Advice please. Horse won't go to top end of arena!

J

janicesponies

Active Member
Joined
7 May 2009
Messages
35
Visit site
My horse has always had a dislike of one end of my arena - there are trees there that move in the wind! In windy weather life can be a nightmare in there. Currently we are on a daily lunging programme (6 weeks to go) for a sacroilliac injury. If I lunge anywhere near that end - the head is up, shoot forwards etc all bad for back - especially as some of the time has to be in side reins. I could just keep her away from there, but she now seems to believe the area of her fear is getting bigger and moving down the arena! She is scared being led around this area. My friend on hearing of this, confidently walked her around the same area - and she was so much better with her. Argh!!!! She did comment that the horse felt nervous and wonders if she feels "on her own" at the end of a lunge line. I think also she is bored with the lunging, but what can I do as this is what the physio wants. We have been lunging now for 4 weeks. I know I lack confidence myself and she must be picking this up. Any suggestions please?
 
I would start by pushing the horse over to the area with your inside leg and gradually encourage the horse to move over the area it is scared of. You could try feeding him over in that area for a few days so he gets used to it. With my horse if he is scared of anything I always get him to go directly towards the object rewarding each forward step with a pat. Then I will give him the reins and allow him to sniff or paw at the object (careful he doesn't get feet stuck) so that he can investigate it. Becareful the horse doesn't suddenly spin round. Give plenty of encouragement and you will get there in the end. If you friend can get your horse down to that end of the arena without too much trouble it would seem you are sending nervous vibes to her. Sing a little tune to yourself as you ride her towards the area so you take your mind off things and try to ride positively. You will get there in the end.
 
my mare is like this too, she is very spooky and is easily distracted, I know its difficult when lunging but you need to keep her attention on you as much as possible. Try walking with her around the whole of the arena, she must keep her attention on you, talk to her and pat her, when she looks away and loses your attention, stop her and encourage her to come back to you then give her a pat or stroke on the head then walk on, until it happens again etc, expect to stop quite often at first! she will get better though.

My girl is 18 now and it is just in her personality to be like this but she has improved, stay positive! good luck.
 
Could you take some hay/ bucket of chaff etc up to the scary area and stand with her while she eats there? And do this every day for a little while, until she realises that its not so scary after all.

My horses tend to get over most of their paddy's if food is involved!
 
Thanks - sounds really good. I wonder if I am "too focussed" on overcoming this and am forcing it too much as I have been walking her around but only really around the "scarey" area.
 
Its fine to walk around the scary area but walk around the other part too, just go large around track. She must learn that she is there to work and her attention must stay on you, not whats going on outside or in the trees! you'll probably find it easier when you are riding her rather than on the ground.
 
Really useful advice everyone. I have to admit to being in tears today as I felt that I was incapable of giving my horse the necessary confidence down the lunge line or when leading.She is also really nervous of the wind in the trees when turning her out. I have to lead her past a small wood and when it is windy it is a nightmare. I notice she then glues herself to her retired companion to graze as far away from trees as possible!
 
My mare is exactly the same - she's really naughty if I lunge down at the far end of the arena and if she's going to spook anywhere, that's where!
I also had to give up hacking past the tall hedges at our previous yard on windy days as we were just losing confidence in each other, so I do sympathise!
One thing to do in the arena is to make that the 'nice' area - stop and let her have a breather there, and finish your session in that part, giving her lots of fuss so that her attention is on you.
 
A horse i used to share took a sudden disliking to one end of the school for a few weeks. After he ditched me several times up there his owner started turning him out in the school for a few hours a day, making a point of putting his hay & feed in the spooky end. It didnt take him long to realize there were no monsters lurking up there & was fine again afterwards. He was usually a very rock solid, steady type so it really can happen to anyone. If something spooks my girls now i make a point of leading them past again & again until they're ok with it. Todays episode was a tractor dumping loads of pebbles, Gem really wasn't impressed 1st time past but doesnt seem to mind anymore.
grin.gif
Keep your chin up, you'll sort it out soon.
 
I have a similar situation sometimes with my boy. As like you we also have trees just at one end of our school which on a windy day can be really noisy. Something that I have found helps with him is to start work at the "quiet end" getting him to relax and listen to me, then very gradually work my way down towards the noisy end getting a little closer each time. I find that if I come up the long side then turn into a circle and change the rein just as he starts to feel tense he will then relax again and I can do the same on the other rein again just going a little closer each time. Sometimes it will work quite quickly, other times he'll stay tense for ages. Also have you got an instructor you could call on to give you some ideas to make lunging more interesting. Just a thought but if she felt more challenged she might not worry as much and you might feel better having someone back up.
 
Honestly I wouldn't bother walking her around or feeding her near there or flaffing around it at all. Just forget about it and get on with the job. The more you ''think'' about that area and try and solve the problem the bigger the issue will be as you are working on that issue and nothing else in your mind you are already hypersensitive to it by being aware and nervous about it - Which is basically saying to her. Be very careful about those tree's and be on high alert.

Just lunge her as you have to and do lots of transitions if you can, change size/shape of cirlcle move around with her. Just keep her focused on you. The more she is into her work and you are focused on something other than the hedge the less she has time to worry or 'look' at the hedge. Also try and stay as relaxed as YOU can - even if you 'force' yourself to breathe in an even rhythm. The reason your friend had no isseue, was because your friend had no issue.
 
Thanks so much for all the advice. I think I need to do more confidence building myself with the horse. Life is quite boring for her at the moment due to her back injury. We are in the arena or in the stable or her small winter paddock and that's her lot. Boring! Any advice on how I can give her some variety in hand? We have a controller headcollar for leading (eg to and from the field) as she can be a little flighty when nervous.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top