blinkers for a spooky horse?

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narkymare

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My boys spooking is getting worse rather than better despite lots of work with him he spends his whole time hacking looking sideways and seeing things that arent even there!

Its actually dangerous because he just shoots sideways when he spooks, or turns and runs - obviously dangerous when out and about.

Im thinking of trying him in blinkers, at least they will get him to stop being so nosey and look forward

What do you think - have you ever used them?
 
Hmmm, I thought about this for my boy coz he used to be such a silly billy out hacking. Having been a driving horse previously, I did wonder if he needed the "security" of blinkers, however, what we did need to work on was confidence, both him and mine, and I'm not sure there's gonna be any substitute for that, if you see what I mean.

When he's spooking, he's saying basically that he's needing another member of the "herd" to give him leadership. I presume this is an issue hacking alone? Is he OK with other horses?

If you can - to start with it might be worth trying to find a schoolmaster to hack out with just to him some confidence. But if there aren't any horses like that around, you might need to take a step back and work with him in the yard and the school; just getting him to go away from your hand on his side: controlling the feet is the main thing coz if you're controlling the feet you're controlling the horse. Then you could progress to putting up some "spooks" in the yard/school and leading him past, stuff like plastic bags on poles, tarpaulin's on the ground, rig up a washing line, whatever. Coz then you're in a safe environment and not out on the road with the worries of traffic etc, and can work on building up his confidence gradually.

Give it time, coz this is all about confidence. You might need someone to help you - I had a friend who came along and saw how I handled mine on the ground, watched me like a hawk! (most disconcerting!!!) BUT she got us hacking out on our own.

Have a look at Michael Peace's website, he's got a lot of good ideas you can utilise for spooky horses.

I think this is somethign you're gonna have to work at from the inside out, if you see what I mean, rather than any other way.
 
I have the same problem.

I'm hacking out in company at the minute instead though to build his confidence and letting him walk up to all the 'scary' objects so he can see that they are harmless. I think this would be a better option for you, if you are able to.

I've been hacking the same route in company with the intention of leading on the next one and then doing it alone - that way he knows the route well.
 
From the experience I had with my horse - It made him worse and freak at everything as he couldn't see it but can hear it.
They work well on some horses - Not on mine though! or in fact a mare where I keep my horse!
 
Thank you for your replies.

He is absoluteley fine when hacking out with other horses, a different horse - so brave he insists on being in front!!!

I have done lots and lots of ground work with him, in the school and leading him out - the route we took today he has been hundreds of times, mainly with me leading him so he has investigate the scarey cows and bushes.

I will look at the MP website and will try despooking in the school - its bushes he hates - but ive introduced to so so many - ah well, even more bush investigations seem to be needed lol
 
with blinkers your taking away over 50% of a horses sight, for the everage horse that spooks then no they are not a good idea,
your far more likley to get a spin or the horse to rush off in a panick, In all honesty id work on your riding (no offence ment here) if your horse is spooking to something to your left, right leg on bend to the inside and drive forward, my mare can be a bit daft and I know shes really not scared of the patch of stinging nettles, so she does get a slap down the shoulder, put on the bit and driven forwards. With other riders her latest trick is to shoot backwards, im willing her to try this on me cause she would get ridden so strongley forwards she would quit it. If she really is scared of something, fair enough we stop we look she gets a rub and a pat then told to go on. .... see it all comes down to the person/rider.
 
Thanks jh

To be honest i am still learnign to ride and dotn hack him out, my friend does.

She is a very good experieced rider but today my horse spooked terribly for her (it is first time she has taken him out alone - normally other horses and riders go too).


Im just keen to sort it out because once he gets going he loves being out and about - if he carries on being silly like this noone will take him out for me and then he will miss out.

My husband rides - today when we heard how horrid hed been to my friend, my husband and i went up and my husband made Arthur do it - nothing violent - he just sat his spooks and turned him round when he turned and shot. When he planted he got a swift whack.



Horses lol - dotn you just love them!!!xxx
 
Lauren - this sillness starts on the lane leaving the yard!
Its one lane, lined by bushes and trees, cows on one side - he hates it!
 
