1st lesson away from home :)

C

Charlie007

Well-Known Member
Joined
13 October 2009
Messages
2,393
Location
South Lincs
Visit site
I currently have a an exracehorse on trial. He has done nothing but race. At home he is now able to do serpentine, 10m circles, leg yield in walk and trot. He has been with me six weeks and is a really sweet boy. He can get his knickers in a twist but is usually chilled.

When we collected him it was his first time in a trailer. He was a nightmare for the first 20 mins resulting in him somehow dislodging the breast bar and panicking because it ended up between his front legs. Once we had sorted it out he travelled the rest of the 2 hour journey brilliantly.

Onto today.

Loaded great and travelled great!! Phew!! Although he is very anxious to get off trailer the other end. Got his bridle on in the trailer and decided to saddle him outside. If he gets anxious he does lash out and he was lashing out whilst saddleing but once on the move he calmed down. It does say on a sticker on his passport to saddle in stables if possible!! I guess that's why!!
Took him into indoor school, his first ever indoor experience and his first ever experience where he has arrived somewhere and not raced. It took him ten mins or so to settle, then I hopped on and he was fab in his lesson. He really does try. Had a lovely lesson. About 20mins in he totally relaxed and was working beautifully.
Put his headcollar on before leaving school for ease back at the trailer. Got back to trailer totally chilled, lashed out again whilst taking off saddle, loaded great and travelled home great.

All in all a really positive experience for us both. I know the more I take him out the more settled he should become but how do I stop him from lashing out? I know it's down to anxiety as he is as good as gold at home but I need to stop this sooner rather than later . Any ideas??
 
First of all, well done! Sounds like you're making great steps.

With the lashing out you have two options- react or ignore and hope it just goes with experience.
Personally, as it's a reaction that can be quite dangerous, I would be making in back up a few steps each time he's lashing out- asking him to listen to you and then praise him for it, and just get back to saddling up. I find that asking them to do something simple that forces them to use their whole body takes their mind off the negative behaviour to doing what you're asking of him
 
Thank you for your reply. Yes it is something that is dangerous and needs sorting. Luckily he doesn't try and kick other horses. I will definitely give the backing up thing a try. MY other thought was that if he does become a mire reliable traveller, I could perhaps travel him in a saddle? Just until he realises he isn't racing each time he goes out?
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top