Help - Spooking Horse

[Vicki]

HELP ANY SUGGESTIONS!

Gigs and I are having a few problems at the moment. I had my usual weekly lesson with him- he did some really nice work but then started to spook in a particular place in the school each circuit. I could feel it coming, he grew, he tensed up and then he spooks - he moves at the speed of light sideways which is very unbalancing - I stayed on but there was one where I lost the stirrup and nearly came to grief.

My instructor told me I had to ride him forward, and keep his concentration. In all other parts of the school he has floppy ears and really works well - now here comes the crunch I KNOW that I am tensing up as soon as we approach the area. I try deep breathing, Sally my instructor keeps talk to me to try to make me relax, I almost get through it and I start to relax but then bingo!

He is feeling generally very good in himself - we squealed in excitement our way round a hack for 1 and three quarter hours last week-end when it was wonderfully sunny.


I have cut his hard feed down a bit, he has put on weight recently. The only other thing that has changed in his routine is that he is out in the field on his own -his field companion has moved. Could this be upsetting him?

Any suggestions very gratefully received. What I really need is a massive injection of self-confidence! I am having a lesson with Mike on Saturday so will discuss this with him as well.

Vicki and a very bouncy Giggles

[Sarah]

hello!

Sorry to hear about Gigs being spooky.

Is the spooky area of the school the bit by the tree where he is always a bit spooky? Could it be just that he is a bit 'full of beans' at the mo and reacting a bit stronger than usual to his usual spooking trigger (whatever it is!).

This may be a bit of an avoiding the issue approach, but can you just avoid that area of the school? I think a few horses are a bit full of beans at the mo, Tango certainly is - it must be Spring starting or something.

The fact that his usual field chum has moved away may mean that he is more sensitive to external triggers than usual. When you come to ride him in the afternoons' has he already been brought in for you or do you go and get him in? I was just wondering if he is acting at all stressed int he field. I drive past your yard every morning at the mo, so if you tell me which field he is in I can keep an eye out and see if he looks happy for you if you like and report back on Saturday.

Sarah and 'a very full of the joys of Spring' Tango!

[Shiny McShine]

You say he goes around the rest of the arena with floppy ears. Maybe hes just not concerntrating and thats why hes spooking, maybe you need to have his attention a bit more so that he is concerntrating and won't be surprised is something silly comes into his vision ( you know, like a funny shadow or any of those things that horses see but just don't seem to be there).

Also if you have his attention and he still does shy he may be less likely to do as much and you will probably be much more prepared. I would try not to avoid the problem but just keep his mind on the job at hand, not just when you suspect he is going to spook.

Hope you work it out :)

[Vicki]

Sarah

Yes it is the usual corner - but most times we can work through it and he will only try it on once or twice but yesterday it was all the time. I am ashamed to say the huge spook frightened me so badly I had a cry!! woose or what!

We both fetch him in and sometimes he is already in, Doesn't seemed stressed but maybe he is not venting as much energy in play as usual. he is in the field opposite the school so you probably won't see him from the road.

Shiny - when he is floppy eared it is his way of concentrating and shows he is relaxed into his work. If his ears are constantly pricked forward I know that he is not listening tome in anyway and we could be heading fro trouble. I use voice and legs as aids to make him flick his attention back to me, but yesterday it did not work. Even to the extent of Sally, the instructor walking along side of us in spooky area but he still mananged to spook sideways.

Vicki

[Speedy]

I'm sure this doesn't apply to you, but I had a gelding on loan that used to do this - he got worse and worse - spooking and bolting from one particular corner - ruined my confidence. Finally got someone to check his back and he had massive muscle damage in his pectorals - his spooking was his way of saying that he was in pain.

As for my mare, she has her favourite spooky corner too, but like you, if I push her forwards and make her concentrate then she eventually gives up - wish I could get consistent floppy ears though......

Incidentally she's full of the joys of spring too - and boy does she want a man at the moment:D

[Sarah]

Vicki,

You are most definitely not a woose! After the scares you have had riding in your life you are more than entitled to have a cry when Gigs does a big spook. The fact you were brave enough to get on riding afterwards shows that you were being very brave indeed - and you know me, I am not just saying that to be nice!

Could you ask Hazel (the yard owner) if he could go out with another horse, or is there another suitable bunch of horses he could join. I am not sure that this woudl solve this problem, but I am sure it would generally like to have buddies, he is a sociable chap after all.

The only other thing I can think of is that as the spooky tree area is at one end of the school, then maybe just working down by the gate till he is through his 'joys of spring' stage may work.

Does he spook when John (Vicki's husband) rides him in the school? It may be that he is slightly feeding from your worries near the tree, or it may be that he is genuinely worried there. Might be worth watch John ride him in the school. Otherwise, lets see what Mike A says on saturday!

All the best,

Sarah.

PS Speedy, what you say could well be a factor for most horses, but Gigs has just finished a course of physio and has recently had his saddle checked so I very much doubt that pain is an issue with him (from what I know at least). Knowing Gigs, he is just likely to be a bit full of himself at the mo - and I mean that in the nicest way!

