Introducing a horse to arena mirrors

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Halfstep

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I have never ridden my horse in an arena with mirrors in the time I've had him! Now we've got a flash new indoor and the short side is fully mirrored with lovely bright clear mirrors. What is the best way to introduce him to them without giving him a heart attack?
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tbh i doubt he will take any notice - hes used to other horses in the arena with him after all.

have you jsut had a new indoor built at your yard then? x
 
Wouldn't worry too much, Blue had never seen mirrors before, took him to 1st dressage test at Stilebridge only to find they had mirrors in the warm up - he didn't really take any notice!
 
Lucky you! They're super useful.

It probably won't be a huge deal but if he is an anxious sort you might want to lead him down and let him sniff them. The worst reactions seem to be from seeing other horses in the mirrors and cantering directly towards them.

Don't turn horses loose with the mirrors, at least until they are well used to them. I've seen some very scary episodes with horses - particularly stallions - either trying to jump through them or striking at them.
 
Yes, he's used to busy warmups! But he rather fancies himself so perhaps mirrors might be distracting LOL!!

Tempi - yes, lovely new geltrack indoor complete with mirrors. It isn't quite 60x20, more like 50x18, but it does the trick!
 
ignore them, but apply super glue just in case........... as i was a put on deck
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As mine did the most amzing shoulder drop................. but he was young and never had problem since...............
 
They really dont bother about them tbh.

I took snoop to radway and Nicolas and neither times did he worry, just looked at himself.

My tb was the same, we had training at Addington many years ago when the old indoor had mirrors and he was seriously difficult to ride, but NEVER worried about the mirrors
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Probably right. Will apply superglue and hope for the best! I'm sure he'll be fine to be honest. He isn't terribly spooky in new places most of the time.
 
first time i went to a dressage comp there were mirrors in the warm up. my spooky tb wondered what they were at first, but then started neighing at himself... obviously fancied the dashing chap he could see.

But I have also been to a dressgae comp where they doing the tests in an arena with mirrors. not very good, and even though my horse had seen them before they made him very nervous and tense.
 
Mine hates mirrors but is getting better. If I come up side on she isn't too bad but head on she slams on anchors, snorts and spins! IF you are worried then lead him in otherwise just take it slowly and hang on!!
 
My boy hadn't seen mirrors 'til I got him. Our indoor has them along the short side & he didn't bother the first time he saw them. He's quite nosey normally & the only problem I have is that sometimes he likes to look at himself in the mirrors & gets a bit distracted.

The one warning I would give is that if it's windy the mirrors move (sort of shake). I know they are well secured but some horses seem to find it a bit scary.

I'm sure your horse will be less affected by the mirrors than you. Good luck.
 
I had a blanket spotted appaloosa a few years ago. He nearly collapsed the first time he saw himself in the mirror!! His legs went. I don't think what he saw was quite what he was expecting! Fortunately he just stopped himself from landing in a heap on the floor and, after staring at himself in disbelief for a couple of minutes, he continued in his normal relaxed manner.
 
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