Overcoming fear of wooden bridges ...

[hussar]

Has anyone else had a horse with a real fear of wooden bridges and what did you do to overcome it? I'm talking about solid, 6-8ft wide bridges of the type you get in forestry. My 9yo endurance Arab has to be led over them and, although quite well-mannered in other respects, he simply barges across them, squashing me in the process and on one memorable occasion knocking me into the water!

I do know why he's scared of them - on his very first encounter with one as a 4yo he got a real fright: the bridge had been helpfully surfaced with rubber matting but unknown to me it had come loose - he slipped, fell over and that was that.

I've tried getting him used to walking over wooden boards on the ground but it's impossible to reproduce the hollow sound. Any advice will be gratefully received!

 

[AmyMay]

Sounds like the fright he had as a youngster put him off for life.

Can't helpe really as you sound as if you're doing everything you can.

I regularly ride Thumper over a very clangy metal bridge - that he was introduced to by me leading him over it. Whilst he's cautious - he goes over with no probs with me mounted.

 

[dwi]

The only thing I'd say would be to box him to one where you can practice to your heart's content with a friend who's horse will do it. I managed to get Daisy over one hunting this year because in the excitement of it all she just followed the other horses across

 

[hussar]

I should have said that he is totally unmoved by whatever another horse chooses to do! The horse in front could cross the bridge and disappear for ever - mine wouldn't care.

I'm thinking perhaps I should box to one where I can longline to my heart's content ...