Getting Out of a Rut with Your Horse

Falling into a rut is a normal experience for long-term equestrians, but getting out of a rut with your horse can be a challenge for some. As a thoroughbred owner myself, ups and downs are inevitable.

Ruts can look different for everyone: whether it’s an abscess that affected the following rides back or even a year with a collective six rides in total. Whatever the reason may be, here’s getting out of a rut with your horse!

Change of scenery

If you’re not progressing with your horse, the first question you need to ask yourself is why… and the answer to that question – a lot of the time – is a restriction in your current environment. A quick story about my own experience with this!

After owning Theo for almost 6 years we’ve definitely had our ups and downs, but this past year or two have been the most difficult. That being said, last summer I made the conscious choice to put more time and effort into him — and as our previous barn was closing down, moving to a new location really aided in that process.

Having a barn/facility that is more your pace and environment is so crucial, I’ve learned. Even though our new barn is further away, I WANT to get into my car and spend the afternoon there. Having Theo 8 minutes away from me? I wouldn’t see him all week, much less ride. Having Theo 25 minutes from me? I RIDE at least once or twice a week, and check up on him even more frequently.

Sometimes you need to find a barn that suits your needs: that can range from a larger, more secure arena, to even a more consistent feed schedule.

Whatever it is, use critical thinking and evaluate your current barn to see if its aligning with your current needs.

Expand your Environment

Sometimes we don’t need to go as far as changing our place of board, however, a lot of times we’re actually holding ourselves back by not utilizing everything our current barns have to offer. You might feel most comfortable riding in the indoor arena where your horse has no distractions. Maybe you even prefer to ride in that covered arena because it’s smaller and feels like less opportunity for your horse to be reactive.

Whatever the reason is, you won’t be able to dig yourself out of a rut in the very same environment you first discovered the rut.

Try taking your horse out for a trail ride or even brave the big outdoor arena. As you challenge yourself (within reason) you’ll start to get excited about trying new things, as well as build trust in your horse and in yourself!

Be more intentional

As you grow and expand your environment, you’ll also find that you need to be more intentional and start planning what you’re going to work on that day.

This past November I started to feel like I was having less and less good rides on my horse; he was becoming increasingly difficult while being tacked up and would fight my cues under saddle. So instead of letting it progress further, I started to reflect on what was changing in our environment that was causing these new found issues.

I found that school had been overwhelming so I was spending less days at the barn, as well as less time tacking up and riding when I did decide to go. This was causing me to do up the girth too quickly, not spend enough time warming up and stretching him, and even less time on treats and positive reinforcement.

So to be more intentional, I realized I needed to a) have better time management with school so I could also prioritize the barn, b) take everything in stride and not rush through ground time, and c) spend the majority of our ride time warming up and cooling down.

Over all, I saw tremendous improvement in just our first session back. So if you’re feeling like you’re in a rut with your horse, I would heavily recommend that you do some reflecting and decide where you need to be more intentional during barn time!

Go back to the basics

Sometimes ruts happen because we’re simply overlooking a foundational problem with our horse. And sometimes we cannot move forward if this foundational problem is a stepping stone for what we’re trying to accomplish.

Identify the stumbling block that you’re trying to overcome. Whether it’s not being able to get a consistent canter lead or not being able to raise the jump, go back to the basics (start with the walk), and see if you can locate where something isn’t quite coming naturally.

This is definitely something your trainer can help with!

You’re just not compatible

We all hate to hear it, especially when it’s so easy to get attached to the animal you put so much time and trust into. And though ruts are inevitable with any horse, sometimes long-term ruts are a sign that this partnership is no longer working.

When you’re not compatible with your horse, it can lead to frustration and burn out altogether. Sometimes it’s best to recognize the time you have spent together, but also acknowledge that you are holding each other back.

Talk to your trainer and loved ones and see if it’s possible to find a horse more suitable for your abilities and riding style. So often are we encouraged to just push past it since “equestrians should know how to work with any horse”, that we fail to see that horses are living, breathing animals as well – and not every creature on this planet needs to be compatible.

When you finally get out of that rut…

keep being intentional and keep challenging yourself! When we recognize that there is always something to be learned, we can prevent the possibility of ending up in a deep rut again.

Never be too hard on yourself if you’re currently facing tribulations. You’re going to do great things.

All the best,
Laura

New here? Get to know me!

Want more? Follow me on Instagram!