How to Keep My Horse From Eating Grass on Trails

Many horses love to snatch mouthfuls of grass while trail riding, and in some cases the grass is tempting enough to make a horse stop completely to eat, ignoring the rider's cues. This behavior is undesirable in a trail mount, as the rider is left without proper control, and it shows a lack of respect on the horse's part. Consistent training can teach horses that eating while on the trail is unacceptable, and can put an end to the behavior.

Things You'll Need

  • Horse
  • Saddle
  • Bridle
  • Rider
  • Trail with grass
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Instructions

    • 1

      Decide that enough is enough. Repetition and consistency are key in training behaviors out of horses, so if you decide that you do not want your horse to eat grass on the trails anymore, make that decision and end the behavior fully -- letting your horse graze occasionally in the future, such as when resting on a trail talking with friends, will only confuse him as to what you are training him to do.

    • 2

      Saddle and bridle your horse, mount up and head out on a trail that you typically ride on.

    • 3

      Ride your horse on the trail with a loose rein as you would normally ride. Keep your eyes on the trail ahead, and as you approach a patch of grass which you know your horse will be tempted by, allow him to reach down for a bite.

    • 4

      Pull up quickly with one rein as soon as your horse starts to eat. Use the rein which corresponds with the direction in which you want your horse to travel (if you want your horse to go right, pull with the right rein.) Make the pull up short; the idea is just to raise your horse's head so that he will move forward, so don't hold onto his mouth after he raises his head.

    • 5

      Cluck out loud to your horse to signal him to move forward. Be sure that you give with both reins at this point to encourage him to move.

    • 6

      Squeeze both legs against your horse's sides if he has not responded to both the rein-pull and the cluck to make him go forward. Depending on the horse's responsiveness, a gentle squeeze may be all that's needed, while some horses may require a firm kick. Once he moves forward, continue to travel down the trail.

    • 7

      Repeat the above steps every time that your horse attempts to eat grass. Some horses may understand almost immediately that eating is no longer tolerated, but others may require that the lesson be repeated extensively.