Getting inside the shy horse's head...? Any thoughts?

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kit279

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I've had my lovely black horse, Kallie, for a few months now and he's been nothing but a gent since he came out of racing. If anything, the difference between him being stressed and relaxed is very subtle and you wouldn't necessarily know unless you knew the horse well. Having spoken to his previous owner, it's clear that he should have been a winning racehorse but that the problem was in his head. It's hard to explain without knowing Kallie but basically, he is a very shy 'person' and wouldn't say boo to a goose. He has been obviously been well cared for but at the same time I get the feeling he has also been got after a bit.

I really want to make him feel a bit more confident - it's not about the jumping, he is bold across country and not at all chicken. I schooled him for 10 minutes the other day when I didn't have a lot of time and he went so nicely I decided to call it a day and that seemed to be quite good for him - to work within his comfort without any pressure. But at some point, he will event and get asked questions so the pressure will have to be put on!

Does anyone have any thoughts about how he can be made to feel like a superstar?! Ideally like my naughty chestnut who bangs and stamps and shouts for attention! I was wondering if some time in a field, bossing some yearlings about might do him some good?

Does anyone have any bright ideas? I love Kallie and I think he could be very special - he just needs to be less of a doormat, if you get me!
 
Hmm that is a tough one. Not sure about the yearlings, as they can play dirty :p but what are his field companions like, is there an unassuming pony or anything he can go out with? One of those genuine first ponies that will do anything for an easy life?

He sounds such a sweetheart. I suspect you are already doing the right things and that his confidence will come from just knowing he is pleasing you. Best of luck, as I can't wait to see his reports :)
 
I think it will come with time. My horse was a bit quiet and dull for the first year I had him and it reflected in his work. I took him hunting, let him get on with it and now he is obnoxious, very cheeky and into everything. He used to be bullied by everything in the field but is fine now!
 
hmmmm, ridden wise, the best way to build confidence is to praise him for every right move, not just when he has to try extra hard........out hacking i praise mine every time they DONT spook at something they could have, every time they dont react to a speeding car etc etc so then when for EG i hear a motorbike comming up fast, or see someone strimming a hedge, i just give them a pat and they seem to think "mum says its ok, and its always is, so it must be fine" and poddle on past/dont react.i also praise a lot with a subtle wither scratch when riding, just whenever they are being good, so they start to search for that praise and try to please even more.

another nice thing is to let him have a hoon as a reward, eg, if Star gives me a fab canter half pass i let him gallop down the long side and let him have a bronc and a squeal and i laugh and pat him and then collect him up. really enourage him to let his personality shine though, so if he has a playful buck after a fence or gets a bit sharp and passages along snorting, give him and pat and let him revel in his own movement, if you see what i mean?
 
When we got our two it was similar. The mare was aggressve and mistrusting as she had pain issues that had gone unnoticed and untreated and once saw we were goin to help her and not dump her when had roblems she started to trust us and now we have a good bond with her 2 years later.

Our gelding came off the track in october last year and came to us in feb this year. He is sounds like your guy - sweet and settled. Our lad is such a honey and so chilled to have been a racehorse also well cared for in private yard we know but they said he always was a bit wary too. He wouldnt take a treat from our hand for days and woould stand in the back of the stable and be a bit headshy but he loved to follow me loose around the school so I spent alot of time just sitting at his stable so he came to me in time and in the school playing with him.
 
He sounds just like Hector, very capable but with not a lot of self-belief and a bit "inward" about everything. I don't think you can make them have the tiger about them that some horses have, but it's all in the trust and confidence they gain from being produced thoughtfully. Ditto Prince33Sp4rkle, loads of praise, letting him have fun when he's done something well or been challenged by something more difficult, but not being afraid to give him something to get his teeth into either, as long as you feel it's the right time to do that.

Don't forget it's early days but he looks like such a gent and I imagine he always will be; I know you won't be in a hurry nor take advantage of his good nature. Phoebe would have a good feel for this even though he's not her usual type of horse; Frostie is definitely has the tiger about her, by name and by nature!
 
Mine was like that for the first year I had him - he'd come out of racing and hunted/pointed with his previous owner and whilst he was very sweet and mannerly he was always very reserved. She had to turn him out by himself as others bullied him.

His confidence increased when I turned him out with a younger, smaller horse who he could slightly harass (in a safe and playful manner!) and be the boss of. Before that I'd tried to bring him out of his shell but instead he became very reliant on me and it was just letting him go and be the boss with other horses.

He is now fully out of his shell (and fully 'out' actually, he is very much in love with his fieldmate...) and at last I have a horse with a personality as opposed to 'well yes he's very sweet, but that's about all thats going on' - it's going to be a combination of time and finding something that makes him go 'ha, I'm awesome' but he will get there :D
 
I echo what PS and B have said about tons of praise. I think spending as much time as possible with them, giving them a treat when I go down past their field (a treat and fuss for nothing apart from coming over), help a lot. Also a bit of massaging/scratching always goes down well!
Horses out of training can be a bit like this though, I've been told, they are often on a huge yard which is a bit of a production line (not always, I know) and aren't used to one-on-one attention etc, so they keep themselves reserved.
Linda Tellington-Jones has some good exercises in her books, various things to get them thinking, working with you, etc.
 
Thank you all for your great suggestions. My gut feeling is that he needs a few months with some 'minions' to bully and boss about so that he feels like top dog. Unfortunately Pip has already been through this stage and is now uber-bully so I will have to find him something small to boss about. There's a possibility that we might get two little weanling colts over winter so maybe that will do him some good. Kallie is such a funny one - he's like a big gorgeous melancholy man that silly women like me just want to make him happy!!! Hopefully some time with some 'lesser beings' and some fun hunting will cheer him up, even if he doesn't become an alpha-male!
 
Prince33Sp4rkle said:
...i also praise a lot with a subtle wither scratch when riding, just whenever they are being good ... another nice thing is to let him have a hoon as a reward
Click to expand...

Yep, agree totally with this! I hate big patting as a 'reward' (I wouldn't want to be hit!), and scratch behind the withers. It's also easy to do when riding SJ or XC too as a thank you for a good effort without taking hands off the reins.

You want them to think they're invincible jumping-wise, and naturally allowed to express themselves in the flatwork.
 
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