Schoolling Help Needed

[Retty]

Hi there!
Have a new horse (well relatively new!), she is alot more fiesty than my other mare and has been relatively well schooled. At the moment we are getting to know each other and I think she is "trying me out" at the moment. When in the arena we can go around a lovely 20 metre circle in walk and trot but when I try to ride further down the arena she always spooks in a certain spot and comes off the track with her left shoulder falling in and her head up ready to run (well this is what it feels like!). It is now becoming a bit of an issue in that I am now tensing when we get to that part of the arena which makes matters worse! Even in walk I am having this problem. It is something I am doing wrong as a friend rode her in the arena and she was fine!! I am breathing out and giving and taking with the left rein whilst pushing her over with my left leg but she is still coming off from the track and trying to get her head to the right hand side. Does anyone have any tips?

Thanks!!

[Hels]

I think you are a lot more experienced than me, but I wonder whether doing a small circle at the point on the track where she has this issue would help. The theory being that she would end up back on the track at the point where she left it and if she still has an issue and tries to come off the track, circle her again, trying to progress slightly further up the school each time until you are past her problem.

Perhaps giving her something positive to do that requires thought and work (ie the circle) will give you both something to focus on instead of nerves and spooky things.

I've noticed that when Carrie spooked at something falling over outside the school right when she was going past it, she had an issue with going past that spot for about a week afterwards. But the funny thing was, she only had the problem when travelling the same way round as when the incident had happened. When she passed the object going the other way, she didn't have any issue with it at all!

[Tootsie4U]

Get off !! :D

If your horse is spooky and you know why or at least know where and when she is going to spook you have a huge advantage!

Your confidence will take a huge boost if you work her through this on the ground. Get off just before she begins (and you begin) to get tense. Lead her up to it, let her sniff the ground/area and lead her past it, turn her around, and do the same. Leave the area, come back again and walk up to it, sniff, lead past, reverse.

She's scared. She's looking for guidance. Since you tense up, its telling her that 1) whatever it is must really be bad cuz its got you in a tizzy too and/or 2) you can't be her leader and help her through it. Get off and change those things.

And dont think just because you got off its a negative thing. The horse can visually see you and will look to you for a reaction. Fool her into thinking that its all made up and a big deal for nothing. By being on the ground, I think it also helps you learn to read your horse better too.

JMHO

[Torny]

I agree with Tootsie.

It's like when they train horses to go past/over plastic. They work from the ground first then the saddle.
With you tensing up it probably is sending signals to her that is causing a negative effect.

Try working from the ground first, When back in the saddletry staying relaxed, try to look where you are going.
So when you're apporaching the dodgy spot look past it, focus on something else. If she does spook, sit quietly and carry on.
E

[Torny]

I agree with Tootsie.

It's like when they train horses to go past/over plastic. They work from the ground first then the saddle.
With you tensing up it probably is sending signals to her that is causing a negative effect.

Try working from the ground first, When back in the saddle try staying relaxed, look where you are going.
So when you're approaching the dodgy spot look past it, focus on something else. If she does spook, sit quietly and carry on.
Each time you go past ask her to go a little closer.

Whether it be she is taking the michael, or is generally nervy in that spot, if you approach the problem with patience then she'll have to give in to you, and soon will be on her merry way thinknig 'well that was a waste of time!'
;)

Hope this has helped,
Keep us up dated on how things go,
Best Wishes

[fair~filly]

Just out of interest....does she do it on both legs..??
Have you tried in both directions..??

You could try riding up the centre line (not on the track) & then turning towards the "spooky place" circling there & back to centre.then circle towards the other side ie figure eights.

Focus your mind on doing a nice round circle changing diagonal on the cross over and keeping a steady rythm. If you have a discman use that & try to ride in time to some music.

Good Luck.....F~F xxx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Horses are Us© (http://horse.notlong.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Retty]

Hi there,
Thanks for your tips, yes I will walk her around first on the ground before I get on, I have tried the circles on the part where she spooks but at the moment it ends up a bit of a mess! I realise this is me tensing up so today I took her out on her own for a hack and she was brilliant, we went past some real "horse monsters" ( bin bags, cement mixer, big lorries and so on and she was an angel) I was singing to her the whole time and I have found someone that seems to like it!! I will try the menage later today just in walk and see how she goes (with me singing!). :D

[fair~filly]

I'm so glad she hacks out nicely...so she's not a spooky type, that's good news.
She'll probably be good now just so you stop singing :D ..!!!
F~F xxx
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~Horses are Us© (http://horse.notlong.com) ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

[Retty]

Hi!

Rode Poppy today in arena and she was an angel. I had a friend stand with me in the middle of the arena and I was convinced that we were going to ride around nicely and we did! A perfect ride! No spooking, no problems, I was relaxed and chatting to friend and she was making me laugh. We then went for a poodle around the roads and she was excellent there aswell!