How to make a scaredy cat brave, esp jumping?

[Kallibear]

Is it something that can be taught or will they always be a woose?

HRH Toby is the biggest girls blouse you've ever met All suspicious and snorty at anything new.

He's a sensitive, suspicious horse anyways but it's so damn frustrating.

It's a odd kind of 'nervous' though. Anything outwith his personal bubble (about 3-4ft) doesn't really bother him, so he's not particularly spooky and therefore hacking out no problem, as long as he doesn't have to go near it He'll quite happily ignore builders on the other side of the street throwing bricks into a skip, that kind of thing, but will freak if I snap a twig off a branch on the way past

But ask him to approach somethings that he's deemed scary and it's a battle. Same if you try to bring something scary into his personal bubble: just you try measureing him with a measureing stick

He'll do as he's asked, because he's been asked, under much duress, but it's tiptoeing up to it, snorting and eyes on stalks, and ready to bolt if it so much as moves, and he has to stand and stare at it first for a little bit to pluck up the courage. Put too much pressure on, and force him too fast, and it all becomes too much and he panics and will make a huge issue out of what-ever-it-is for the rest of eternity.

I've learnt to live with it for most things, and can do pretty much anything with him (he carried the Common Ride flag after all!) but it rather affects his ability to jump!

The jumping part is a pain: he's kind of ok over SJ as they all look pretty much the same but XC is next to impossible. The first time we went I had to get off and lead him up to every jump, to have a good look and sniff first, as otherwise we wouldn't be going within 10ft of them, even with a lead. Once he's had a look he jumped it fine (albeit with 3ft clearance) but it's not exactly condusive to completeing a course

Third time over it and still giving it plenty of room!

We don't do much jumping due to lack a facilities but I'm not sure loads of practise would help much? He'll jump the same jumps over and over again happily but it's NEW things that bothers him.

Has anyone made a wilting pansy in a brave jumping horses? How did you manage it? Or shall I just accept he's always being to be girly pants and stick to flat work?

 

[scotlass]

Lovely picture.

What about hiring somewhere that has a course of jumps set up, ie Oatridge and a freelance instructor.

BTW If he is spooky, feels like is about to run for the hills and is generally green, I think you're brave jumping in a headcollar

 

[Kallibear]

Oatridge are far too big! We need to be able to step over it from a crawl, as mostly that's the maximum speed we can get up due to the snorty-googley-eyeing he's giving it. :rolleys:

Does practise really help with the lack of braveness do you think? His problem isn't so much the fact it's a jump, it's that it's something new and scary and he's being expected to trot or canter up to!

He doesn't even own a bridle at present Doesn't need one. He stops and turns on sixpence and is the only one, when racing in a stubble field, who has brakes! He really isn't 'spooky' : he never runs or spins or bolts (although I think he would if I really fought with him, so I don't. It doesn't acheive anything.) He just won't go forwards towards something without loads of cajoling and patience. Think 'neck arched stallion snorting' and creeping up to it sideways so it doesn't see him coming

And if you'd seen the fliers he'd taken over the jumps the first time, I'm glad I didn't have a bit in his mouth That picture was extremely subjuded compared to the first!

 

[scotlass]

Sorry if I was a bit vague, I didn't mean going to Oatridge on a Wednesday night for their schooling night - I meant hiring it for an hour or so. They were offering half price hire at one point, then you could take an instructor and friend (to help with the jumps LOL) and put them up to whatever height you want them to be at. They have also got the XC course, and some of the fences are tiny.

I'm no expert on jumping (show / dressage background) but if he's just a bit green when it comes to fences, practice in different situations and a few lessons will probably do the trick.

 

[FleabittenT]

If you don't have many facilties at home, do you have a field or anywhere you can school over fences?

I would do loads a of grid work, over small 'scary' fences. Loads of fillers, you could add stuff to make poles/SJ's look like XC fences - tyres, twigs, greenery, water tray with little yellow rubber ducks in it, even cuddly toys, cones etc etc.

Small enough fences that you don't have to worry about the height or technique, so you can just focus on keeping him moving forwards to begin with. And lots of repetition and time! I would ride lots of combinations so you have another fence to keep riding forward to & keep his mind in gear, or at least poles after each fence.

I think practice really does help with braveness - if you do it enough, with 100% consistency in your approach, the scary things will eventually become normal.

That's how I would approach it, anyway! Wish you all the best, he looks like a lovely sort