Is my horse spooky because i Mard him?

Dogbetty141

Dogbetty141

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I love my ned to bits and am ever so mard with him as in i dont like anyone else doing much with him! I dont mind riding if i know they are good but its diff when he goes out or they are looking after him for me! I hate the though of something happening to him. anyway you get the picture! So recently he has become a lot more spooky than normal something i can handle but am not impressed about! Is it because i am slowly getting worse with him or because of the time of year? sorry if am babbling!
 
I'm sorry 'mard' isn't a word I am familiar with - do you mean you spoil him?

Who is the boss in your relationship with your horse - I'm guessing it isn't you. Sort that out before it gets dangerous
 
My 'Mr Bombproof' is terribly spooky at the moment.

I put it down to spring round the corner, lots of grub, being generally rather fit, and lamb monsters in the hedge!
 
No he is not the boss in our relationship! dont presume all these things! He respects me enitrely! He is a very loving horse whom i could trust my life with!
 
Not so much what you say in your post but yuor attitude towards him maybe - what do you do if he is scared of something or spooks? Are you the type of person who avoids spooky situations, or deliberately finds them to teach the horse its ok? Do you make a big "there there" fuss of him when he is worried, or ride him on past it as if there's nothing there?

I'd be looking at all these sorts of things to see if you are causing him to spook more or not.

Failing that I think everyone's horses are a bit full of it at the moment!
 
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No he is not the boss in our relationship! dont presume all these things! He respects me enitrely! He is a very loving horse whom i could trust my life with!

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I'm not presuming, I was trying to guess at your meaning ( I even looked up mard just now to be sure I wasn't being especially thick, and it isn't a word)

So still not sure what you mean you are doing with him so let's look at other things - the grass is coming through, diets are changing slightly and this can impact on horses.
 
When im riding I tend to start of being ok with it just ignoring it! Or just patting him every now and then! After a while it starts to get on my nerves! I dont avoid spooky situations he has to get over it I will always get him past something he doesnt like and tend to ride him at the front of the ride or on his own if i can! He is a complete plod behind no matter what is coming along! He isnt one that runs backwards or will stay planted to the spot he sort of clenches in abit or dances a bit but doesnt seem to really get over it after he has his first spook! Does that make sense?
 
Please enlighten us as to what 'mard' means horsebetty!
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You'll probably get a bit more advice then.
 
I am very protective of him and look after him to much if thats possible! I worry about him a lot too! If hes cold to hot etc etc! Has no one heard of that word really?
 
Letting him plod behind is not always a bad thing. If he sees others taking no notice of a thing (Sheep monsters, plastic bag tigers, or in my chaps case gaps in the hedge), then he will tend to spook less and after a short while he should do as the others do.
 
Mard is very much a slang for been mardy or morky its a lancs/Cheshire saying meaning that you are a bit over protective, wrap them up in cotten wool type of a thing.

As to been spooky its the time of year my lad is a bit of the spooky side but he is just well and spring is round the corner.
 
The horse I ride is in her late 20s and she is normally as bombproof as they come, but at the minute apparently everything is scary and walking is no longer an option, she would quite prefer to jog everywhere to ensure that no scary pony eating blue snakes (ie water pipes) come and catch her!
 
Oh right - no sorry never heard that word before - maybe it's a regional thing
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Don't worry too much, my horse is extra spooky at the mo and she definately isn't spoilt! She's jumpy at the best of times but just seems to be extra mad to hack. Personally I would never let anyone else hack her out ever as although she is 100% in traffic she can do odd things when riding off road and you need a superglue seat to stay with her. Just don't let others ride him while he is like this then you won't need to worry.
 
Couldn't understand why no-one knew 'mard' but I too am from Derbyshire, so v familiar with the term, me duck!
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My horse can be a bit spooky, I find the best bet is to just let him take a moment to look at something, then ride him firmly but postively past it, whilst giving him a bit of verbal encouragement, and a rub on his withers. I only give him a tap with the stick if he actually shies away. The main thing is don't get annoyed, be consistent so that he understands your communication with him.
 
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I am very protective of him and look after him to much if thats possible! I worry about him a lot too! If hes cold to hot etc etc! Has no one heard of that word really?

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I hadn't heard of it either
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I mard PF though, especially by the usual Argie standards
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Letting him plod behind is not always a bad thing. If he sees others taking no notice of a thing (Sheep monsters, plastic bag tigers, or in my chaps case gaps in the hedge), then he will tend to spook less and after a short while he should do as the others do.

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I tried this for over a yr and it makes no diffrence whether i follow or not he is never going to get better being alone or in front! Even behind he will have a tiny spook if the one in front does. He is 16 now so this will stay with him for the rest of his life! I do personally think he plays on it sometimes but i do believe he is just a very sensitive soul!
 
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