Horse scared of sand arena surface

[Marigold4]

My young horse (6) is scared of sand! I've taken him to the same arena 7 times now and he's not getting any better. I can't work out what he's scared of. It's either marks that he sees in the sand or the feel of the sand underfoot, I think. When he first goes into the arena he plants and says he can't move, then can move sideways. Eventually I can get him going but then he puts in emergency stops when he sees/feels some other danger.

Anyone else experience this with their horse? I'm doing all the keep him busy, lots of changes of task stuff to keep him busy, but would like to get inside his head! I'd love to know what he thinks the danger is!

 

[Birker2020]

Yes we had this with a new carpet type riding surface called Turfloat, fibre and sand mixed. It was laid at the local riding club. When you stood on it and spread your feet and rocked from one foot to the other the surface felt like it was unstable and moving under you and initially none of the horses like the feel of it.

It was only for a short time until it bedded down.

OP is your horse like this on all arenas or is it just this one? He might be finding it difficult to work on a sand surface if he has a soft tissue injury for example.

 

[Marigold4]

Thanks. That would explain it! This arena is newly laid and is carpet and sand mix. Feeling unstable under foot would explain everything. It's only this surface he worries about. Thank you - a very useful reply. We will go elsewhere until the surface settles. Glad I gave him the benefit of the doubt!

 

[Jess1994PM]

is there an option to turnout in the arena for a bit? maybe feed him there in the mornings so he associates good things too! maybe it will get him used a bit more x

 

[Birker2020]

is there an option to turnout in the arena for a bit? maybe feed him there in the mornings so he associates good things too! maybe it will get him used a bit more x

I think its arena hire so would be an expensive thing to do.

 

[Horseysheepy]

Could you ride him with another horse in there? Just to reassure him that the surface us not going to swallow him up and eat him!.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Thanks. That would explain it! This arena is newly laid and is carpet and sand mix. Feeling unstable under foot would explain everything. It's only this surface he worries about. Thank you - a very useful reply. We will go elsewhere until the surface settles. Glad I gave him the benefit of the doubt!

My horse will not go forward on a carpet surface AT ALL ? not even for a saddle fitting

 

[Birker2020]

My horse will not go forward on a carpet surface AT ALL ? not even for a saddle fitting

Wow. I'm not surprised though, there were a lot of horses at the time that didn't like the surface. It needs a tremendous amount of watering with a bowser and rolling.

 

[Barton Bounty]

Wow. I'm not surprised though, there were a lot of horses at the time that didn't like the surface. It needs a tremendous amount of watering with a bowser and rolling.

Yeah, he likes sand and rubber tho

 

[Errin Paddywack]

I can sympathise. I went to an agility show held at I think Arena UK a good few years ago. Not too sure what the surface was but it rolled under your feet and felt very unstable.

 

[Birker2020]

I can sympathise. I went to an agility show held at I think Arena UK a good few years ago. Not too sure what the surface was but it rolled under your feet and felt very unstable.

Yes it probably was the same surface, the horses must think they are going to be sucked under any minute
Dogs are probably too light for it to have any affect on them.

 

[Marigold4]

is there an option to turnout in the arena for a bit? maybe feed him there in the mornings so he associates good things too! maybe it will get him used a bit more x

A good idea but unfortunately I have to travel there and hire it. They have quite strict rules about what you can do in there too, so I'm not sure I can let him loose in there.

 

[Marigold4]

Could you ride him with another horse in there? Just to reassure him that the surface us not going to swallow him up and eat him!.

Good idea but unfortunately I don't know anyone at the yard.

 

[Marigold4]

My horse will not go forward on a carpet surface AT ALL ? not even for a saddle fitting

That's useful to know. I think we need to change venue until it's bedded down. We did his first dressage test in the arena on Sunday and although judge was generous in her marks, it was frustrating having practised and practised and gone to all the effort of dolling to have such a stop/start round. He's genuinely worried and I don't want him to have negative vibes about competing, so we'll find somewhere else where he doesn't feel he's about to sink through the floor. Poor chap!

 

[Marigold4]

Wow. I'm not surprised though, there were a lot of horses at the time that didn't like the surface. It needs a tremendous amount of watering with a bowser and rolling.

Glad it's not just him - I was beginning to think he was just a wierdo!

 

[Barton Bounty]

That's useful to know. I think we need to change venue until it's bedded down. We did his first dressage test in the arena on Sunday and although judge was generous in her marks, it was frustrating having practised and practised and gone to all the effort of dolling to have such a stop/start round. He's genuinely worried and I don't want him to have negative vibes about competing, so we'll find somewhere else where he doesn't feel he's about to sink through the floor. Poor chap!

Hopefully once its bedded down, wet slightly and harrowed then he might like it better . BB went great in a surface with carpet and sand that was properly bedded in and maintained ?

 

[Barton Bounty]

Went great in this surface
Went great at this surface which was the same indoor and out

would not go on this surface at all??