Does anybody else's horse do this:

T

Tilda

Well-Known Member
Joined
26 January 2010
Messages
1,125
Visit site
My mare has always been spooky just quick jumps to the side etc which has never bothered me however just recently she has really ramped it up to what my instructor has described as quite violent spooks. It is (touchwood) only in the school and is obviously an evasion tactic she basically will be going along quite happily and then bam with no warning jumps and spins so quickly I am often left hanging on for dear life!

My new instructor is working with me and in just one week her normal spooking has improved but last night she went beautifully for half an hour and then bam!

My instructor is confident we can get her through it but I'm really just looking to see if anyone else's horse does this and whether you managed to solve it?
 
I get my vet to check eyes when the annual jab is done, so far no problem, and my boy is getting less spooky [touchwood] might just be a phase, if not go for the usual back, teeth, saddle checks; one thing we can all is to ask someone to lead the horse on a level surface, to check for any deviation from the straight and narrow, and run hands down either side of the spine, particularly where the saddle sits.
 
Thanks she has had all checks back, teeth etc recently and as only does it in the school I really think it is an evasion tactic. Also she will walk around the school quite happily 5 times and then spook the 6 th time if it was her eyes she would do it straight away wouldn't she? Thank you for the ideas though next time vet is on the yard I might ask them to check her eyes.
 
Hi, welsh d went through a serious stage of this just after Christmas and it was definitely an evasion! I found keeping him very forward, in front of my leg pretty much cured it. It did involve pushing him through it and being quite tough!

Good luck you'll manage it I'm sure 
 
Yep - my pony started doing exactly the same thing. He was always a bit spooky, but out hacking last year he was scared by a stallion across the road, freaked out - span and I flew off the side. He then did it again when we were schooling in the field, so violently that he slipped over and fell on top of me.

He has done it quite a few times since then - I just got a bit better at hanging on!

I have just about got him out of it now and it is definitely an evasion tactic with my boy. I have to try and catch him before he does it, ride him forward firmly and keep my hands low and ready to block him the other way if he spins. He is stopping so I am sure with help from your instructor your horse will too.
 
Thankyou bluecomet and maxapple it helps to know other people have been through this and out the other side in one piece! My instructor is great really knows his stuff so I'm sure he'll get us there we are basically working at getting her sharper off the leg and as you both say really moving forward and in trot and canter she has already improved so maybe there is light :-)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top