Bolting on hacks past cows....

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Jensen has never been the best to hack as he didn't get out much before I had him, but compared to the TBs I had before he is an angel :D

Except past fields of cows. A couple of months ago we were hacking down a lane next to a field of cows, and they started 'chasing' us down the field. Cue a full-on proper bolt down the lane by Jensen, I had absolutely no brakes and was very lucky not to meet any cars....

Today he did the same past another field of cows that were actually ignoring him. He was very nervous on approaching them but I encouraged him on in fits and starts at a walk - then one moved suddenly and Jensen bolted again down the lane. I stopped him more quickly this time thankfully but still had another 10 mins of snorting, hyperventilating etc before he would calm down

Any tips on how to stop this, other than the obvious of continuing to go past cows (in a safe environment!) to teach him that they aren't scary and hacking with another horse who doesn't mind cows?

He is ridden in a snaffle, and when he goes I have absolutely no chance of stopping him even though I'm quite strong. I fully realise how very dangerous it is for him to react like this, but cows are a fact of life around our way and we won't always be able to avoid them
 
Is there a friendly/helpful farmer who you could co-opt for some de-sensitisation training? i.e. leading him in a farmyard where there are cows (taking NO notice whatsoever yourself and only "rewarding" him AFTER he's settled back down and not when he's stressing). Repeat, repeat, repeat, so that he's thoroughly bored with the whole process basically and just can't be bothered to react anymore. The trick is to reward the behaviour you want, ignore what you don't want. So when he's relaxed and OK, then Praise!

But the best thing, if you could, would be for him to be turned out with cows..........
 
Are there any local farm rides or farms that have cows that you could go to and ride around?

We have two farm rides local to us that are dairy farms so we take all new horses out to them early on to meet the residents!
 
My cob was like this when I first got her. She was truly terrified and would sweat and shake - I could feel her heart pounding. I got off and led her up and down, up and down, soothing and talking to her, until she calmed down. We did this a few times and now she's fine with cows unless they're in the hedge and startle her ;).
 
I did think about getting off and leading him past but I've always thought you have less control on the ground than you do riding? I imagined him bolting and getting away from me, eeek!

I would love for him to be turned out with cows lol, I am tempted to ask the farmer whose cows I bolted past today!
 
Also, I know it's really hard but try to make sure your body language isn't sending him any messages that cows = scary. As he's taken off twice now, it's likely that during any future encounters you will be anticipating him reacting and may be subliminally giving off anxiety messages. I prattle away to myself, laugh, sing or generally just make silly nonsense noises to keep myself breathing and communicating. If he's scared, it is very important that he knows that you're not and that you're in charge.
 
Lévrier;13621864 said:
I did think about getting off and leading him past but I've always thought you have less control on the ground than you do riding? I imagined him bolting and getting away from me, eeek!

I would love for him to be turned out with cows lol, I am tempted to ask the farmer whose cows I bolted past today!
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Personally, I'd be feeling safer and more in control mounted than on the ground, for exactly the reason you've given. You could possibly see if a stronger bit gives you better brakes, and I'd be putting on a running martingale (as much for the security of the neck strap as the additional control it brings).

Can you get someone to ride or walk with you?
 
MotherOfChickens said:
tbh I think turning out with cows would be a bit unfair as he's really scared-next to cows would be handy though.
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This ^^

Millie used to bolt past cows until I moved to a yard where there were cattle next to the turnout fields. I never thought she'd get better about them but only took about a week for her to improve significantly. I still feel her tighten and hold her breath around them but no more terrifying incidents!
 
I don't blame your horse! I avoid cows like the plague! Blergh! Nope! Scared of them! Ain't going near them! One of my horses at work is scared of them too and has to have a buddy walk between him and the cows behind the hedge! It's not 100% my fault as none of my other bat an eyelid about the cows but wee Sky does!
 
Have to admit that cattle scare me a bit-I'd not ride through them although I have permission to. But a horse scared of cows would be a pain where I live, right in cattle country. so mine get used to having them as neighbours pretty fast and ignore broncing/stampeding cows if they are the other side of a fence and actually pretty much ignore them all the time.

this is my drive for example :D

https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10155417042732866&l=e479d8feb9
 
I like cows but I certainly wouldn't want to ride through a field of them! Sadly there is no chance of him being turned out next to them as the fields adjacent to the yard are arable, so I think I'll have to rope in the boyfriend to walk with me (and stop the traffic!) while I ride back and forth down the lane :)
 
please don't turn out in the same field as cows, I know someone who did to try and get her horse used to them and it ran through 2 fences to get away from them luckily no serious damage to her horse.
 
Lévrier;13621935 said:
I like cows but I certainly wouldn't want to ride through a field of them! Sadly there is no chance of him being turned out next to them as the fields adjacent to the yard are arable, so I think I'll have to rope in the boyfriend to walk with me (and stop the traffic!) while I ride back and forth down the lane :)
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for something like this I would come up with a shaping plan-like you would desensitising a dog to something. so wander up but keep him below his threshold (hard when you dont have control over the cows), reward and remove and build up slowly.
 
