Help! How do I make him braver?

S

Seahorse

Well-Known Member
Joined
9 May 2003
Messages
8,289
Location
East Sussex
community.webshots.com
Axel is possibly the most cowardly horse on earth, he's scared of everything
frown.gif

Yesterday at E & O show I had to get off him and lead him down the horse walk as he was terrified of 'something'
When he gets like that he won't go forward, and if pushed will rear. He did it in the ring too and refused to go down one end because there was something there that scared him in our individual show.
I try and get him out to different places as often as I can but it makes no difference, even in my lesson on saturday with Markus Bauer he wouldn't go down one end of the school.
What can I do to make him braver?
His spookiness often causes problems and we lose marks in dressage, and hacking out on our own is a nightmare.

Any ideas?
 
IU have a horse that is very similar to this. My advise is to hack out with a safe horse for a while, also perhaps to go out hunting, sposnsored rides etc to make them braver?
 
try iontoducing him to lots of things at home - ie scary plastic bags flapping around him - make him walk over tarpoulin etc etc the more scary things he goes past, the more he will realise none of it is going to get him! do lots of this on the ground to help establish ur relationship with him - build up a real trust between u so he knows if ur with him none of theses bad things will get him! just a thort tho - r u 100% hes not just being nappy?
 
I always hack out with another safe horse and he's fine, in fact she's not good in traffic and he is!
I have been on 1 sponsored ride with him and he was awful and totally lost the plot halfway round, and was bucking rearing and generally being an idiot, so I've been put off taking him to another one. I'd love to take him hunting but he can't even canter round a show ring without getting wound up! So I'd have no chance out hunting.
Its 'things' he's scared of more than anything, and I can accept that he's genuinely scared he is only 5, but it's his reaction to it more than anything. He just won't listen and totally focuses on whatever it is that he's scared of.
 
[ QUOTE ]
try iontoducing him to lots of things at home - ie scary plastic bags flapping around him - make him walk over tarpoulin etc etc the more scary things he goes past, the more he will realise none of it is going to get him! do lots of this on the ground to help establish ur relationship with him - build up a real trust between u so he knows if ur with him none of theses bad things will get him! just a thort tho - r u 100% hes not just being nappy?

[/ QUOTE ]

He is genuinely scared of stuff, even when I got off him yesterday he was still unsure and shaking.
I'll try and get some scarey things in the school and see what he does then.
Thanks
smile.gif
 
First off, he's still a baby, so you've got plenty of time to improve his confidence. Mine wouldn't leave the yard on her own at 5 (hers was a less extreme reaction than Axel, but still caused problems!). I tackled her in 3 different ways.

One was going out with a confident horse, but making mine take the lead, especially going home, and taking her out as many different places as possible. When she was scared and stopped I'd make a judgement whether she was being naughty (in which case she got a slap) or genuinely scared, in which case I'd reassure her, and then I'd either follow the other horse, or get off and lead her past the scary thing.
Start off on short solo hacks as well, and don't worry about having to get off to lead him past scary things. I've found with mine that it's better to get off as soon as I felt her tensing through fear rather than getting into a fight and it escalating. In fact, start off leading or long-reining him (if he's controllable on the ground!) before you ride him on that route.

The second was schooling, lots and lots of it. When a horse is working round and correctly they have limited vision and are concentrating, therefore less likely to spook. I admit this is a problem for you if he won't go down the school in the first place, but once he is listening then work on improving his reactions to your legs. He must go forwards as soon as you ask. This will help so that even when he's scared he'll respond to your leg request and hopefully learn to go forward even if he doesn't want to!

Thirdly, lots and lots of densensitising ground work for sights and noises. Try filling a bottle with gravel and tying it up in his stable so everytime he brushes past it rattles. I stick empty shavings bags on Meg whilst she's stood in the stable (over her back to begin with, now they are like a neck rug!). Lead him over plastic sheets (or old bedding). Have an umbrella outside his stable and everyday open it near him.

Good luck - your consistency and hard work will pay off but don't expect quick results!
My girl is 6 now, and we did a solo 15 mile hack (via a RC show) on sunday, and we didn't have any nappy/scared sessions at all.
 
[ QUOTE ]
I'd love to take him hunting but he can't even canter round a show ring without getting wound up! So I'd have no chance out hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd be surprised how much easier it is to go hunting than to canter nicely round a show ring! Once he's jumped a few hedges and galloped across a few fields he should calm down. He'll soon be too tired to play up! Just another thought....could you cut his feed back at all?
 
He is on a very low energy mix and only gets 1/2 a scoop a day. Earlier on in the summer I wasn't feeding him anything at all and he wasn't any different! He is on a calmer and this has improved things a lot, but his reaction at the show yesterday has made me have a rethink, and I need to do something!
He is a real wuss!
 
