Too spooky

[Sparkle]

I am having some issue's with Ginger's spookiness. I know every horse spooks, but we were riding today, and she saw a bird land in a tree and spooked at it. She seemed spookier than usual, so I was singing to her, when (conveniently as we had just switched her to a lighter bit for the show, coz our normal one isnt allowed) we saw a deer and she turned and bolted down the trail. It was the worst she's bolted with me so far; I couldn't stop her galloping until we reached the barn again. The bolting doesnt scare me, but it's annoying to have to always ride in the ring because she is so spooky. Is there anything I can do to keep her calmer? (I know many horses would spook at a deer, but she spooks at really little things).

[Cochise]

Cheeky spooks not because he is afraid, but because he has too much imagination!! Just ignore it and ride her strongly forwards. Even if you take her in small steps at a time, and go a little further each day. Maybe one of the reasons she is spooking so badly is because she hasnt had enough exposure to the big wide world out there! (Sorry just reopened the Mark Todd cross country handbook and its all on my brain at the moment lol)

[galadriel]

I've noticed some correlation between horses who aren't very spooky and horses who have faith in their riders; I have definitely noticed horses getting more confident with more confident riders, and getting more spooky with less confident riders. So, ride with confidence.

If you ride strongly and keep her mind on you, and your own mind on what you're doing (walking, leg yielding, shoulder-in, whatever), then you should be able to keep her from vagaries and flights of fancy which will lead to terror-stricken bolts. If you can get absorbed enough in your riding to keep yourself distracted from all the frightening things out there, you may even be able to keep her absorbed in her work. Distract her from the Great Wide World by making her pay attention to YOU. And you, you ride like there's nothing for her to be afraid of, so there's no reason for her to ever take her attention off of you :)

[virtuallyhorses]

Galadriel, you're on the same wavelink as me :)

However, I would add that you can 'train' to reduce spookiness. Desensitisation is part of it and creating a stronger trust bond with the rider is another.

Groundwork is where I started (having a big spooker of my own) - basic leading techniques to solve the spooking while being led problem and then moving on to NH groundwork to build a more solid relationship.

We also worked on lots of techniques riding in the arenas before venturing out again. To me it makes no sense to try to start training when you are already in the situation, so start when the horse is in a 'happy place'. Use things like flexion on one rein, or asking for head down - then when these are well trained use them (before a problem) when out hacking - you will have a much better chance of being able to use these same tools (or whatever you choose) when you do have a problem.

[Esther.D]

I have definitely noticed horses getting more confident with more confident riders, and getting more spooky with less confident riders

I would agree there. When I saw Rupert's previous (very nervous) owner riding him he spooked at everything. As soon as I got on he stopped spooking (except at paper bags:rolleyes: ) as I was more confident.

Good Luck though I hate riding a horse that spooks I try to desensitise mine to a point where they spook at nothing - I get them to walk over tarpaulin and through avenues of plastic bags from a young age and it seems to work:)

[cvb]

Sparkle

If you've read some of my past posts, you may know I have had this problem with my mare ! I am sure it is because she has not been out and about much. Plus she is the kind of mare that seems to feel she should be responsible for keeping us safe, so gets quite anxious about things and over reacts.

The trouble is that when she spooks like this, she is very fast and it takes a stride or so to get through to her and stop her - assuming I survived the spin !

By the way, I am a confident rider - and this is happening despite the fact I ride strongly forward etc.

My approach is

(a) ride out in company and good weather wherever possible. (minimise the risk). I do ride out alone, but not when it is windy. (*)
(b) in our training I try to work on building trust - partly through natural horsemanship and loose/round pen type work. (So we have a good relationship and know each other well). And also by always taking her needs into account i.e. introducing new things in a sympathetic way

Through this she is getting to the point where she spooks less but will strongly signal to me that she is worried about something. I give her time to look and assess, talk to her to reassure her, but sit calm and ride confidently to ask her forward. I do carry a whip and will use it lightly on her shoulder if she needs some reinforcement. I have also been known to back her past things ! She always gets lots of praise when she goes past something scarey in a reasonable calm manner.

I know I can't just push her past things regardless, as she really does go into heart-thumping run-away-fast mode. She is allowed to stand and look, but not spin or go backwards. If she does try the running away thing - I stop her as soon as I can, turn around and calmly repeat the process.

