BBP
Well-Known Member
My little horse is awesome, he schools nicely in the field and the arena, he learns tricks, goes over tarps and under fly curtains, follows me around like a dog, anything I ask of him, willingly and with a lovely attitude. But he has a real 'panic button' and it shows itself if hacking on his own. If he spots something that triggers it he freezes, his heart starts hammering, he shakes all over like a jelly and will blow through his nose like a dragon. He is almost frozen to the spot but I can tell that he would spin and bolt. If I press him because I can't see anything scary he will rear and leap (not full height, just unseating). It's like a pure adrenaline overload, doesn't matter how tired he is, it just takes him over. I don't believe it is naughtyness at all.
He is happiest in the open countryside, he is not totally relaxed but marches on smartly and is pretty good, but as soon as I get into a village he gets really on edge, jumping at everything and on high alert. whilst I feel like I stay relaxed, I'm sure he picks up on my awareness of the extra traffic (so I can't let him just stop and work things out).
In company he is great, and what he really needs is to hack out in company with a sensible horse, every single day until each route is familiar. But the only other horse I know who is suitable is recovering from a tendon injury so is on restricted walk work. He doesn't seem to have enough confidence in me as a rider to overcome the level of adrenaline to get through it. If I lead him, or someone walks on foot he is a little better, but if he does panic obviously it is quite daunting.
Any suggestions on how I should handle this? Do I take the pressure off, stick to the 1 hr loop that he is happy with and only attempt the other routes once the other horse is able to do them. Do i do more desensitising work with him? Do I try to find someone who will walk with me on foot?
I don't want to scare him or put us in a position where we are going to get hurt, just for the sake of a hack...but I have never had a nervy hacker before! (he used to panic in the school as well, but is now lovely, so I know there is hope! he is brilliant with traffic, its random stuff like house doors opening, wheelbarrows in gardens, cats meowing, even though he sees it all at home)
Thank you
He is happiest in the open countryside, he is not totally relaxed but marches on smartly and is pretty good, but as soon as I get into a village he gets really on edge, jumping at everything and on high alert. whilst I feel like I stay relaxed, I'm sure he picks up on my awareness of the extra traffic (so I can't let him just stop and work things out).
In company he is great, and what he really needs is to hack out in company with a sensible horse, every single day until each route is familiar. But the only other horse I know who is suitable is recovering from a tendon injury so is on restricted walk work. He doesn't seem to have enough confidence in me as a rider to overcome the level of adrenaline to get through it. If I lead him, or someone walks on foot he is a little better, but if he does panic obviously it is quite daunting.
Any suggestions on how I should handle this? Do I take the pressure off, stick to the 1 hr loop that he is happy with and only attempt the other routes once the other horse is able to do them. Do i do more desensitising work with him? Do I try to find someone who will walk with me on foot?
I don't want to scare him or put us in a position where we are going to get hurt, just for the sake of a hack...but I have never had a nervy hacker before! (he used to panic in the school as well, but is now lovely, so I know there is hope! he is brilliant with traffic, its random stuff like house doors opening, wheelbarrows in gardens, cats meowing, even though he sees it all at home)
Thank you