Loveponies
Active Member
I have had my current pony just over two years. He is 8 and a stocky native type. He had only done a little hacking in his previous home and not been ridden at all for 6 months before I bought due to owners poor health. I only tried him in a muddy paddock and could hardly get him to do move but that suited me as I prefer a quiet kick along type.
He was initially very very spooky to hack out but I put it down to just needing time to settle. Although the random shooting forwards and spinning at nothing has stopped he is still incredibly looky and spooky at things . I hack out 5 times a week every week on forest and heathland so I would have hoped he would now be confident and relaxed but he still flinchs and reacts to virtually every squirrel/rabbit/piece of bracken. More frustrating is he often spins and shoots off when he sees a walker. It is quite busy with a lot of walkers and cyclists so he gets plenty of practice but still randomly hugely over reacts to some. He is a handsome chap and quite a few people like to stop and stroke him so he gets lots of positive interaction and is only too happy to stand and doze while I chat but is always quite suspicious of the initial contact and has run backwards when some people have gently put out a hand.
I am very cuddly with him and when poo picking or doing jobs in the field I always pat and stroke him as I walk past but even with me he can be a little suspicious. Today after I untacked him I stepped forward to stroke his neck and he jumped away slightly.
I am certain he was not mistreated by his previous owner and I certainly am always kind and gentle.
He is generally suspicious of anything new but I have done lots of desentising of the usual things such as plastic bag etc. He has also done trec obstacles.
I have long reined and walked him in hand on the hacking routes and he is less spooky than when ridden but still looky and sometimes has tried to take off when a dog has appeared etc.
I tried a calmer supplement but no affect. Hacking out with others he is just as spooky and infact nearly knocked my friends horse over when my boy was in front and spun and ran into her.
He is bossy in the field with other horses and can be pushy with me when anxious.
I would love him to be confident and relaxed. Any ideas please.
He was initially very very spooky to hack out but I put it down to just needing time to settle. Although the random shooting forwards and spinning at nothing has stopped he is still incredibly looky and spooky at things . I hack out 5 times a week every week on forest and heathland so I would have hoped he would now be confident and relaxed but he still flinchs and reacts to virtually every squirrel/rabbit/piece of bracken. More frustrating is he often spins and shoots off when he sees a walker. It is quite busy with a lot of walkers and cyclists so he gets plenty of practice but still randomly hugely over reacts to some. He is a handsome chap and quite a few people like to stop and stroke him so he gets lots of positive interaction and is only too happy to stand and doze while I chat but is always quite suspicious of the initial contact and has run backwards when some people have gently put out a hand.
I am very cuddly with him and when poo picking or doing jobs in the field I always pat and stroke him as I walk past but even with me he can be a little suspicious. Today after I untacked him I stepped forward to stroke his neck and he jumped away slightly.
I am certain he was not mistreated by his previous owner and I certainly am always kind and gentle.
He is generally suspicious of anything new but I have done lots of desentising of the usual things such as plastic bag etc. He has also done trec obstacles.
I have long reined and walked him in hand on the hacking routes and he is less spooky than when ridden but still looky and sometimes has tried to take off when a dog has appeared etc.
I tried a calmer supplement but no affect. Hacking out with others he is just as spooky and infact nearly knocked my friends horse over when my boy was in front and spun and ran into her.
He is bossy in the field with other horses and can be pushy with me when anxious.
I would love him to be confident and relaxed. Any ideas please.