[Vicki]

Thanks to all of you - you know how it is you come home and the incident gets larger and larger in your mind - it is so good to be able to put pen to paper and have understanding people come back to you.

I really now think it is the joys of Spring. Went out on a hack with him today and we passed and were passed by all and sundry including a huge crane thingy with flashing lights and Gigs was an absolute Gentleman.

I am sure it is me as well I know I lack confidence so I have been out today and bought a book called Life Coaching!! This is it I am going to get a more positive attitude!!!!

See you Saturday Sarah.

Vicki

[Sarah]

Blimey, if you can get your horse past a big horse eating crane with those flashing lights that show the crane is particularly hungry, I am VERY impressed! Hopefully it was just the wind in the tree that upset Mr Giggles and now it is a bit calmer he will be back to be the type of respectable Gentleman we are used to!

Do tell me if the book is good, as I could do with that type of book too!

bye!

[bettina1270]

If he keeps spooking at a certain corner, he could just be plain naughty. The first spook might have been real, but I have a feeling the following spooks were just a 'Hey-I-can-get-my-rider-to-tense-up-if-I-do-this-neat-trick' kind of thing. You can't control human emotion however, so I suggest you get someone to ride your horse for a session - one who has more experience and who won't get rattled at a spook. Your horse must be taught that he just CANNOT spook when he wants to... and when he realizes that, the both of you can really get down to business. Good luck! :)

[Bootyfulcobs]

there's an article in Horse and Rider this month in the harmonius riding bit where this guy has a horse who is a bit spooky - the whole article is on how to get round his spookiness when riding and help he calm down too :) hope this helps:D

[Heather]

One of the best ways to help is to lunge the horse in the area they are afraid of, quietly and calmly and praising and rewarding a lot, sugar lumps or similar, every time he reduces his tendency to shy- also helps to take the mind off!

Heather

[Speedy]

My horse will go past any number of tractors, flashing lights, plastic bags, road works, cement mixers etc, but show her a shiny leaf, a rustling hedge or a person walking their dog and that's a different story. Squirrels are also very scary (they have teeth!)

Time-wise you shouldn't lunge for as long as you'd ride as it's harder work for them - 5mins on each rein gets the fizz out of my mare if she's feeling particularly spritely

[Jo]

I ride a horse that is spooky in one area of the school - there are a few jump poles on a stand just outside and he seems to think there's a dragon hiding there! If the wind is up and things are flapping around, he is worse.

The point is, if your horse is genuinely frightened of an area, in his mind there may be a reason. One of my instructors makes me ride the horse into the area until he is desensitised but my other instructor advises me to work away from the area until he is settled and passing nearby without reaction.

I must admit that when I have made an issue of it, the "victory" scored seems a hollow one. I'd much rather see the horse working happily with floppy ears than stressed out.

If I've learned anything about riding in the recent winds we've been having here in th UK, it's that if you expect a horse to react to a situation he will not disappoint!

[Vicki]

Well I rode Gigs in the school again on Saturday. Having read some of my 'Life Coaching' book I went with a positive attitude - legs of jelly but a positive attitude. To give myself a fighting chance I also put a neck strap on him.

Guess what - nothing didn't even blink an eyelid at Spook corner - I had pre-warned everybody that I might have a problem but zippo - Bless his little cotton socks - .

For those of you who dont' know I fell off last year and cracked my cocyx so I am particularly sensitive and defensive still in my riding.

Thanks for all the advice.

Vicki

[Jo]

I didn't know about your accident - and I take my hat off to you. I lose confidence for no apparent reason. I hate to think what a reason would do to me! Good for you for sticking at it and good luck to you - you deserve to fulfil your potential. You make me feel like a wimp for quaking at the prospect of riding a horse who had a little paddy with me (baby bucks only!) A cracked cocyx- that sounds both painful and serious.

[Cathy Reynolds]

Vicky, well done.

[Yann]

Spooking is something new that I'm having to get used to occasionally with Ben who I've now been sharing a month. He has a favourite end of the school for spooks too, and has thrown one or two quite big ones, getting genuinely distressed when turned to face the spot. I always try to sooth him, which seems to help, before attempting to ride him through the spot again, though this is invariably on the other rein before turning and going the 'right' way.

Getting him going actively forwards definitely helps and the monsters quickly vanish after a couple of laps. Insisting on riding through the same way initially risks a rear, I'm certain he's not taking the mickey.

Funnily enough he's always worse when there are a lot of other horses in the school. I rode him alone in hurricane winds a couple of weeks ago and he was bombproof.

Well done for persevering Vicki, sounds like you've got a lot of guts.

[Mossy]

An instructor who will walk with you and let you take things at your own pace , whilst gently moving you forward, is worth their weight in gold! Connie and I have had some major set backs and my instructor is a star. because of her we are now making proper progress from a sound basis as oppose to masking the symptoms. Carry on the way you are going. Admit you are scared - so what - just sing whilst riding. My favourite is " Rock a bye baby"! You feel such a p**t you forget you are scared. Good luck!