If you have trouble riding your horse away from the barn and he always wants to run back home, then here is a cure for you to try.
This is one of my favorite techniques to do with a horse that's barn sour.
In fact, I love it when my horse gets barn sour because it's a chance for me to train him to be the way I need him to be.
So picture yourself riding away from your barn.
You notice your horse is starting to thing about going back.
Take note of where you are.
In other words, how far away did you get from the barn before he turned back? You want to know that because you will use that as your marker.
As you work to get him further away from the barn, you will want exceed your marker.
As you ride and you see him wanting to go back then let him.
That's right - let him.
The reason is this.
You're going to smile and say, "OK, let's go back.
You want to go back? Let's go but we're going to work and we're going to work hard while we are there.
" The idea you want your horse to understand is when he goes back to the barn, he's going to work and work hard.
You want to make it where he'd much rather go away from the barn rather than staying there.
You want him to think that being at the barn means he has to work.
Being away from the barn means he can take it easy and enjoy himself.
So work him hard at the barn.
Work him for 2-3 minutes.
Then take him away from the barn as you originally started.
As you do, make sure to walk him.
You walk him because you want him to see that leaving the barn means he can walk and relax but being at the barn means lots of work.