Looking in fields!

[Cornish on the Cob]

I wonder if you lovely peeps could give me some advice! When out hacking, Bridie is always looking in every field entrance as though something is going to jump out and eat her! I don't know if something has happened in the past but I don't know the best way to deal with it.
Do I let her always look and hope she eventually realises nothing is going to eat her
Or do I turn her head straight and ride her forward

 

[starbar]

My boy does this but he is a slightly nervous, spooky pony anyway. Remember horses will look where you look, so make sure you don't compound the issue by looking into the gateways with her! Look straight ahead and ignore the gateway riding purposefully forward, let her have a little look if she wants to but otherwise ignore it. With my horse it is a confidence issue, my mantra with him is 'if I'm not bothered, he won't be'

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Anybody?

 

[BonneMaman]

I don't think there is anything wrong with looking. Is she backing off the leg too? If so you might need to give her a dig in the ribs or little flick with a schooling whip to keep her thinking forward.

 

[abitodd]

Gateways are 'ambush points'. I.e they are enclosed areas where a predator would lie in wait for a passing meal. (Ask anyone who goes hunting with a rifle and they will confirm this.) Therefore it is quite natural for a horse to be alert when passing an ambush point or gateway.
I tend to bend my horse away or ride shoulder in partly to divert his eyes from the danger and partly to divert his brain!

Unfortunately we have many gateways on both side of the road here. Double trouble!

 

[padderpaws]

I have found it to be very true what starbar has said. My horse was a bloody nightmare on the roads and also looking everywhere when he was out. So, started to ride him differently, not allowing him to gawp around the countryside and i now never look at cars or lorries or plastic bags etc and guess what? he is becoming a changed horse and we are getting to trust each other more.

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

The thing is, I don't look at anything I keep my head forwards and look with my eyes!

 

[Cinnamontoast]

Anticipate her and before she even starts looking for trouble, kick her on, make her trot past then do a half halt/transition frequently to keep her focus.

 

[Cornish on the Cob]

Anticipate her and before she even starts looking for trouble, kick her on, make her trot past then do a half halt/transition frequently to keep her focus.

That sounds good. Will try that!