My off-the-track Arabian is 12 years old. He was lightly started on barrels and was a trail horse before I bought him. However, it is obvious that the previous owners didn't take the time to retrain, soften him up and get his speed under control.

I've been working with him for the past two weeks on slow work and getting him to bend. I'm getting him to pivot, I've been getting him to sidepass, but only to the right. His stops are mediocre, but he is getting really good at backing up. When I add speed (a slow trot) he won't just stop and stand, he gets worked up and will not sit still.

I'm also having trouble getting him to bend to the left, but he bends fantastically to the right (weird right?).

Where I am at, we live on a hill. So, I've been trying to get him to walk down this hill and walk up it. However, he thinks otherwise and becomes completely oblivious to my prescence, and just takes off like a tiny rocket. I cannot for the life of me slow him down, it takes a good half a minute of the one rein stop to get him to chill.

Also, I don't want a fix-it-all for his behaviour, I don't want to introduce him to the pastes and additives to get him to calm down. I'd much prefer getting us through this loop. I'd eventually like to start barrel racing as his turns are on a dime, but we're really going to need to work through speed control and I have no idea how to go about getting him retrained.

If any of you could help, please! I need some of that sweet, sweet advice! XD

Circle Star RIDs said:

Walk him down the hill, then run him up the hill. Do this over and over until he gets really tired. Then he's ready to listen to you.

HLS Mustang Ranch said:

When he goes down the hill at a fast speed, another thing you can do is turn him around like he is going around a barrel. If that doesn't work, do figure eights in the middle of the hill. Another thing is back him up down and up the hill if he won't slow down. (of cource if its not too steep or rocky) also flexing his neck and getting him to tuck his head will help with soften up his head.

HLS Mustang Ranch said:

Also make sure you do things on the right and left. don't just work on right. Otherwise he is going to only get dependent on his right and not be able to do anything left. Hope that helps :)

Start on the ground, literally start from the beginning again. One click means walk, two means trot, a kiss means canter. WHOA means halt. Teach him walk and whoa, then once he understands those commands, teach the trot. You want him to walk beside you and move when you do, its safer. If he isn't understanding how to walk or trot forward, use your lead, arm, or a whip to reach back and encourage him forward. If this doesn't work, lightly tap him.

Lunge him. Teach him those voice commands from the ground, both ways, including the canter. With and without tack. Show him spooky stuff, flags, tarps, garbage bags, etc.

I highly suggest getting help from a professional trainer.

Aspen Acres said:

I fully agree with Cassa, the one other thing that came to mind was maybe his ability to bend to the right but not to the left has something to do with his prior barrel experience?

Nueve de Cassa said:

Start on the ground, literally start from the beginning again. One click means walk, two means trot, a kiss means canter. WHOA means halt. Teach him walk and whoa, then once he understands those commands, teach the trot. You want him to walk beside you and move when you do, its safer. If he isn't understanding how to walk or trot forward, use your lead, arm, or a whip to reach back and encourage him forward. If this doesn't work, lightly tap him.

Lunge him. Teach him those voice commands from the ground, both ways, including the canter. With and without tack. Show him spooky stuff, flags, tarps, garbage bags, etc.

I highly suggest getting help from a professional trainer.