OK, do you get off everytime he freaks out? My horse is the same prime example was down a bridleway on my way to a dressage lesson on Weds, she saw something spun went to bolt, I said no spun her back, she then tries it on again so start to hold her so then she starts rearing. She was seriously scared, so as I was going to be late for lesson and didn't need a stressed horse I had to calm her right down before dismounting and walking past.
Yesterday I decided we were going to go back down the bridleway, again she played up and was scared but this time I was refusing to let her get away with it and dismount. Everytime she spun I made her turn back round and stand there, if she started revesring or trying to rear, I would flex her neck. When she stood still or went forward she was praised. It took several temper tantrums until she would go past so then I just rode back nad forth till she would happily trot past. These horses are sent to try us! With a horse that has flight instinct I would never hit it but try and get them to let you take control and trust you
 
[ QUOTE ]
First off, he's still a baby, so you've got plenty of time to improve his confidence. Mine wouldn't leave the yard on her own at 5 (hers was a less extreme reaction than Axel, but still caused problems!). I tackled her in 3 different ways.

One was going out with a confident horse, but making mine take the lead, especially going home, and taking her out as many different places as possible. When she was scared and stopped I'd make a judgement whether she was being naughty (in which case she got a slap) or genuinely scared, in which case I'd reassure her, and then I'd either follow the other horse, or get off and lead her past the scary thing.
Start off on short solo hacks as well, and don't worry about having to get off to lead him past scary things. I've found with mine that it's better to get off as soon as I felt her tensing through fear rather than getting into a fight and it escalating. In fact, start off leading or long-reining him (if he's controllable on the ground!) before you ride him on that route.

The second was schooling, lots and lots of it. When a horse is working round and correctly they have limited vision and are concentrating, therefore less likely to spook. I admit this is a problem for you if he won't go down the school in the first place, but once he is listening then work on improving his reactions to your legs. He must go forwards as soon as you ask. This will help so that even when he's scared he'll respond to your leg request and hopefully learn to go forward even if he doesn't want to!

Thirdly, lots and lots of densensitising ground work for sights and noises. Try filling a bottle with gravel and tying it up in his stable so everytime he brushes past it rattles. I stick empty shavings bags on Meg whilst she's stood in the stable (over her back to begin with, now they are like a neck rug!). Lead him over plastic sheets (or old bedding). Have an umbrella outside his stable and everyday open it near him.

Good luck - your consistency and hard work will pay off but don't expect quick results!
My girl is 6 now, and we did a solo 15 mile hack (via a RC show) on sunday, and we didn't have any nappy/scared sessions at all.

[/ QUOTE ]


Thank you for all the idea's, he is getting better and I agree that schooling lots will help and getting him working round will stop him from looking at stuff. He is sometimes a bit slow off my leg, and I know I need to work on that. I had a chat to my trainer about this on saturday and he said that there must be some tension somewhere and we were working on getting him relaxed and rounder. But that was only 2 days ago and we didn't really have a lot of time to work on that before going to a show yesterday! He was much more relaxed yesterday though in general, but did get upset by a few things.
Thinking about it it was more the noise of something, he was upset be some generators and I think it was the farriery competition noisey banging that was the problem in the ring. Maybe I should stuff his ears with cotton wool!!!

Sam x
 
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I should stuff his ears with cotton wool!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously, you should try that (maybe in the school to start with
wink.gif
)!
Or maybe use one of the fly veils with ear covers to tone down the noise?
 
No I never get off him normally, but yesterday on the horse walk there was lots of other people and he was starting to get really wound up, so I got off. It was right by the bit where everyone was crossing over the horse walk
frown.gif


Normally I get someone to lead him while I'm on board, and I managed to collar a nice lady who lead him for me, but when he started to look like he was going to rear I didn't think it was fair on her so I got off.
He was really scared and shaking like a leaf bless him, and I stood with him for about 10 mins until he relaxed and I got back on. As soon as I was on him again he was fine and warmed up lovely.

After my class I went to ride him back to the lorry park along the same bit and he freaked out again, running backwards and doing half rears, I made him walk forwards and stand still before I got off and lead him but he was prancing about all over the place and snorting and looking at everything, he looked lovely though!!!!
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
Maybe I should stuff his ears with cotton wool!!!

[/ QUOTE ]

Seriously, you should try that (maybe in the school to start with
wink.gif
)!
Or maybe use one of the fly veils with ear covers to tone down the noise?

[/ QUOTE ]

I think we may have hit on something there you know! I don't know why I didn't think of that before
smile.gif
 
[ QUOTE ]
[ QUOTE ]
I'd love to take him hunting but he can't even canter round a show ring without getting wound up! So I'd have no chance out hunting.

[/ QUOTE ]

You'd be surprised how much easier it is to go hunting than to canter nicely round a show ring! Once he's jumped a few hedges and galloped across a few fields he should calm down. He'll soon be too tired to play up! Just another thought....could you cut his feed back at all?

[/ QUOTE ]

Mine was excited but safe out hunting but lost the plot when we all cantered round in the show ring - he was scared of the horses so close behind him - it was a small ring and we got boxed in.
 
Ear stuffing is almost standard procedure now in the N. American hunter ring. (It's illegal in dressage and eventing.) They make special "plugs" but a lot of people use those foam cat play balls - the psychadelic colours have the added advantage of being easy to find when the horse shakes them out.

