Riding the Unkind Horse
- January 21, 2025
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- Anna Foulger
Posted in: Featured, Horse Training

There is something to be said for the unkind horses. The horses that you want to be good, but everytime you go to swing a leg up, you can’t help, but wish you were anywhere else in the world. Now I’m not talking about the broncs of this world, because believe me when I say, I am no bronc stomper, never have been and never will be. I’m talking about that goosey horse that sees his shadow everytime he rides out or simply doesn’t want to be caught for no apparent reason other than he doesn’t want to be rode today. These horses are frustrating to say the least, but many times as a horse trainer these are the horses that show up at your door.
This month, I have one such horse. He is tall, gangly and simply unkind. He would rather stay in his paddock than ever be rode. This horse was started by another trainer, he has quirks I don’t understand and everyday I go to ride him, he sure thinks there is a ghost in the barn that is going to bite his butt every time he comes in to be saddled. For me, this is always a mind game. He will buffalo you, if you let him and some days he does. I have to be mentally tougher than him or else his large frame will put me in a bad situation one of these days.
Though this horse has never bucked or done anything truly crazy, the first five minutes of every ride, I am puckered up, waiting for him just to pull something that lands me squarely on the ground. That being said, I still have to ride him and I need to relax as much as possible. Therefore everyday, I walk out to the barn, saddle the big horse and do a few things so that I feel mentally prepared to ride him. Saddling him up, I walk him out to some soft snow and work him around me, both directions, getting him a little winded. After this, I can usually cinch the saddle down a little tighter as he puffs out some big breaths. I like to swing the stirrups a bit (as I would with a new colt) so make sure he isn’t going to jump sideways while I mount. This usually helps loosen both me and the horse up. After this there is not much left to do, but to ride.
Swinging a leg up, I like to make sure I have this horse’s nose turned in towards me. Usually, I work the horse in a few small circles getting him off my leg in both directions. Long trotting is another great way to get this horse warmed up. I like to long trot in big circles or point him into a pasture to get his feet moving. Rolling my shoulders, taking deep breaths and giving this horse a chance to show me he actually retained anything from the last ride is something I like to do as well. Once this horse is warmed up he acts like a puppy dog, which is always fun when you get one to a point where they feel fun to ride. Hopefully one day, that unkind horse becomes a horse you can’t wait to get on the next day.


Posted in: Featured, Horse Training
About Anna Foulger
Hey there! My name is Anna Foulger, I am a young mom of soon to be two; a toddler daughter and little boy on the way! Me and my husband ranch in Eastern Montana with his family and we love every minute! My background is in...