What Is a Barn Sour Horse?

A horse is said to be "barn sour" when he resists leaving the area of the barn. This can be expressed in many ways, from constant calling or whinnying to more dangerous behaviors such as bucking, rearing and bolting. A barn sour horse may also be considered to be "herd bound," meaning that the horse resists being separated from her herd or pasture mates; however, not all barn sour horses are herd bound. While working with a barn sour horse may be difficult, it is necessary to correct the potentially dangerous behavior if the horse is to be continually ridden outside of the barn, such as on trail rides.

  1. Symptoms

    • A barn sour horse expresses heightened emotions in several ways. Anxiety and tension may be communicated through posture and gait, and respiration may increase. The horse may call loudly by whinnying to other horses, vocally expressing his anxiety. When returning homeward, the horse may pick up her gait without being asked. More dangerous behavior may follow, with the horse bucking or rearing in order to escape the situation which he perceives to be dangerous. Bolting is the act of running towards the barn, and it can be perpetrated by either a mounted or unmounted horse. This can be particularly dangerous to both horse and rider, as injury may occur due to terrain and exertion.

    Mistakes

    • There are several common mistakes which can be made by the handler when dealing with a barn sour horse. The first is to ignore the situation; barn sour horses may begin with small behaviors such as speeding the gait when heading home, but this can escalate into more dangerous actions and should be dealt with as early as possible. Catering to the behavior of a barn sour or herd bound horse by riding out with other horses only will mask the problem but does not treat it.

    Change the Routine

    • Often a rider will become a creature of habit after a ride, turning towards home and immediately ending the ride. For this reason, the horse begins to equate home with the end of work, and naturally tries to achieve this goal! After a trail ride, performing some arena work or lunging signifies to the horse that work does not end just because they are at the barn. Breaking the association between the barn and leisure time removes the attraction of speeding home and assists in curing the barn sour horse.

    Redirecting Attention

    • A barn sour horse who circles and heads towards home without the rider's consent needs to be able to focus on the rider's cues. Carrying a short crop or bat, the rider may elect to give a quick tap in order to get the horse's attention focused back on him. Another method of redirection attention is to give the horse a specific task, such as performing a 20 meter circle. When the horse's attention turns towards home, having a specific job to concentrate on will refocus her attention on both the task at hand and the rider's cues.

    Rewards

    • Rewarding good behavior is as important as correcting improper behaviors. However, caution is necessary when rewarding a barn sour horse at home, as this can create the association between home and rewards. It's better to offer a small reward when out away from the barn as long as the horse is behaving, to build the association of reward and work. Appropriate rewards may include horse treats and peppermints. By offering the reward for good behavior while away from the barn, the rider builds the positive associations necessary to help cure the barn sour horse.