scared or just being awkward?

[horsemad]

I was just wondering.....is there a way of telling if a horse is scared of something, or if it is just messing about and doesn't want to do what you are asking it to do?

If a horse doesn't want to walk on, or shies, I usually think he must be scared of something, so I try to reassure him. But I wonder sometimes if the horse is taking advantage of my lack of confidence and is just 'trying it on'!! Any way of telling? Or any tips about the best thing to do in this situation?

[snaffles83]

This has always been my views on this, but I probably am not right. I've had horses in the past and I always thought if they were genuinely scared of something, they would flatten their ears back but if they were just ''messing about'', their ears are pricked forward. I always knew when my horse was oing to act up, because she pricked her easr forward as far as they went and then would start prancing all over the show.

Snaff.

[Moonlightrider]

If you're on a trail or something, and your horse balks at something, he could be scared. If he's continually balking at the same thing but not at anything else, he could be. If he's just balking for no reason; there's nothing to be scared of; and he walks off properly afterwards, he could just be taking advantage of you. I know a horse like that - he's balky in the ring, but the rest of the time he's an angel. But once he was scared on a trail - a squirrel ran across his path - and the rider thought he was just being balky. It didn't work out so well.

[talitha]

Its hard to give you an answer without knowing or seeing the horse, but I always know when my pony is genuinely scared because her neck goes tense and she sometimes snorts or breathes heavily. Its mainly a case of knowing your horse. Try not to be too sympathetic with your horse when he is scared (or pretending), just ride him forward past the object and reward him afterwards. This should help him get over his fears, but not encourage him if he is just taking advantage of you.

:) Talitha :)

[horsemad]

Many thanks for your tips. I think part of the problem is that I ride a number of different horses at a riding school, and they all act differently, so I haven't had a chance to really tune in to a particular horse's body language.

Talitha - that sounds like good advice, not to make a fuss when the horse shies at something, but to reward him afterwards when he walks on.

Just something else that gets easier with lots of practice I suppose!
:D

[Cathy Reynolds]

Benny snorts when he is truly het up about something. He also goes tense. Becuase he is so good in traffic, we know if he gets tense it is for real. If he's being naughty his ears are always forward (his face gives him away if you're not on his back - I swear he grins!).