Anyone ever suceeded in improving a spooky reactive horse?

Woody50

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2019
Messages
87
Visit site
Does anyone have suggestions to help a spooky horse who is quite reactive.?
My chap is adorable. Very easy on the ground and an absolute delight to take anywhere. Probably the easiest horse ive ever had to look after.
Hes very submissive, hates to be told off (not that i have to really) and is regularly put in his place by my mini shetland who he completely respects.
The problem is,he is a naturally suspicious horse and snorts a lot at things in the wrong place or something he doesnt like.
When ridden he can be quite sharp in the way he spooks and has had me off.
He hasnt really done much in his life (hes 9yrs) so obviously needs more mileage.
At the moment im not riding due to the CV as i dont want to be a burden on the NHS. Just wondering whether theres anything i can do to help him and was wondering if sending him hunting next season might get him thinking forward and stop him using spooking as an evasion.
Im happy to do ground work with him at the moment but dont really have ideas what would help.
All suggestions greatfully received. Has anyone actually sorted this sort of problem?
To add, he is out most of the time with company and is fed a fibre only diet
 

stormox

Well-Known Member
Joined
4 May 2012
Messages
3,401
Location
midlands
Visit site
Just hack - go to different places in a trailer and hack, if hes looking at something hold your hands low and wide and kick on. Better to canter past than not go, or spin.
Make sure when you school hes not behind your leg, slightest touch means forward.
Put spooky things - flags, mannequins etc in your school and ride past them, move them regularly so he doesnt get too used to them.
Its just practise and instilling in him to go forward whenever asked.
 

Gingerwitch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
6,076
Location
My own planet
Visit site
Yes, but it was me that had to change not the horse. I had to learn not to react, it took me quite a while not to tense and when i had the walk to launch or the drop to the knees and then canter off I had to learn to ignore it.

When i first started I would dream of walking a circle, just the one and I would get off and shake.

I found using a neck strap or a flash through a saddle D would give me a bit of confidence, but try not pre tense or to fix your arms took a long time to get used to doing.

I also found that i would hold my breath a lot when I was riding her, but it has got much better and now we only get some sort of a spook when its a genuine, they are still pretty explosive but they do not scare me anymore.

Good luck and try to imagine that they are spooking to protect you from the lion or tiger they perceive is there, so actually they are trying to look after you. lol
 

Nudibranch

Well-Known Member
Joined
21 April 2007
Messages
7,110
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
Long reining is a good option. It keeps them thinking forward, but by taking the lead instead of relying on someone in front/next to them. I often take a pair of reins when I'm out with the youngster. We do a mix of ride and long rein if she is having a spooky day (i.e it's windy).
 

spacefaer

Well-Known Member
Joined
3 March 2009
Messages
5,847
Location
Shropshire
Visit site
We have had horses in that have been spooky and reactive with previous owners. We find that the harder you work them, the less spooky they are.

We had one that would have you off by spinning the day before he went hunting, hacking him out two days after he'd been hunting, you could pootle him out on the buckle end. I'm not suggesting that hunting is the answer for yours but just indicating the amount of work it took to keep him quiet and civilised.
 

scats

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 September 2007
Messages
11,842
Location
Wherever it is I’ll be limping
Visit site
As hard as it is, do your best to ignore any ridiculousness. If the horse is prone to spinning, make sure you keep them moving forwards and in front of your leg at all times. This way, they are more likely to spook ‘forwards’ then that horrible spin and disappear thing.
Then just lots of hacking. If they are being spooky at things as you approach, lots of leg and don’t at the object. If they plant and refuse to move, I actually take the pressure off for a bit and allow them a moment to process what you are asking. If I do this for 10-15 seconds with my mare, when I ask again, she’s generally more inclined to go past it (albeit dramatically!).

