Genuine Fear as appose to Napping?

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katymay

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Decided on a quick hack yesterday, probably wasn't the best idea as it was blowing a hooley but as we were only planning on doing a bit of hill work I didn't think it would kill us!
went out with friend and her pony with her mum and two dogs in tow as usual.
Decided to ask Jester to go in front today, he has been a little mardy behind recently and wasn't settling, continuous jig jogging, feeling like a coiled spring and often going sideways to avoid contact if he felt he was being held back.
The hack started off brilliantly, he was striding out lovely, taking a nice contact and working really well, seemed to be enjoying himself but was on his toes, a bit looky and the odd jump at a stick or leaf that blew across.
got a fair way down the road and he stopped dead, head in the air and had spotted something in the distance, put my leg on and he hit reverse nearly wiping everyone else out in the process!
The mum walked past with the dogs and he happily followed her so continued on our hack, up the steep hill, kept my legs on, but only a smidge as he is so forward going that even the slightest squeeze would send him into trot.
made it to the top and turned around, sadly this road leads onto the busy A303 so we cant loop but we have done this ride this way tonnes of times before.
started back off down the hill with me in front, again really enjoying himself nearly got to the junction at the end and he stopped dead, head in the air and hit reverse, this time I asked him to go forwards, tried kicking, growling, a tap on the bum, circling him to no avail, If I was on my own I would have sat with him until he was brave enough to go forward but due to being out with others once again the mum walked past and he happily followed.
this has kind of cemented to me that it is genuine fear rather than napping as the second time we were homewards bound so he has no excuse to nap would you agree?
the last time he did the whole reversing thing he had spotted something he didn't like and I got off and led him past, then hopped back on with no other issues on the ride and we were solo that day.
how do I make him trust me more? he totally trusts me on the ground not to let anything eat him but need to portray that when im on his back, I am going to do loads more desensitising work with him in the paddock and continue with our ground work tasks.
He has always been a difficult ride you could never fully relax but I totally trust him so can honestly say I am not scared to ride him out even when he spooks and reverses so don't think I am passing any fear onto him?
any tips or is he always going to be like this with us forever only doing mini hacks where its not too far to walk back in hand.
A lovely big slice of Stollen cake for any advice gratefully received :)
 
You don't mention what the other pony did when Jester stopped, also why you go in single file as unless there is a reason to do so, as in moving for traffic to pass by, I prefer to hack side by side so both are striding along together they then usually take confidence from each other rather than the one behind just doing whatever the leader does or in Jesters case getting fed up and jogging rather than walking properly although if he is fresh trotting up a step hill would probably take more out of him than walking.

I would continue with building up your relationship but start to ride together so he can have support before he actually stops, often if the other horse ignores the danger the spooky one just accepts there is no reason to fuss and keeps going, he obviously trusts someone on the ground so having a walker with you may be doing more harm than good if he feels he can wait and follow he will be learning that he can do so.
 
To be fair we hack side by side as much as possible but on some of the lanes it's not possible, other pony panics a little when Jester plays up but only because he kicked out at her when she was eating his haynet as he was being possessive over his food, sadly he caught her but no damage done other than she is extremely wary of his back end so when he spooks she panics and wants to get out of the way.
She is the bravest pony ever and would walk past anything without a second glance so is ideal to hack with as he is a lot braver with her.
Will keep at it, 90% of the time our hacks are amazing and issue free but that 10 % omg !
 
I have this exact problem with head up and quickly switching to reverse, would also love to hear any advice as it makes me so nervous to go out by myself x
 
I was told once about genuine fear and napping is all indicated by the ears, neck and head carriage.
With fear head will up and ears forward, focused on the object of fear, napping, head more down, stiff neck.
I take this as the cue with my boy and act accordingly, his is mostly napping as he is quite fearless really
 
Emma_H said:
I was told once about genuine fear and napping is all indicated by the ears, neck and head carriage.
With fear head will up and ears forward, focused on the object of fear, napping, head more down, stiff neck.
I take this as the cue with my boy and act accordingly, his is mostly napping as he is quite fearless really
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Yes I agree and in both cases it was head up ears pricked genuine fear, usually when he naps to avoid a situation I can feel it coming on ie if he thinks I'm going to walk him past his paddock to continue hacking rather than him finishing at that point .
I was told that horses eyes shouldn't really be higher than their withers if relaxed?
 
My horse shakes when genuine fear and also head bobs trying to get better visualisation of the object he is trying to make out

Our phobia used to be black cows but with over the years he has got better with it
 
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One of my horses does exactly the same thing head up and often backwards or a nasty spin, he is not confident hacking in front but much better behind or side buy side, I never hack him on his own its not a pleasurable experience, I find his easier if his not just creeping along and I make sure his ridden forward and on a nice contact it's harder for them to do the head in the air thing then, he detests cyclist's he almost sat on the floor with me on Saturday when one came past, I genuinely think he is just a very fearful horse rather than nappy yours also sounds like fear rather than napping.
 
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