Advice on spooking in the arena at barrels

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deanspoors

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So brief overview, I’m new to horse ownership and have limited experience with horse behaviour. I bought a horse around 3 months ago. He’s a 5 YO, ISH. He’s lovely natured, very calm, but still rather green. He’s done some basic schooling, showjumping and hunting. In the arena he’s been pretty good, but still a little unbalanced and clumsy, but overall nothing that can’t be improved over time through schooling.

That being said he has however took a disliking to one corner of the arena where there are several large blue barrels stored. This was never an issue originally, but one day a few weeks ago he decided he didn’t want to go anywhere near them when being ridden. He would however walk past them fine in hand. This seems to have become quite a big thing for him and it’s took a lot of repetition to get him to trot past close-by. I’m at the point now where he will pass in trot and canter on his left rein, with a little hesitation, but on his right rein he is still very reluctant. He will jib away from the corner on every pass no matter how I use my reins and leg. I’ve spent a few sessions lunging him in the corner also and with the same effect, he will move in off the circle every pass (but only on his right rein) and sometimes will also canter away from the barrels.

I’ve been told if a horse spooks at something to concentrate on the thing that he’s spooking then reward for good behaviour I.e. for this corner I’ve been repeatedly circling him next to it in 10 and 20m circles until he stops spooking / shying away and as soon as he does pass the barrels I praise him and move on, and will go back later to confirm he’s still okay. That has worked on his left rein but I’m still struggling with the jibbing on the right rein.

Can anyone recommend a technique to get him to overcome this. He’s fine with the barrels in the centre of the arena and working around them. It’s just in this one corner and on one rein… I don’t want to make every ride into this thing about the barrel corner. (Also it’s not practical to just remove the barrels).

Thanks
 
Do they allow the horses to be turned loose in the school? If they do I'd do this.
Don't make a big deal about the barrels ,ride past at a distance he is comfortable with and over time you should be able to move closer with no reaction.
If you make a big deal about making him approach them you may fix in his head that they are something to be scared of.
Give him time and you will get there.
 
You have two options in my opinion
work him in hand next to the barrels and when he needs a rest allow him to stop but only near the barrels so he sees it as a good place
or else
take in a small feed if you are allowed and feed him next to them.
 
deanspoors said:
So brief overview, I’m new to horse ownership and have limited experience with horse behaviour. I bought a horse around 3 months ago. He’s a 5 YO, ISH. He’s lovely natured, very calm, but still rather green. He’s done some basic schooling, showjumping and hunting. In the arena he’s been pretty good, but still a little unbalanced and clumsy, but overall nothing that can’t be improved over time through schooling.

That being said he has however took a disliking to one corner of the arena where there are several large blue barrels stored. This was never an issue originally, but one day a few weeks ago he decided he didn’t want to go anywhere near them when being ridden. He would however walk past them fine in hand. This seems to have become quite a big thing for him and it’s took a lot of repetition to get him to trot past close-by. I’m at the point now where he will pass in trot and canter on his left rein, with a little hesitation, but on his right rein he is still very reluctant. He will jib away from the corner on every pass no matter how I use my reins and leg. I’ve spent a few sessions lunging him in the corner also and with the same effect, he will move in off the circle every pass (but only on his right rein) and sometimes will also canter away from the barrels.

I’ve been told if a horse spooks at something to concentrate on the thing that he’s spooking then reward for good behaviour I.e. for this corner I’ve been repeatedly circling him next to it in 10 and 20m circles until he stops spooking / shying away and as soon as he does pass the barrels I praise him and move on, and will go back later to confirm he’s still okay. That has worked on his left rein but I’m still struggling with the jibbing on the right rein.

Can anyone recommend a technique to get him to overcome this. He’s fine with the barrels in the centre of the arena and working around them. It’s just in this one corner and on one rein… I don’t want to make every ride into this thing about the barrel corner. (Also it’s not practical to just remove the barrels).

Thanks
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If my mare spooks or is very wary of something (there were two trees down across the track in the woods that we have ridden in many times and she really didn't like them) I let her walk up to the challenge and let her make her own mind up as to whether it is a threat or not. If necessary, I will, if necessary, get off and lead her up to the 'threat'. That's always worked for me.
 
Are the barrels upright open/empty? Or closed either end? Plastic or wooden?
Asking because sounds can reverberate within barrels…like a small frequency echo. Horses have much better, precise hearing than we do, and it’s possible your horse is hearing the reverberation within the barrel, coming from the arena movement of you riding him. The sound will get louder the closer you get to the barrels.
It’s likely a frequency outside our human hearing, or too low volume for us to hear while on horseback….but he could potentially hear it.
They might reverberate more in a corner compared to the middle of the school, due to the corner moreso reflecting the frequencies back.

For him, it might mean it looks like an inanimate object that’s making sounds, so that’s a bit confusing. It’s understandable as there’s not many objects in everyday life that are barrel-like and can reverberate sound frequencies.
I’d hope continued exposure and learning the barrels are safe, would eventually help him overcome the spook of them.
 
I have a horse who reacts very similar. I think mine is anticipating the surface flicking against the plastic. 5 years in he still flinches as he trots past but ok in hand and in walk. Happy to touch the bin with his nose.
 
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