Problem that needs sorting

beating_hooves · #1 17th Oct 2007, 08:12 PM

My 5 year old mare is scared of tractors. When one is coming she'll spin round and trot the other way or just refuse to go past it (no rearing, bucking, or anything like that) On good days I will just feel her tense up as it passes but she wont really move. It doesn't unnerve me at all or knock my confidence as i know her too well to that that she won't hurt me but I live in the countryside and its growing into an issue. She is not a fizzy horse and is calm with all other traffic its just tractors she hates. I know that she's young and it may just need time but I just dont want the problem to get worse.

Any suggestions to overcoming her phobia?

I've already tried hacking her out with a calm horse but she just runs and hides behind them.

skewbald-mad · #2 17th Oct 2007, 08:14 PM

are you close to a farm? is so you could ride/lead her there and let her see lots of tractors, still and moving, may just be she needs to get used to them?

WooHoo2 · #3 17th Oct 2007, 08:15 PM

Now ploughing and sowing season is upon us, see if you can't find a friendly farmer to let you put your horse in the next field.

Works wonders ~ but make sure she's got a companion.

skewbald-mad · #4 17th Oct 2007, 08:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by skewbald-mad

are you close to a farm? is so you could ride/lead her there and let her see lots of tractors, still and moving, may just be she needs to get used to them?

just realised that bit i said at the bottom is pretty damn obvious, of course she needs to get used to them, must go get some sleep, been up for too long!

beating_hooves · #5 17th Oct 2007, 08:19 PM

Sometimes a tractor comes into the field next to her and she ignores it. She's only bothered if it tries to pass her.

skewbald-mad · #6 17th Oct 2007, 08:20 PM

the mare i work with is like that, she is fine with traffic on main roads, but country roads are quite narrow and i think its the thing of - its coming straight towards them instead of passing on the other side of the road since it is so narrow

stevielee · #7 17th Oct 2007, 08:24 PM

My friends pony was petrified of them, even if he heard one he would tense up and try to take him near one and he would just rear or bolt. They got a horse whisperer out to him last wednesday and the results where amazing!
I wasn't there when she went to him so don't know the process but at a show on sunday i was left holding him, now I'm not the most confident with other peoples horses, and a tractor came. He just looked at it didn't attempt to do anything!
i would really recomend them, it was quit expensive at £80 but it only needed one trip and the results where instant.

beating_hooves · #8 17th Oct 2007, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stevielee

My friends pony was petrified of them, even if he heard one he would tense up and try to take him near one and he would just rear or bolt. They got a horse whisperer out to him last wednesday and the results where amazing!
I wasn't there when she went to him so don't know the process but at a show on sunday i was left holding him, now I'm not the most confident with other peoples horses, and a tractor came. He just looked at it didn't attempt to do anything!
i would really recomend them, it was quit expensive at £80 but it only needed one trip and the results where instant.

Lol she's not so bad that she needs a horse whisperer, she only trots like a couple of metres back then turns around and snorts at it