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[RC] Horses that Pull Back - Val Nicoson

Does anyone have horses that pull back that go to rides?? If so, what do you do to help prevent a problem, or how do you contain your horse at rides??

The reason I'm asking is I have a horse that does pull back.? When he does so, he is not in a panic (ie not wide or wild eyed), and once he's loose, or loose enough (uh hmm), then he settles right back down and is fine.? At times he will even attempt to sit back and/or lay down and fortunately those have been rare.? I've worked with him and we've gotten better but not completely there.?

The things that can set him off have been the trailer door being shut/slammed too loudly on the opposite side of the trailer from where he's tied, or even the same side for that matter.? Or anything else that causes him to get upset.? I also have to give him a good length of rope as he is scared of being around the tires of the trailer, being too close that is -- his previous owner told me that cats would jump out from between the tires and scare him.? I was told he didn't pull back and when he started doing so and I told the previous owner about it that that they told me it was something I was doing.? To us it was obvious he had done so in the past as it's quite evident he knows what he's doing and is quiet and calm about doing so.? I've owned him for about 2+ years now.?

I know this is a dangerous situation for him primarily in that he could possibly hurt himself.? I know enough to get out of the way until he settles back down which he does pretty quickly.? Then he acts perfectly normal again.?

I plan on taking him to rides and using an e-pen as he is very respectful of that.?

Any comments or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.? We've tried everything we can think of to prevent this behavior and have been fortunate to reduce the incidences, but he's still doing it.?

Thanks,
Val