Desensitising young horse...

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hula

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Hi,

For the last few weeks I've had the opportunity to hack out a 4yo gelding out 2-3 times a week. There are a few routes to hack, but one involves a bridle way next to a train track. Now Gerry is petrified of these man eating trains, despite being in a field next to a train track.

His anxiety starts on the 50 yards up to the tracks (I have tried approaching from different routes). I ride him calm and confidently. Sometimes he goes straight past, sometimes we have a disagreement about it and will try and spin and go back home or attempt running off or do the most spectacular spook. He is not allowed to do this, I turn him back and reassure him, letting him have a look etc.

He will go past with a nanny horse. Is it just a case of being consistent and waiting this out or is their something else I could do? Should I leave the hacking past alone for now?
 
IMO you should give him a break & ride him elsewhere if you can. 4 is still very young to tackle scary monsters & it would be far better to build up his confidence in a less stressful place. Try again in a month or two with his nanny in the first instance before going it alone.
 
Warrior... Yes these trains are sneaky buggers, I mean how dare they come and frighten innocent horsies?

My 21 yo is petrified and I mean petrified of..... Donkeys.
 
We are having the same trouble with buses! I am only walking in hand at the mo as no saddle so ideal for bus desensitising, I walk round the back of an estate where I live and she is good as gold, then we come onto a quiet wide road on the bus route, so we let the bus past, then it quite often stops there for a bit so I walk horse back and forth past it (there is handy grass verge to get out of the way) or let her stand and look at it whilst I try to be relaxed although she does try to graze everything in sight (comfort eater!). She is getting better so I recommend it, I won't be taking her on anymore of the bus route yet as there is too much other traffic around, one step at a time!
 
I would love to know what they are thinking sometimes...

I suspect Mr Cob would be like some sort of action grandad, who is like a bull in a china shop when it comes to... Everything.

And Gerry... Well I think he'd be attempting to be a mans man. He can talk the talk but cannot yet walk the walk.
 
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