Personally, I haven't found much difference with most horses. BUT, that said, a few are much better with their ears stuffed and I suspect that's why so many people keep doing it. Of course some hate it and shake like wet dogs the whole time. Worth a try though.

How is the horse off your leg generally? I do find some horses like that are better if they're not "let go of" and ridden off the aids at all, even when things are going peacefully. I don't know how much of it is position (as mentioned), distraction or the comfort of structure and pressure, but I've certainly had timid horses who never hacked off the aids at all, just in case. I do know horses like this have to be much better "broke" than most other types - it has to be complete, unthinking habit to go where they're told. And there is little margin for upping the strength of your request in the moment so they have to go off a light touch all the time. It's not always easy - or fun - but in the long run it's better anyway.

The bombproofing can be educational I guess, but I've found it's most use is to teach the horse how to react (and to give me some idea of how the horse might react) when faced with something scary.

Can I ask how he's bred? Do you know any horses related to him? I rode a horse who was recognisably out of a particular line and everywhere I took him someone would say, "Oh he looks calm for a so and so!" even though he was severly spooky even by my standards. Some lines just seem to be more prone. (His owner had other horses in exactly the same program and ALL of the others tended towards unconciousness.) In that horse's case (and many of his relations if people gave them time) he grew out of it with work and time. I'll confess he's not exactly the bravest hack even now but we did manage to get a handle on the panicky spinning around and running off.

How is he for another rider? Is there anything that makes him better, say a light longe before being ridden (makes some better, some worse)? You say he's the same on different foods but you're right that can be a factor. How is he on his own? If you turn him out in the school with something strange does he go up to it or run away? All of this just gives you a baseline so you know what to expect from this horse.

Horses are individuals and sometimes one just has to accept that. That said, however, they respond to leadership and training so if you keep working away calmly and dilligently I have no doubt you can make big improvements in the horse.
 
[ QUOTE ]
Ear stuffing is almost standard procedure now in the N. American hunter ring. (It's illegal in dressage and eventing.) They make special "plugs" but a lot of people use those foam cat play balls - the psychadelic colours have the added advantage of being easy to find when the horse shakes them out.

Personally, I haven't found much difference with most horses. BUT, that said, a few are much better with their ears stuffed and I suspect that's why so many people keep doing it. Of course some hate it and shake like wet dogs the whole time. Worth a try though.

How is the horse off your leg generally? I do find some horses like that are better if they're not "let go of" and ridden off the aids at all, even when things are going peacefully. I don't know how much of it is position (as mentioned), distraction or the comfort of structure and pressure, but I've certainly had timid horses who never hacked off the aids at all, just in case. I do know horses like this have to be much better "broke" than most other types - it has to be complete, unthinking habit to go where they're told. And there is little margin for upping the strength of your request in the moment so they have to go off a light touch all the time. It's not always easy - or fun - but in the long run it's better anyway.

The bombproofing can be educational I guess, but I've found it's most use is to teach the horse how to react (and to give me some idea of how the horse might react) when faced with something scary.

Can I ask how he's bred? Do you know any horses related to him? I rode a horse who was recognisably out of a particular line and everywhere I took him someone would say, "Oh he looks calm for a so and so!" even though he was severly spooky even by my standards. Some lines just seem to be more prone. (His owner had other horses in exactly the same program and ALL of the others tended towards unconciousness.) In that horse's case (and many of his relations if people gave them time) he grew out of it with work and time. I'll confess he's not exactly the bravest hack even now but we did manage to get a handle on the panicky spinning around and running off.

How is he for another rider? Is there anything that makes him better, say a light longe before being ridden (makes some better, some worse)? You say he's the same on different foods but you're right that can be a factor. How is he on his own? If you turn him out in the school with something strange does he go up to it or run away? All of this just gives you a baseline so you know what to expect from this horse.

Horses are individuals and sometimes one just has to accept that. That said, however, they respond to leadership and training so if you keep working away calmly and dilligently I have no doubt you can make big improvements in the horse.

[/ QUOTE ]

Wow thanks for the long reply!!
First of all he is 1/2 Arab by Saker, out of a Hanovarian x TB mare. He is a wimp and always has been, I've had him from a yearling and he's very chilled and laid back generally but if he sees something he doesn't like he won't even go up to it. There is a spooky corner in the school that he hates, and turned loose he avoids it like the plague!

He is not very off my leg at all, I've only just noticed this (silly me!) and it was very apparent during my lesson on saturday. I've been given strict instructions to use my schooling whip and only kick once and I'm sure this will help.

He's no different for anyone else, at the show yesterday the judge rode and he did the same with her as he did with me. He's hacked out twice on his own and was wonderful and brave, the third time he wouldn't even leave the yard
frown.gif


Like I said he's always been a bit of a wimp, and that's fair enough and he is only 5. But I wondered if there's any way of making him a bit braver? He's on a calmer and that's helped loads, and yesterday was the only day he's really made a fuss for a long time and unfortunately it was in the ring and probably cost me the class
frown.gif


Oh well, that's horses for you!
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top