This approach is working. The downside is when you don't sit the spin - which is more likely when I am in an 'english' saddle. So if in doubt I ride western ;)

(* the reason I am careful about riding out alone is that there is really lousy mobile signal near the stables - and lots of woods - so if I fell off it would be really difficult for someone to find me).

[virtuallyhorses]

That is VERY COOL lateral thinking CVB! :)

Backing past is such a great idea - like 'head down' it combines a natural horse calmer (in this case submission) with what you want. I'll put that one in my mental toolbox.

Have you tried shoulder-in past a scary place? - apparently the idea is that the horse can see that you're pointed in the direction away from the scary thing and therefore doesn't feel so trapped (which is what happens sometimes if you try the 'take a look at it') I guess it also gets you to do something (positive) too.

I forgot to say that its important that you don't try to 'reassure' your spooker by kind words or pats immediately after an incident. This is something commonly done (by me too until someone pointed out the error of my ways) and what it does is say to the horse 'well done, you spotted that scary thing and reacted, that's your job and you should do it again' - not exactly what you want. Instead you should 'ignore' it, praise for good behaviour when he\she's relaxed instead.

[cvb]

my mare is definitely very visual. I'm sure that's why backing helps - but I only do it when absolutely nothing else works. I don't want her to translate backwards into upwards at some stage !

So yes, shoulder-in does work - actually anything that takes her rivetted gaze away from whatever she is locked onto.

But you have to be careful. I was riding her in the outdoor school and insisting she concentrated on me and her work. The sun was quite low in the sky. Then all of a sudden she caught some movement in the direction of the sun. It was a person walking a dog - but because it was into the sun it was really tough to see so of course she was convinced it might be a sabre tooth tiger !

I think you have to have the right balance of allowing them to see and be reassured, and turning them away so they let you take responsibilty for whats happening.

[DITZ]

I think that having a break from hacking can cause spookiness in itself. I do mostly hacking and my horse isnt overly bothered by much but I couldnt ride him for 10 days whilst I waited for a new farrier and the first hack out after that was a mare!! (No pun intended!). He was terrified of everything and ended up stopping dead in the middle of a long canter when a pheasant came out at us. I came off the side and whilst neither of us was hurt I also think that itself has shaken him up as I really had a battle of wills on to get him back down there yesterday.

I know its awkward and anxious but you really need to give your horse as much exposure to whatever he spooks at (and if thats just the outside world then you've got a long job ahead of you!!!)

[Kelly Lee]

Hello,

I have a TB and she can be spooky as well. I find that the spookiness is heightened when:

1)she hasn't been worked regularily
2)she has too much feed - she is now on a mainly beet pulp diet with minimal protein and this has worked wonders
3)when she is bored
4)when it is windy/cool
5)when I am in a tense mood from a long day's work or whatever - she senses this and plays on it

So - my mare has greatly improved when I pay attention to all of the above.

Good Luck with your mare - I know that spookiness is a really irritating vice.

Kelly Lee

[Greymar Geneva]

I think desensitisation and positive riding are the keys. I have a pony that has always been spooky but while I have been away from riding because of university someone else has been riding him. She rode him out a lot more and didn't worry about the possibility of meeting scary things when out. He will now go past sheep, cows, llamas (don't ask!!), donkeys, tractors and double decker buses. He will also walk through water. Her key points to me were:

- Don't think that the horse is going to spook at something (anticipate they might though). If you think they may then they will.
- Ride past positively.
- Shoulder in works, as does backing past (though only done as a last resort).
- Singing relaxes you and the horse.
- If you spot something in the distance you think you may have problems with and the horse is already being spooky - dismount and lead the horse past.
- Do not dismount when the object is near you - the horse may spin while you are dismounting leaving you on the floor!
- If you are really nervous and cannot ride out in a group try taking someone with you on foot.
- If you have a problem with tractors, tra asking the farmer to turn the engine off.
- The farmer getting out of the cab can also help - they dont seem to like people above them (the horse not the farmer!
- ;) ).
- Don't let the horse turn away - if they do turn them back inthe direction you want to go. They can stand still or go forwards but not spin or go backwards. Keep doing this until the horse get so fed up and bored thet they decide its easier to do as they are being asked...
- Don't give up - unless the situation could get dangerous...
...in which case its probably an idea to get professional help!!

I hope you get over your problem - it can be done! You just have to have faith in yourself and the horse. And he has to have faith in you too!!