Pony with fear of other horses

[Caramac71]

Has anyone any experience of a pony that is scared when hacking past fields of other horses? Pony is really well behaved in all other ways, will safely walk past any "scarey" objects and will even pass pony and traps without issue. She is as bombproof as a pony can be. But if she has to walk past a field of horses, and one (or more) starts to approach, she takes off. Even just walking past with the horses ignoring her, she will jog rather than walk. But if any approach her, she canters off and my daughter cant stop her. She will stop as soon as she is past the field in question, but obviously this isnt acceptible as it is dangerous when they are on the road.

We know this stems from her being attacked in a field a few years ago, so it stems from fear. But she is like this walking past fields on her own yard. There is one pony that we often hack with and travel to shows with. She will tie up with him, share a haynet, even steals hay from his mouth! But if she is ridden past his field and he comes towards her, she takes off.

She is the same if hacking alone or in company, and with someone on foot.

We have asked for help from daughter's instructor, but meanwhile I just wondered if anyone had dealt with any similar issues or had any ideas of how to handle this?

 

[CrazyCobLady]

This is a new one. Perhaps just repetition. Walking next to the field and repeat until pony slows down or stops. Make her stop and sniff the ponies in the field. Take 2 leaders as well as daughter and see how she is .

 

[3OldPonies]

Perhaps she has had a nasty experience in the past? Just a suggestion as one of falls that knocked my confidence was when I was checking my girth having just got on and a load of ponies in the opposite field came to take a look - all of them at once at a flat out gallop across the field. My boy exploded with the surprise and excitement and I hit the deck, which just scared him completely. For months afterwards I had to get on at the end of the lane because he just wouldn't stand at that particular point. Even when the ponies had moved out of the field, he would look for them - just in case!

 

[Tapir]

My pony is also like this but to a lesser degree, she won't leg it but gets very tense and bouncy. I've put it down to the fact that she's very low in the pecking order and judging from a scar on her neck has maybe been badly bitten by another horse at some point.

I'm afraid she hasn't't improved much in the 3 years I've had her so no advice really just wanted to say you are n't alone with this problem.

 

[khalswitz]

Lots of horses can be funny about strange horses cantering towards them across a field - like if a gang of strangers came running up to you in an empty street, you're unsettled because you don't know who they are or what their intentions are. Once your horse gets used to them bein there, they will get used to walking past.