hmmm any one experience this? and any idea how to stop it?

StormyMoments

StormyMoments

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right... this is a bit odd and you may think im mad.. or possibly the horse is mad but either way :o

basically when there is a change in the ground (e.g gravel to tarmac) rio will jump the gap on to the other side (i dont mean a little hop i mean full leap like he was jumping trotting poles) or a massive spook and a lot ot snorting.

i first noticed it when he goes in to his stable as he would leap from out side of his box onto his bed as that way he didnt touch the rubber matting (concrete to rubber matting) i thought he was leaping through the door but hes actually snorting and looking at the mat but he happily stands on it once hes in the box

took him out on a hack the other day and there was a change in colour of the tarmac where it had been dug up so it was light grey to dark black in a square. he spooked snorted and backed away and when i pushed him on he leapt over it and tried to run off...

hes doing it coming on to the yard too as you walk up the gravel track and then there is a slight step up on to the concrete which without fail twice a day he jumps over

we have tried walking him over it over and over again until hes bored but it doesnt work.. we spent 30 mins walking him back and forward over the concrete and track but he was still leaping up over it and there is only so much you can do before you realise nothing has changed at all..

now i was thinking he should have really got over it by now... he is stabled at night so he has to cross 4 different changes on his way in and then 4 on the way back out but he jumps everyone of them and i just find it.. well a bit weird really :o

we tried him following taz as he doesnt care and we thought he'd be too interested in another horse to worry about the floor but no still doesnt like it so he still jumps it :o

this happens whether leading in a head collar or bridle so there isnt really a huge amount i can do and i never loose control of him its just a bit off putting :rolleyes:

so.. has anyone else heard of a horse being like this? im kinda trying to decide if hes taking the piss out of me but he does it with everyone and he does look quite frightened before he leaps over it so im giving him the benefit of the doubt :)

any ideas?

galaxy chocolate is on offer for anyone with any ideas :)
 
he had them checked when he arrived here and his hearing because of his reactions although most of his reactions we later discovered because he had been beated quite badly at one point but it wouldnt explain his problem with changing surfaces but the vet said everything was normal except being slightly dehydrated :S
 
StormyMoments said:
he had them checked when he arrived here and his hearing because of his reactions although most of his reactions we later discovered because he had been beated quite badly at one point but it wouldnt explain his problem with changing surfaces but the vet said everything was normal except being slightly dehydrated :S
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I guss you're going to have to live with it then and hope he outgrows it.

I can't think he's taking the piss with such an extreme reaction, he isn't gaining anything out of it.

Working him over different surfaces in the school may help - lay out tarps, rubber mat, water trays etc and lead him over them several times.
 
Focus on what you want him to do, not what you don't. So train him when cued to place his hoof on a variety of things... I've used rubber car mats, but also boards, coloured carpet mats, lots of different things. Give him plenty of reward for doing it when you ask, and make your cue to do it pretty clear and consistent. Teach it to start with somewhere he feels safe (could be in the stable, in the aisle outside the stable, wherever he is relaxed).

Once you've got him to do that, then start asking him to do it in slightly less comfortable surroundings, again making a big fuss and rewarding him when he does it.

Finally, use your now very well trained cue to ask him to place his hoof on the scary places.

Mine used to be a bit worried about the black tarmac to red tarmac at the start of the village, but the more I trained him about stepping on to things, the less he worried about things like changes in colour of road surfaces.
 
I have a mare who does something similar, but not as extreme. If we are out on a hack and their is a shadow she snorts at it and wont go over it. I usually just give her a few seconds to check it out and then ask her again. She hasn't ever jumped over anything so it isn't as extreme but I think it has something to do with the shadows etc. I just try and stay as calm and persuasive as possible. x
 
he is trained to step up onto things but i never thought of using it tbh :o doh! i will try doing it tonight as when asking him commands he puts his complete consentration on you rather than anything else.. may work... he also knows them when ridden too... i think asking him to do anything tbh if i asked him to piaffe or spanish walk he would do it over anything its just when hes relaxed hmm i will have a go this evening :) thank you :)
 
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