I do feel your pain as I have a sharp partbred welsh. She used to spin and run, although this is less frequent now. She’s ridiculous about things like birds in bushes and can do some really stupid jumps, drops and teleportation acts. I try not to react if she does this (though I do mumble expletives at her!) and simply just carry on. I don’t let her go behind my leg, though she rarely does as she’s quite a speed demon out hacking and I will engage her brain if she’s being totally ridiculous. A few steps of leg yield, a bit of shoulder-in, basically anything to try and engage her brain with her legs.
 

RHM

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 January 2019
Messages
826
Visit site
I tend to long rein my pony around a new ride first. Mag ox really helps mine, he is so unbelievably reactive to nothing when there is grass flushes, feeding mag ox every day gives me a nearly bombproof horse. Obviously that only works if they are deficient but worth a go!
 

Woody50

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2019
Messages
87
Visit site
Thanks everyone. He doesn't spin just shoots sideways. He's much better if I am firm with him as I think he looks to the rider for confidence. It's just things like cantering across a field he will suddenly spook at a dock leaf or a patch of grass a different colour
 

Boulty

Well-Known Member
Joined
14 April 2011
Messages
2,438
Visit site
If you're looking for stuff to do on the ground then some of the TREC & horse agility type stuff may be worth a play with both from POV of introducing some novel things & also refining the ability to move the horse in just about any direction for as many steps as you say & then to stand when you ask. Definitely helped the spooky one I used to have. Stuff like walking over different surfaces like tarps, bits of wood, foam, passing through narrow gaps etc & there's loads of interesting "mazes" etc you can make from poles. Things like little kids windmill toys, balloons, foam noodles, yoga balls & umbrellas can also be fun to play with. Don't put too much pressure on to start with as last thing you want to do is overwhem him, quietly ignore & shut down over-reactions & praise, reward & encourage bravery. You'll never be able to "desensitize" to everything but you might be able to help minimise learn better ways to react...

I also did a lot of leading mine out for hacks which again might be something you can do at the moment. He still used to leap sideways at things like bits of grass / the wrong colour flowers including at gallop... I found when traveling at speed I was safest keeping hold of his head

Hunting did also help him be braver / not look for things to spook at but the effect only lasted as long as he was actually doing it & never transferred to general riding!
 

Woody50

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2019
Messages
87
Visit site
Thankyou Boulty i will look into it. Interesting what you say about the hunting only improving him whilst actually hunting
 

Griffin

Well-Known Member
Joined
16 September 2012
Messages
1,662
Visit site
Trec exercises as other posters have said may help. Also putting 'spooky' stuff around your school. Goes without saying but make sure you have a hat on for groundwork. I agree with long reining too, you have more control and the horse has to lead.

You might find it worth speaking to Hack Up about a supplement, they have a readymade calmer which is very good too.
 

Skib

Well-Known Member
Joined
6 March 2011
Messages
2,750
Location
London
sites.google.com
When I was learning to ride I watched several demos in which Michael Peace taught horses to tolerate objects, umbrellas and shouts in an arena. First from the ground and then ridden.
His book on this is
Peace, The 100% Horse: How to Create the Go-Anywhere, Do-Anything Horse.
Peace was training police horses. You ay find a video on line.
There is also a book by an American mounted policeman
Pelicano, Bombproof Your Horse: Teach Your Horse to Be Confident, Obedient and Safe No Matter What You Encounter.

As an elderly RS rider I was only once allocated a horse known to be spooky. Another client who loved him told me the secret was to keep his head low. That restricts the horse's vision to things close at hand.
But when riding my regular beloved Connie mare or my share, I never kicked them on. I asked them to turn and stand at a safe distance contemplating the litter box or whatever it was had frightened them. And gradually approach it forward and back to desensitise them. That worked for me.
But what works for one rider is not always right for another. I was told I would fail the BHS riding and road safety as I took to long to ride my horse past a working road drill. Horses need time to process information.
 

Flicker

Well-Known Member
Joined
18 January 2007
Messages
4,004
Visit site
They will take their confidence from you, so definitely positive riding will help. My late mare was quite reactive - she’d spook and then throw in a couple of bucks. I now think it was pain related as she was much more settled when we had her on steroids and cartrophen.
She‘d also fixate on something outside the arena and almost turn her whole body to face it. My trainer had me open my opposite hand really wide to encourage the head to come back to where I needed it, plus lots of inside leg.
And definitely think about whether you need a martingale or similar to control the head coming up too far.
Your horse will probably remain reactive, the key is to minimise the reactions to a point where they are manageable.
 

