Stop a horse from pacing?

See if you can discover ways to figure out what she might be thinking. It's quite obvious that "something" motivates her to pace. What could it be? Here are some thoughts:

- The presence of a particular horse, or absence of one, such as a long-dead buddy.

- The presence of a predator or something that looks like one.

- The fear of predators she cannot see.

- The shape of a building that she can see.

- Something that looks to her like a horse, in the distance.

- Being able to see you.

- Not being able to see you.

- She's just "mental" and will always be that way. (But that's you giving up!)

Watch her ears. When are they forward? When are they pinned? When are they random?

What happens if you put a training hood on her to limit or obscure her vision? (Try to get one with adjustable cups.)

Watch when she paces and paws more or less, and see if you can figure out what she sees or cannot see at the times when she does more or does less of any activity. Do this observation from where she cannot see you.

Maybe even try keeping a log book of your observations. Pretend you are a shrink doing lab experiments, and write everything down, the time of day, the weather (especially the wind), how she and the other horses are behaving, even how you are feeling (happy, moody, etc.) Maybe even the phase of the moon. Also write down how your riding went that day, what you did, how she responded. After examining several weeks of written records, you may see a pattern emerge. Even if you don't solve the problem, you'll be ready for Yahoo University's honourary PhD in equine psychology!

Sounds like she's telling you that she's done working and is refusing to listen or move forward. If you're dismounting at the gate, I would stop. I believe when you do this, she knows that the gate is the end of the session rather then just a gate that you're riding past in the fence. Do you carry a whip or crop with you while you're riding? If you don't, you could always start. When you get to the gate, start by suggesting that she walks away with a squeeze. If she ignores you, then ask her that she leaves, either squeeze harder her or give her a bit of a kick if necessary. After that, if she's still going it, give her a firm command to walk on and use the whip to make her move. Whatever you do, do not give up until she moves away from the gate and then continue to walk past the gate until she stops fighting with you. It shouldn't take long for her to figure out that you aren't going to tolerate this behavior. You could also try lunging her by the gate so she realizes that she's going to be worked when the gate is there.

I would have an Electric fence. what breed is she if he is an Ex racer a lot of then have bad habits from being bored my horse has the weirdest ones lol she may just need to be ridden more and be more challenged she is most likely bored and if she is an Ex racer or was always in a stall before you got her she might not know what to do in a field a lot of old racers have that because they are so used to have been i a stall. Ride her a lot and make it fun jump work on dressage gallop go on trails.

Why are you yelling at people through the computer? People could of just NOT answered you, you know. They are trying to help. If your just going to yell at people and be negative, then just don't ask.

For one, 13 years old is not "old and crusty." That's actually a very good age for a horse.

For two, just because she's fed twice a day doesn't mean anything.

For three, riding her doesn't necessarily make her happy. Try taking her on walks or groundwork or teach her tricks. You seem to be stuck in the same pattern. Spice it up, make it interesting!

Honestly, I think the problem is you. Your making her life boring. Do more with her. You just use her for your enjoyment, your not her friend. She seems to be a very smart horse and is doing anything just to keep her feet moving and mind going. You can RIDE her, but doesn't mean that her mind is going. She's just going through the same boring routine, same pattern. Blah blah blah. That's all she's thinking. Blah blah blah blah blah.

If you hate her SO much, think she's old and "crusty", then I really don't see why you have her. I feel bad for her.

exercise her ride, lunge her or get her a pasture buddy. she is Bord.

you can try one of those big balls for horses to play with. punishment will do no good. she is just trying to keep her sanity. horses are herd Animals and need company and stimulation. think about it, what if you were alone all the time with no one to talk to and play with.

and any horse is going to walk fences and make ruts.

okay i understand better now. so maybe it is the grain making her high. i have an arab/hackney cross mare and she was alone and did allot of pacing . i fo not give mine grain but had a busybody that was behind my back . i caught it and checked it. i also wormed her with a different product and she stopped. the vet suggested that wormer switch, she was also rubbing her butt allot. i dint know what else to tell you it isn.t much help at all . but one thing i have noticed is that real hot blooded horses do pace a lot.

Most of the time if a horse paces it means it's bored & if you keep her stalled up 24/7 then chances are, she's extremely bored. You could get one of those balls that taste like apples or something like that for her to play with or a thing that you hang on the wall or from the ceiling that she can play with too. You can get things like this at a feed store or any kind of livestock store.

I'm with the others. Boredom, not being with another horse, these all cause horses to display abnormal behavior, and pacing the fence is abnormal. Give her plenty of hay to keep her occupied, a pony or a burro to annoy her and keep her company, and remember horses think "two" is good enough for a herd.

Is she turned out alone? Practically 100% of vices are caused by boredom. Make sure there is another horse out with her and make sure she has hay/grass available to pick at all day, otherwise unfortunately there is not much you can do.