Bombproofing hints and tips please!

Django Pony

Django Pony

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Hi
Does anyone have any hints, tips and ideas on how to help my horse Jasper be less of a scaredy-cat? :)
When we hack out in a group he sulks if he's not in front, he just has to lead the way and rarely spooks! If it's just him and one other, or just him on his own he turns into a gibbering wreck that leaps six foot sideways at a crisp packet! (That is perhaps a slight exaggeration, it's probably only 3 feet sideways :D!). I always try to ride him confidently past whatever the problem appears to be, and praise him when he's been brave.
I'd really like to build his confidence and do some spook-busting with him, so I'd be really grateful if you lovely HHOers could point me in the right direction?
Thanks lots! x
 
repetition repetition repetition
is he ok with someone walking with him then the person dropping back when he is feeling a bit braver this is what I did
 
If you have a school how about building a spook busting trail through it. We set one up with a Tarp to walk over a wooden bridge which rocks as they walk over, a tunnel with flapping plastic, a Horse Box that they have to walk into, and a pole labyrinth to walk through forwards and also back through, and miscellaneous large skippy balls (very interesting if windy!) unbrellas etc.

Basically you just walk them past each obstacle at a distance then get closer and closer until they can happily walk through them all.

You can start off in hand and eventually most of the obstacle's (except the trailer obviously) you can eventually ride through.

Below are some pics of our last training day.

Flappy Plastic Tunnel
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Trailer
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Cone Chicane
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Rocky Bridge
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Tarp
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Working them at home won't really work miracles as he feels safe at home. It sounds just like he lacks confidence in himself and he is possibly bored as he has no friends to "impress". A good way to get over this is to find a kind friend who will help you out by going out before you, after 5 mins meet up and carry on together then next time wait 10 mins etc until you get to about 45 mins before finally hacking alone. i have found this method to be very successful with my youngsters. they are so busy thinking about their friends turning up that they don't bother much about playing up.
Good Luck
 
Walk him out with someone one the ground, after awhile let the walker drop back slightly, just talk to each other and after a little while turn back for home, keeps you calm also the horse, and if your friend is happy just build it up gradually, so you can ride away on your tod, sounds like you need someone to just give you the confidence boost.:):):)
 
Fabulous book called "Bombroofing your Horse". Can't remember the author or ISBN but expect Amazon will have it. Full of common sense stuff for working on at home and out hacking. ALso, have a look at some of Kelly Marks books - also superb x
 
Thanks guys :D
I do like Michael Peace, I've found a book called "The 100 Per Cent Horse: How to Create the Go-Anywhere, Do-Anything Horse" by him, which I think I'll give a go! I have some Kelly Marks books too (I leant them to a friend, time to retrieve them I think!).
Thanks all for your input. x
 
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