Lévrier;13621935 said:
I like cows but I certainly wouldn't want to ride through a field of them! Sadly there is no chance of him being turned out next to them as the fields adjacent to the yard are arable, so I think I'll have to rope in the boyfriend to walk with me (and stop the traffic!) while I ride back and forth down the lane :)
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If the fields round the cows are arable is there any chance when it's stubble you could ride up and down in the field gradually getting closer to the cows?
 
My pony used to have cows as next door neighbours. He used to stand at the adjoining gate & wash their faces.
We hack past cows & he tries to go over & speak to them.
 
If you know you are going to be hacking past cows. I would put a stronger bit in, which would at least give you half a chance of stopping him. I would also put him on the opposite side of the lane to them, so there is the maximum distance he can get from them.

And (it seems counter intuitive) I would keep him on a very light contact, with hands, legs and seat. If you grip with any of those, firstly, it could be construed as a forward aid. and you are also giving him warning that you think something scary is coming up. By all means, grip with everything you've got if he legs it, (!) but try and be as relaxed with him as you can, to make him think you aren't worried.

He will be taking his cues from you.
 
I would agree with having a stronger bit if you are planning to go past them, for emergency control. I always used a pelham with double reins, then if I didn't need any extra control I could leave the other rein around his neck and not touch it.

Any possibility of standing and watching the cows and giving him some treats for standing quietly if he is food orientated, even if ridden. Then asking for another step and another step?
 
AShetlandBitMeOnce said:
I would agree with having a stronger bit if you are planning to go past them, for emergency control. I always used a pelham with double reins, then if I didn't need any extra control I could leave the other rein around his neck and not touch it.

Any possibility of standing and watching the cows and giving him some treats for standing quietly if he is food orientated, even if ridden. Then asking for another step and another step?
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Yep we can do that - we can see the cows from a bit of a distance away so he can look wirhout getting too traumatised :) I will build it up slowly and see how we go

Thanks for all the advice everyone :)
 
Lead him to where the cows are. Give him treats, grass or whatever you choose. Let him associate cows with something positive. This works for me and my mare.

When you are riding, if he is hesitant or refusing to approach them don't push him forward... he is already anxious and you are applying pressure, so he associates the cows with pressure and anxiety. There are some good Warwick Schiller videos on how to deal with spooking horses.
 
We had a shire mare who was terrified of cows, she did not like the smell and once nearly walked over a mini on the road as she was so busy avoiding a bull that was at the other side of a field by the road! She was only cured when we moved to where cattle with calves werein the adjacent field, she liked them adter that :)
 
To be absolutely honest, although you might get him to settle near to quiet cows, I would think if you are close to cattle who run at him or start leaping around as young bullocks are prone to do, he is always going to get scared. Quite understandable really, he's only looking after himself. Ive grown up around cattle and Im not in the least bit scared of them per se, but I do have a healthy respect for them and I wont ride through unless absolutely unavoidable, too worried about horse taking fright and putting his foot down a rabbit hole int he process!. We have to ride along the road past a field of them, nasty twisty road as well, Im always ready to slow the traffic behind me if I spot them heading our way at speed :(
 
MyBoyChe said:
To be absolutely honest, although you might get him to settle near to quiet cows, I would think if you are close to cattle who run at him or start leaping around as young bullocks are prone to do, he is always going to get scared. Quite understandable really, he's only looking after himself. Ive grown up around cattle and Im not in the least bit scared of them per se, but I do have a healthy respect for them and I wont ride through unless absolutely unavoidable, too worried about horse taking fright and putting his foot down a rabbit hole int he process!. We have to ride along the road past a field of them, nasty twisty road as well, Im always ready to slow the traffic behind me if I spot them heading our way at speed :(
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I agree with you there MBC - the first lot that 'chased' us were bullocks so I can quite see why he was stressed, this lot today were cows and their calves but I totally understand why he couldn't appreciate the difference!
 
We have free range cows here!!! They can be very scary when they start trotting then cantering down the hill after you and throwing some nice shapes. I jumped off Flicka last week as two came past in this fashion.

I've been taking our new loan pony out in hand lots across the forest in an attempt to get her used to them. Trouble is that this particular lot are a bit feisty. Impossible to avoid them at times. Desensitization is the way forward.
 
Mine now both live on a dairy farm. Was amazing how quickly they get used to them. Big guy was turned out with them for a few weeks. He was far happier with the cows than alone. Used to get upset when the farmer took the cows in for milking, I'm sure he would have went in with them if allowed! Although it always makes me laugh when he looks at them when schooling, need to remind him that he sees them everyday...

Wee pony was terrified of them when being herded for milking, now he pricks the ears but keeps munching.
 
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