MuffettMischief

Well-Known Member
Joined
25 April 2016
Messages
362
Visit site
Hunting was the making of my reactive, nappy mare! It gave her confidence and I had more trust in her too. Amazing what a bond you get with a horse when they've safely carried you at speed across/over some challenging country. A spooky hack hack seems like a breeze.
More work less food is my moto and is working for a little gelding I have now! Well, he is actually getting more food but very different to what the others get!
 

Roxylola

Well-Known Member
Joined
15 March 2016
Messages
5,538
Visit site
What works generally for me is keep everything very black and white, keeping very relaxed in myself but still riding positively and with purpose, correcting mistakes but never reprimanding for them. Also, I allow them to stop and look, spinning and bogging off is not acceptable, but they are allowed to stop and observe from a safe distance. When they relax we move forward and if need be stop and process again etc. A hot reactive horse will always react but you can modify that reaction to something which is controllable and appropriate
 

Trouper

Well-Known Member
Joined
11 May 2015
Messages
2,815
Visit site
Thanks everyone. He doesn't spin just shoots sideways. He's much better if I am firm with him as I think he looks to the rider for confidence. It's just things like cantering across a field he will suddenly spook at a dock leaf or a patch of grass a different colour
I think you may have partly answered your own question here. He sounds a sweety but totally "bottom of the herd" and very under confident in himself. He needs to take his trust and confidence from you so lots of the things that others have suggested will help him achieve that. But you have to believe it too! "Feel" confident in everything you do with him and "faking it until you make it" always works for me. Laugh at him when he acts up - it will help you relax.
 

cold_feet

Well-Known Member
Joined
28 November 2008
Messages
1,493
Location
Suffolk/Norfolk border
Visit site
You say you think he looks to the rider for confidence. It took me a long time to realise this about my spooky boy. Apart from all the good tips above re confidence and lots of hacking (not possible now I know) I talk to my boy all the time - in a positive and assertive way, with a louder growl if he looks like he’s about to start to react to something. It has worked wonders.

I think my epiphany was at a clinic, things were not going our way, and the instructor shouted to me “talk to your bloody horse”! It really does work ?
 

Woody50

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2019
Messages
87
Visit site
Thanks. He's already on Hack up bespoke which has helped tremendously. I don't have a school or a flat field at home although I'm lucky having my own land. I hack him in a vulcanite Pelham as if he is silly I know he respects that. It would just be nice to be able to hack without being on high alert all the time
 

Gingerwitch

Well-Known Member
Joined
19 May 2009
Messages
6,076
Location
My own planet
Visit site
Thanks. He's already on Hack up bespoke which has helped tremendously. I don't have a school or a flat field at home although I'm lucky having my own land. I hack him in a vulcanite Pelham as if he is silly I know he respects that. It would just be nice to be able to hack without being on high alert all the time

Try and turn it in to a game, and think its eye spy, and talk to him, eye spy a leaf, and laugh, laughing will make you breath, and push your stomach out, which will deepen your seat and relax your arms and shoulders, you could even shoulder in or leg yield over to or near your spy. You could also practice a halt, and gently flex his head very gently to the left and to the right, whilst talking to him. When he is being good give him a little scratch to his wither, don't take your hand forward, just do it with one of your fingers.

Keep going, you will get there, good luck
 

CanteringCarrot

Well-Known Member
Joined
1 April 2018
Messages
6,145
Visit site
I'm going to type this on my phone, so forgive me if it is not the best format and grammar.


I own a horse (8 year old) that is weird. He's spooky and a majority of spooks occur when he is behind my leg. He's a spin/go sideways quickly type, not a bolter, but will shuffle his legs quickly...but not really go anywhere.

