Horse TERRIFIED of jumps poles etc

madalicedj

madalicedj

Well-Known Member
Joined
20 May 2010
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361
Location
Farnham, Surrey. But from Scotland
www.ciclaimsuk.com
Hi

My boy has just turned 7. His previous owner had started introducing him to small jumps and fillers. However when I even tried trot poles he panicked. I lead him over and then rode and he was ok until wait for it he stopped in middle of plastic ones. (note I do NOT recommend plastic poles as they role after the horse on impact)
I sat quiet and calm and asked him to walk on he didnt he panicked and tried to go back dragging the plastic pole with him he fell over backwards. I hit the ground and he thrashed about getting stuck in wooden fence before getting up uninjured. I gave him a hug and walked him over them and put them away. This was over 6 months ago and make no mistake the fear was there prior to accident.
Every now and again my trainer gets him to walk over a few poles or weave in-between them. He really scares himself. So while being patient we try to keep his mind on other things so he doesn't think himself into a tiss. He has been doing pretty well
Yesterday my trainer went to walk him over a pole and he was ok after initial stops Her daughter came up who had never even sat on him and we even got him to pop a very small cross pole. Result. A little and often right?
I suspected he would panic next opportunity and boy was I right.
Today he refused to step over a pole for nearly an hour!!! Even with Trainers daughter he tried to rear was so panicked over one stupid pole. Plain or colured dont seem to be an issue. He wouldn't follow me over or another horse. He really scares himself. Eventually she got off and lead him over then managed to get him to walk over and trot over a few times lots of ooh and ahh and cuddles.
What on earth has scared him so I have no idea. I know his back etc are fine his saddle was just checked etc. Trust me I have spent a bomb makin everything ok for him. This is his mind or past experience.
When he jumped he enjoyed it being something new and pricked his ears forward. I really feel it will help him with dressage and build his confidence.
Any tips folks. No hurry no big ambition to jump huge. Just help him trust his rider and himself. Im thinking walk him over in hand then ride each time till one day i hope he stops thinking about it so much and add little by little.
 
I don't really have any tips other than lots of time, patience and persistence, but I do have sympathy - I shared a dippy horse once that was scared of poles for no apparent reason - he'd jump logs out in the woods, but put him near a SJ or even just a pole and he wouldn't go near it. My instructor once spent ages with us getting him over poles, and he even ended up doing canter poles without hesitation (but with a LOT of tension) and then the next day he wouldn't go near them again. Some days he'd walk over with you, other days you'd have to drag him.

I suspect it's mostly a lack of confidence with yours after his accident - he won't necessarily relate poles to a specific event, he'll just know he should be scared of them - so plenty of time and you may be lucky :)
 
Can you put them in his field/at the gate going into the field so he has to walk over them to go in? What happens if you ride him slightly more forcefully, instead of being all nicey nicey, ride him in a way that you are telling him to go over them, instead of you asking him? Just a couple of thoughts? :)
 
Hmm my boy was wary a tfirst but we left them out in the arena and walked over them every day and he got more confident, your boy sounds far more scared than mine can you put them in his field so he gets used to them ( hay or treats in a square box so he can brave stepping over them? wooden poles only maybe thought. With the polo ponies to get them used to polo sticks and balls we would hand them up in the field and stables it got them used to it but it was everyday they bumped into them for about 4 weeks
 
Leave poles dotted around his field. Make a big square of them and put his hay or feed inside, put them on the track you take to the field, make them a part of what he sees everyday so that neither of you take any notice. If youdo the big square for feeding in incorporate that into your warming up.

Take it little bit by little bit.

As he gets used to poles in his path to and from the field raise one end of each pole, then raise both ends so he has to lift his feet up. Raise the big square so he has to pick his feet up to get over it.
 
My irish imported mare was terrified of trotting poles, but would jump anything. Found out later that MOST Irish trainers, don't bother with trotting poles and start with x poles!

Hope this may help?
 
My chap is terrified of poles, we think he has suffered some trauma in the past as he panics if he knocks one down and also gets really panicky at the noise of poles being moved/dropped, and yet he loves his jumping . The suggestion of putting poles in your horse's field is a good one and was suggested to me. Fortunately he has improved over time and I am just very quiet and careful when moving poles or jump stands, talking to him all the time that I am putting them out or away. It takes lots and lots of patience and understanding. Good luck!
 
I got a 14.2hh jumping pony aged 7 years old many years ago. he too hated trotting poles and would launch over them (if you could get him near them to start with!), he also rushed his jumps so I think was scared of jumping in general. I persisted and tried the repetition of walking him over poles etc but in all honesty it just made him worse. He is 24 now and STILL won't walk over a pole and gets in a real tizz!!!

So, I would actually not bother with trying to get him to walk/trot over them etc - why does he need to? Sure, if there just happens to be one there and he has to walk over it to get to wherever you are going then walk over it then but I think making an issue of it can just make them worse. If he is enjoying the jumping then just concentrate on that.
 
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