horse scared of other horses!

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kombikids

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my newish now horsey is just perfect but he gets very stressed if other horses canter past him on a ride (which causes him a small grunt and a buck) or if we pass another strange horse coming the other way or worse canter pass us he gets really upset. I was also told that he has reared when he was in a small show ring and horses kept zooming past on both sides.Now he is perfect in every other way so i dont mind but would one day like to go hunting/do sponsored rides but cant at the mo - just wondered if there is anyway round this? Hes very level headed and a big 16.3 and doesnt know what to do with his legs or himself at the best of times so when he gets upset he literally panics. I am just taking it easy going to lots of shows and just going very quietly, he gets upset in the warm up so i keep it simple and quiet get there early get him working straight away and then go in for the test/sj.

Any help or suggestions gratefully receieved!!!!!!!
 
My horse is mega sensible, but if we were out hacking and someone cantered past, she would be very surprised too. So he is not odd.

When I first took her to dressage she didn't much like strange horses cantering past her and coming very close up behind her. You need to sit quietly and relax in the saddle and give him some confidence. Your body language needs to be telling him, it's no big deal. Talk to him, sing to him, make him think about you and not the strange horses.
 
Our mare is very funny about other horses passing her in the show ring - western shows can get a bit like piccadilly circus!
After a few problems at shows we had a session with some other horses in the school. One person would ride past her at a good distance, then a bit closer and a bit closer and so on. We also had a gelding that she knows well 'squash' her on the outside fence, and then the trainer rode a very quiet horse in small circles around them both and even through the gap between them.
Every time she reacted she got ignored and ridden forward (not told off - don't make the rider part of the problem) and every time she was quiet a pat and some praise.
You need, confident rider (OH did a great job!) experienced friends and quiet horses to do this - nothing that kicks or squeals and you could do it in several sessions. We just had to take drastic action because several out of control horses piling up behind her had just cost us qualification for a big championship!
It definitely works - we went to a show at which the warm up was manic due to the bad weather and she didn't bat an eyelid.
 
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