I'm going to get some for my youngster showjumping, the fluffy sheepskin ones, as he just looks at everything else and when he gets to the jump he can't do it as he's been to busy looking at everything else.

Have you thought about turning him out in a field by the road? My horse was very spooky on the road then we turned him out by one and he hardly looks at anything now, even a double decker bus steaming at him! :)
 
The smell of cows can upset some horses, and the hedges.. well evil monsters may be in them! take him up the lane on a head collar and lunge rein, and let him nibble grass, or even give him his dinner up there. .. also are the flys bad on the lane leaving the yard? another thing that he may disklike,. if hes spooking and spinning, pop some draw reins on (omg im so evil)and get a decent rider to warm him up in the school then leave the yard at a strong trot driving him forwards..

to be honest this sounds more like a nap than a spook..
 
Thanks jhoward

Thing is, we have been up this lane so so many times - because i dont hack out i often take him out by hand. We have spent hours bush and cow gazing lol.

Hes absoluteley fine riding out if he has another horse or me walking by his side - when my husband rode him today he was fine when i walked alongside them, as soon as i stood still and let them go on, he started!
 
Have you tried long reining up this lane? This way you will be with him but your far enough way that you can't comfort him aso he has to do it by himself.
 
Kokopelli said:
I'm going to get some for my youngster showjumping, the fluffy sheepskin ones, as he just looks at everything else and when he gets to the jump he can't do it as he's been to busy looking at everything else.

Have you thought about turning him out in a field by the road? My horse was very spooky on the road then we turned him out by one and he hardly looks at anything now, even a double decker bus steaming at him! :)
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thanks koko - he is turned out by the road, his field is bordered by one main road and the offending country lane with cows visible from his field - it doesnt make sense does it :(
 
Kokopelli said:
Have you tried long reining up this lane? This way you will be with him but your far enough way that you can't comfort him aso he has to do it by himself.
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No i havent but i will!!!
Excellent idea - thank you!!!!
Shall do this tomorrow and let you know how we get on xxx
 
narkymare said:
thanks koko - he is turned out by the road, his field is bordered by one main road and the offending country lane with cows visible from his field - it doesnt make sense does it :(
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Perhaps he is just scared of cows? My MGA pony was petrified of the things and once ended in a horrific accident, yet he would let me carry anything on his back for MGA :P
 
Have you had his eyesight checked by a vet? IME it is usually the reason when a horse becomes spookier, rather than less spooky with time. As you have described it, those are classic eyesight problem symptoms.

And no, I wouldn't use blinkers, as a prey animal, reducing their vision will increase their stress.
 
I used to have big problem with my mare about spooking, and i hated it it was'nt fun riding her.... i used a "cut in half" sheep skin nose band and placed them on each cheek piece on her bridle while out hacking and at her 1st B.E event (can't use them any more tho for B.E) I got the idea from W.Foxpitt as he used to ride all his young horse round the s.jumping ring and the x.country, round Badders ect ect...
The key is to ride the horse as much as poss and get her eyes/neck checked as this can be a factor also. Also ride her forward with your legs on her when you can feel her tense and a bit looking for things...
 
Whilst it is true sight problems are normally an older horse thing, youngsters can and do develop issues. Get the vet out, you will probably need to have a dark stable ready (i.e. one you can close top doors to) to have him checked thoroughly.
 
Gucci_b said:
I used to have big problem with my mare about spooking, and i hated it it was'nt fun riding her.... i used a "cut in half" sheep skin nose band and placed them on each cheek piece on her bridle while out hacking and at her 1st B.E event (can't use them any more tho for B.E) I got the idea from W.Foxpitt as he used to ride all his young horse round the s.jumping ring and the x.country, round Badders ect ect...
The key is to ride the horse as much as poss and get her eyes/neck checked as this can be a factor also. Also ride her forward with your legs on her when you can feel her tense and a bit looking for things...
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your right - he does need to go out much more.
Now my husband ahs seen how upset i am (he can ride, just lost interest) he has promised to take him out for me much more x
 
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