He does have some actual nervousness that is real, and he looks to the rider for confidence. Other times, he's a joker. What I don't get is, a spook gets him out of work for oh.. a few seconds, then it is right back to work. Never have I said to him, "Oh, ok then, we will just stop working." So why he still tried this evasion once in a great while is beyond me. I guess he thinks it is worth a shot.

I rode him outside once and he was a cool cucumber when various things were happening around the school that would have caused other horses to loose their mind. On the way back to the stable, he spooked at an out of place stick. So yeah.

Anyway, what helped was some ground work. I began teaching him to approach and touch, then stand by whatever object he was afraid of. I rewarded him for keeping his cool and listening.

I have to be really keen and make sure he is not behind my leg for a second. He can kind of trick you as he is forward and a bit hot at times, but that doesn't mean he is truly on the aids.

But he can also be totally lazy and hack out on the buckle.

What has really improved him has been time. Experience. He's actually good traveling because he has no idea what is out of place if he doesn't live there! He's hacked once a week with a fairly confident older horse, and schooled the other 4 or 5 days. Regular work helps!

I also long line/ground drive him. He seems to like this and gain confidence from it because he is in front. So I also recommend this.

Some horses are hyper vigilant, and you really have to step up to make them feel reassured. Talk to him. If he feels like he's about to nervous, talk him calmly through it. Reward when he does well. Make a fuss that it was ok, and he's ok.

I'm convinced that my horse is forever weird, but time has helped. A lot of the time these types are quit intelligent and their brain is just too active. So do engaging things. New pole patterns. New hacks. New stuff in the school. Teach him to kick or nose around a ball. Do trick training.

Magnesium can help if there is a deficiency.

Just stay cool, calm, firm, and show him the way. Communicate with him.
 

Woody50

Well-Known Member
Joined
22 June 2019
Messages
87
Visit site
I'm going to type this on my phone, so forgive me if it is not the best format and grammar.


I own a horse (8 year old) that is weird. He's spooky and a majority of spooks occur when he is behind my leg. He's a spin/go sideways quickly type, not a bolter, but will shuffle his legs quickly...but not really go anywhere.

He does have some actual nervousness that is real, and he looks to the rider for confidence. Other times, he's a joker. What I don't get is, a spook gets him out of work for oh.. a few seconds, then it is right back to work. Never have I said to him, "Oh, ok then, we will just stop working." So why he still tried this evasion once in a great while is beyond me. I guess he thinks it is worth a shot.

I rode him outside once and he was a cool cucumber when various things were happening around the school that would have caused other horses to loose their mind. On the way back to the stable, he spooked at an out of place stick. So yeah.

Anyway, what helped was some ground work. I began teaching him to approach and touch, then stand by whatever object he was afraid of. I rewarded him for keeping his cool and listening.

I have to be really keen and make sure he is not behind my leg for a second. He can kind of trick you as he is forward and a bit hot at times, but that doesn't mean he is truly on the aids.

But he can also be totally lazy and hack out on the buckle.

What has really improved him has been time. Experience. He's actually good traveling because he has no idea what is out of place if he doesn't live there! He's hacked once a week with a fairly confident older horse, and schooled the other 4 or 5 days. Regular work helps!

I also long line/ground drive him. He seems to like this and gain confidence from it because he is in front. So I also recommend this.

Some horses are hyper vigilant, and you really have to step up to make them feel reassured. Talk to him. If he feels like he's about to nervous, talk him calmly through it. Reward when he does well. Make a fuss that it was ok, and he's ok.

I'm convinced that my horse is forever weird, but time has helped. A lot of the time these types are quit intelligent and their brain is just too active. So do engaging things. New pole patterns. New hacks. New stuff in the school. Teach him to kick or nose around a ball. Do trick training.

Magnesium can help if there is a deficiency.

Just stay cool, calm, firm, and show him the way. Communicate with him.
This sounds very like my boy. I always say if he doesnt use his brain he makes up his own entertainment! Once hes given the chance to assess something hes quite brave and will go past things
 
Top