Hacking past cows?!

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MagicMelon

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Having given up hacking about 10 years ago after one too many "incidents" but the main thing was my horse (at that time) bolting with me twice along the road (and literally through a barbed wire fence) after spooking at cows.

Now got a new horse who I am perfectly confident on (its only hacking I have a confidence crisis, will happily compete at BE novice etc.)! He's older and I've been told he used to hack out well although I don't know details (I was given the horse as he was going to be put down otherwise). Anyway, I've finally forced myself to start hacking again. I can only manage 5 mins down the road though until we get to a field of cows :( The horse has been great so far (have been out on this 5 min walk about 4 times now), but I simply cannot force myself to ride past these cows. I'm terrified he'll bolt even though he's never put a foot wrong since I've had him (since winter). Anyone got any tips of how to overcome this stupid fear?!

I should point out that I keep my horses at my mums so there's nobody nearby I could hack out with. I also can't go a different route, I have to go past cows whichever way I go!
 
I'd love for someone to walk with me on foot, but my mum babysits my son when I ride so there's not really anyone else. I might try to get my OH to come with me or something sometime but it cant be a regular thing :(
 
Might not need to be a regular thing though, if he comes once or twice and everything is hunky dory perhaps you will be on your way to trusting the horse :)
Can you try simple things like singing to yourself, or perhaps get really engrossed in a schooling exercise up the road so you aren't thinking about what *might* happen? Maybe 10 steps shoulder in, 10 steps travers or something similar so you really have to concentrate on what you are doing and can distract yourself from negative thoughts?

FWIW My horse did the same with cows up to a month ago. I got bolted up the road a few weeks before leaving my last yard, completely out of control :( Now she lives on a yard which has cows at the end of her field and she has overcome her lifelong 'phobia' ;) overnight. Doesn't help your situation directly, but just to show that even the most committed cow-phobes can be turned around! :D
 
Have you got a friend who is a competent rider ? If you could witness the horse passing the cows, it might give you the confidence to ride him past.
Funny thing is, because the problem is yours and probably not the horse's, if he does react, you'll take some convincing that it's just one of those things.
I say this because, my horses are absolutely fine with cows but the other day, they both spooked at a new herd. Because I know them so well, I was bemused rather than worried as you would be if the incident wasn't cow related.

Alternatively, you could try to work on getting to know your new horse by doing everything else that you'd usually do until you know how his mind ticks and perhaps you'll get to the stage where you're frustrated at missing out, that you ride out. Suspect the cows will come in the winter, but that's quite a wait.
 
Milliepops - can I trouble you for a singing suggestion please??!! Have similar cow-o-phobe issues although not quite as bad as OP and am flumoxed for good songs to sing to relax me.

Last time I had to resort to Nellie the Elephant (I blame whoever it was on here for that as they said it's the right pace for a sj canter so now that's the only song I remember where horses are concerned :rolleyes:). And the theme tune to thunderbirds - ahem. I really should get out more...
 
Bernster said:
Milliepops - can I trouble you for a singing suggestion please??!! Have similar cow-o-phobe issues although not quite as bad as OP and am flumoxed for good songs to sing to relax me.

Last time I had to resort to Nellie the Elephant (I blame whoever it was on here for that as they said it's the right pace for a sj canter so now that's the only song I remember where horses are concerned :rolleyes:). And the theme tune to thunderbirds - ahem. I really should get out more...
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Hehe, well, if Nellie the Elephant works for you then go with it!! I'm not a lot of help in that respect tbh, my horse cracks me up when she misbehaves like that so I actually struggle to be serious and get her together :o It's still blooming annoying though, and if it happened on a busy road I'd have been sunk! :eek:

But, being a bit more constructive, I think I'd just go for any song you love singing :D I have some that I like to belt out in the car that always lift my mood. (probably look like a right nutter to anyone who sees me but hey ho). Or if you prefer, maybe saying times tables or something where you have to keep your brain busy! Recite the alphabet backwards. Dunno, just trying to think laterally ;)
 
Ah, what about show tunes! Do you like any musicals? I am a massive fan of some shows especially Rocky Horror, singing those songs transports my brain to a happy place.
 
I hacked through a field of bullocks last week, was scared but was desperate to get to the river so no other option, was with a 4 year old scared of nothing youngster and she led the way. I, like you , used to ride a horse that was petrified of cows and would try and spin and run, new girl proved interested but unphased your new mount cold be just he same! Cows were uninterested in us so all passed without incident.
 
Have you led the horse past the cows, in-hand? If not yet perhaps that's the first place to start, try leading with you between him and the cows then with him between you and them. Or could you ask to put him in the field with them for a while. I know that it is your problem not his really but that should reassure you. I used to have a mare that was frightened even of the smell of a farm-yard, she didn't have to see the cows themselves, until we came to live here where there were cows in the neighbouring fields. She fell in love with the calves, (she always loved babies), so she had to put up with their mums too.
I agree that watching him being ridden past the cows by someone else would help you to feel more relaxed about riding him past the cows yourself.
There comes a time when you just have to say to yourself 'the horse is fine, it's me, I 'll just have to get on with it and trust the horse'. I know I've been in the same position, although not in relation to cows, the horse just took charge and told me not to be so daft.
 
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