habit that taking her back to the start again and again until she does it correctly without napping usually makes her realise that we can either do 20 mins of work or 40 mins depending on how much pratting around she does.

[stormchaser]

I school in an arena, and once I was in an outdoor arena that had several openings (without gates) and the horse would try to nap towards each one regardless of the direction of 'home'. Ended up having to move into the indoor arena that had a gate so that we could do our schooling without fear that he'd try to run home.

[casey]

Keep calm, keep your reins short. (not a pulling rein) slight outside bend, outside leg. That way he cant run through the shoulder.

Best thing is to have a sense of humour, laugh it off and take calm action. :)