Horse Shy!

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mossy

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I have a 5 year old that I have owned since he was 2, I have had horse’s previously that have been a bit wary in the warm up and improved but he is on another level!! He has never had a bad experience, he is a little quirky generally but warming up in a show environment really freaks him out. He is a total star in the ring but I would love to go in on a more relaxed horse who has had a proper warm up!! Anyone experienced this and have any ideas? I have obviously worked him at home with others etc.
 
What is he like working at home with others? You say you have done it but not what programme he has followed. How have you educated him with this?

What is he like with others on an arena hire? With others at a clinic?
 
Red-1 said:
What is he like working at home with others? You say you have done it but not what programme he has followed. How have you educated him with this?

What is he like with others on an arena hire? With others at a clinic?
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I have done all of the above and he eventually settles, unfortunately you do not have an hour in the warm up 🤷‍♀️
 
One of mine has never been great in warm ups he either tries to savage horses as they come towards him with full teeth mode, and if it is really busy he looses the plot totally and I normally have to give up.

His 19 now and he did get a bit better but I just had to try and warm up when it was quieter.

My other horse is the total opposite and loves a busy warm up with horses all around him.
 
Pinkvboots said:
One of mine has never been great in warm ups he either tries to savage horses as they come towards him with full teeth mode, and if it is really busy he looses the plot totally and I normally have to give up.

His 19 now and he did get a bit better but I just had to try and warm up when it was quieter.

My other horse is the total opposite and loves a busy warm up with horses all around him.
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They are definitely all different aren’t they!! He is absolutely not nasty in any way just genuinely terrified of horses coming towards him at more than a walk! If another horse in the warm up gets a bit lit up or bouncy he literally panics. I feel so sorry for him as he really can’t help it he just finds it a bit overwhelming, I try to ask to go early and hope the warm up is quieter!
 
No help at all but interested to follow as I have a mare who is very similar! Also never had a bad experience.

She has done lots of camps/clinics and is absolutely fine in that environment but as soon as it gets busy and people come towards her at speed/bouncing/slightly out of control.. she gets very tense/stressed and jumps sideways away from them but when busy not ideal as jumping towards others!

One thing I have found that slightly helps is putting a red ribbon in her tail as it does mean most people give her some space.
 
I've started seeing a few show jumpers with red ribbons in their forelock, or on the browband, and as I understand it, that is supposed to be a warning that the horse is Horse shy, and may have a strong objection to other competitors e.g. cantering straight at it.

In the limited amount of space in a warm up area, and others needing to warm up their horses, I presume things can still happen, but hopefully it should help somewhat.
 
Our ex racehorse was like this, he thought the warmup area was for the Melbourne Cup. His go to response was to accelerate. he did improve with exposure, but was never great.
 
mossy said:
I have done all of the above and he eventually settles, unfortunately you do not have an hour in the warm up 🤷‍♀️
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Again, you say you have 'done them' but not what you have done. If he only 'eventually settles' it seems he is faced with too much at the start of the session rather than taking the session as a lesson, so not put under stress. It takes a lot of time to overcome horse shyness, not to go from walk to trotting at each other in one session, probably. Also, if this has become a habit, it takes even longer to achieve.

Progress will have to be minutely incremental, excruciatingly so. Plus, there will then be situational setbacks, which will also lead to excruciatingly small increments once again.

With some horses, putting them on the aids and keeping their attention along with repeated exposure may be enough but, once the fear is established, a different approach is needed.

I would get a good behaviouralist to help. One who will use a positive approach, and will work within the horse's current tolerances so the whole session is settled, not just eventually.
 
mossy said:
They are definitely all different aren’t they!! He is absolutely not nasty in any way just genuinely terrified of horses coming towards him at more than a walk! If another horse in the warm up gets a bit lit up or bouncy he literally panics. I feel so sorry for him as he really can’t help it he just finds it a bit overwhelming, I try to ask to go early and hope the warm up is quieter!
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Maybe get a friend to ride with you at home and just take it slow start with just walk lots of praise when he doesn't react.

My horse will still shy or leap out of the way of a horse coming towards him at speed sometimes the attack mode seems to come afterwards, almost like a defensive mechanism to try and stop it happening he will even do it when my other horse is in the school as well, weird as they have lived together at my house for nearly 10 years.
 
I’m not sure what competitions you do with him and why a limited warm up time although I know some places restrict the warm ups. Can you find places where there is no restriction on warm up time? And I’m sure you are but be inventive. I’ve been places where the warm up has been hectic and have mainly ridden round the lorry park just to stretch legs and relax then a quick session in the warm up and back to walking round the lorry park. Just keep playing with different things. Good luck.
 
How regularly are you riding in company and/or at group clinics? It does take a lot of exposure, and the right safe environments to gain confidence. A clinic once a month, or riding with one other horse that your horse knows once a week won’t cut it. I have my own yard, so no one to ride my youngsters with, therefore they all to some extent begin by being wary of other horses working in their space. They go on regular outings for lessons in pairs, then groups. Some are bolder than others and it only takes a few outings for them to settle in company, others are a lot more reactive and with those I am out at group clinics (riding clubs brilliant for this) 3 x a week if not more, until they've gained confidence. It’s also important that within the group sessions you have a trainer who understands your situation and your goal. You need a set plan on “how” you achieve the relaxation in the group environment, not just waiting for the relaxation to come on its own.
 
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