Horse walker phobia - any tips?

[Switchthehorse]

Anyone have any tips on dealing with a horse who is TERRIFIED of a horse walker? I need to get my boy used to ours ready for the winter but he is quite literally terrified!

he had never been on one before, put him on with a friend on a nice quiet day and he was piaffing passaging snorting shaking from head to toe, then stopped to sniff and it came up behind and knocked him (as it does) and he lost the plot. Left him on to see if he would calm down with the normal 'whooaaaa good boy' etc and seemed to start to settle, eventually almost stopped jogging (talking about 5 mins) so decided enough for first time, tried to get him off, he panicked turned around in stall, cut his face and exploded off trembling and shaking and snorting.

from then on wouldnt lead or be ridden past it, got him used to that (on and off) and now trying to gradually get him used to standing near it grazing near it in hand etc.

I think it is partly the noise and partly the whole concept, plan to gradually get him nearer and nearer to it, then get him on when not turned on and walk him round then build up to turning it on

trouble is he is BIG and it isnt really safe to stand in there when he is in it otherwise i would lead him round

Just wondered if anyone had any top tips that could help? He cant be ridden at the moment so cant even try knackering him out before putting him on

thanks so much in advance!

 

[Kiribati_uk]

Ride him before hand so he his tired (very), then put quite horse on infront so he has some to follow maybe try having radio on loud so he cant hear noise, Maybe lead him around follwing the horse a few times without it being on just you pushing it so he learns its not scary, big pocket of polos!! goodluck
But some horses never settle on a walker.

 

[Emily91]

I think your doing the right thing really. Let him see it and get used to it. let him stand and watch it going. Maybe put a horse in that is good in there and let him see that that horse is not scared.
also maybe once you can get him near it stand him in it without turning it on at all, just let him have a good sniff of everything, maybe give him a feed in there so he relaxes?
Be careful though! if he is reacting badly to it make sure you always have a hard hat on and have a second person on hand!!
I think the trick is not to pressure him, let him do it in his own time. He's had a bad experience and needs lots of calm reassurance!
Hope my thoughts may help a bit!
Good luck!!

 

[NELSON11]

With my young horse. I put some treats on the floor of the compartment he was to go in and let him have a little nibble, then turn it on quietly.

I also did find that he was less likely to be hyper if it was on fast enought to enable him to walk out in it. Much worse if it is too slow, he went on as a 2 1/2 year old after being on box rest and was 16.3hh so no mean feat. I also found he was better on there on his own to start with as was less reactive to others on there, even the quiet ones.

I do agree letting them observe it moving, the noise is good experience.

Please do not walk round in there with him as too dangerous.

Keep perservering