Newbie Needing Help Please - Major Bike Fear

[devilwoman]

Hello everyone, i'm new here and need some help please, I have a rather shy natured 8 year old mare, she's always been excellent to hack out with/without company never scared of anything, UNTIL about 2 months ago we were going round a corner and come smack on face to face with three kids on bikes, not their fault at all but one almost ran into us so she shyed, half reared whilst spinning round for home, I left by the side exit and she ran down the lane without me and went home, ever since this event if she sees a bike coming she trys to spin and tank for home, its becoming very difficult to hold her now as she is spinning so quickly even though i'm ready for her she is almost impossible to stop doing it.

Second problem i'm having with her is she is refusing to leave the farm on hacks, i have to quite literally get off her and drag her out of the farm, I think its probably related to the above incident as she has never done it before, now she just naps, half rears, spins and refuses to go forward, all in all shes becoming a very difficult young lady.

Any suggestions appreciated.

P.S. Ive had my son ride his bike round her when shes grazing etc and she pays no attention to it whatsoever !.

 

[Chestnuttymare]

could your son perhaps cycle with oyu on a short hack, then when she is ok with that, then get him to wait up the road and join you for a little bit and sort of build it up from there.

when my horse used to nap, i would ride her till she stopped then get of and lead for a little bit then off again when she stopped. I did this for the whole hack then rode back as she was quite happy to go home. Eventually, you need to get off less often and then not at all.
I know people will say it is giving in to get off, but I don't see the point of getting into a big argument which would then make it all a big deal.

sounds like your horse has lost her confidence and needs to build it up again. Just look on it as a blip. Hope you get it sorted

 

[Horseyscot]

Hello and welcome to HHO

As far as your problem goes, are you hacking out alone at the moment? Is there someone who could hack out with you to help build your horses confidence? And agree with what chestnuttymare said to maybe get your son to help by riding on his bike with you when you are out? Sorry not great suggestions but I think its just a case of trying to slowly build your horses confidence up again.

Good luck x

 

[devilwoman]

thankyou for your suggestions, will get my son on his pushbike and out with me, hopefully she'll not trample him !

I ride in company and alone, today was out with another horse from yard, she wasn't as bad as she can be but I had about four episodes of refusal to budge and spinning for home.

I have resorted to the getting on and off several times and dragging her along, she too walks home top speed with absolutely no problems (so annoying !) i'll not give up with her - hopefully we'll rebuild her confidence and get back to how she used to be.

 

[Louby]

Hi, my horse is also petrified of push bikes and he has been for years. It does make our rides hard as its a bridleway where loads of bikes go. He doesnt seem to mind them approching from behind but jogs, spins etc when they approach from the front. We meet loads each time and he just never gets any better.

 

[NeilM]

I would agree with Chestnuttymare.

My boy used to be frightened of white vans, tractors with trailers, people walking on bridleways, as well as not wanting to hack out on his own.

Just work at it bit by bit, leading and riding, and be cute to the fact that even the most genuine horse will sometimes 'fake it' for a bit of attention or excitement.

 

[puddleshark]

Might be worth contacting your local Intelligent Horsemanship instructor and doing some groundwork to build up your mare's confidence in you as a leader.

I saw at a recent clinic that one way to increase a horse's confidence is to get them to chase the object they are nervous of - apparently horse psychology says that if it runs away when you come towards it, then it's not frightening after all.