Pulling horses neck round when going past spooky objects!

[Supertrooper]

Saw a guy doing this to his horse the other day, they where going past some workmen on their left side so guy pulled the horses head right round to the left and walked him past. Does anyone else do this?? The only reason I can think is that it stops it bring able to spook or spin round the other way?

 

[narkymare]

My instructor suggested soemthing similar to me - my cob is just so so dammed nosey, looks everywhere but where he is going and then spooks for england!
My instructor told me when he starts looking around to make sure his head is straight on - did seem to work for us because my lad activeley looks for things to scare him! x

 

[only_me]

Its technically shoulder in away from the scary object, can work very well

 

[Kokopelli]

When there is something spooky I encourage him to look the opposite way and perhaps even do a shoulder in just to get his attention. Doesn't always work but thats what the neckstrap is for!

 

[minkymoo]

I like to flex K's head away and then try for a little shoulder in or some lateral work just to stop him thinking about something scary! I also sometimes stop and let him have a look depending on the object (killer wheelie bins, that kind of thing!). I did this the other day with a sofa coming out from the back of the lorry. He had a look, I flexed a little and we did a little shoulder in past it. All fine!

 

[Hedgewitch13]

I do it with my spooky mare but it isn't just a case of 'pulling the neck around'! You flex more than pull and you do use your legs as well. It also keeps their bottom into the kerb. I get so annoyed with riders who let their horses swing out into the road and don't use their legs to correct them, I see it happen so flippin' often, usually when I'm driving past them. A few lateral work lessons wouldn't go amiss!

 

[SwingHorse]

I had a spooky horse growing up that I'd do this to with moving objects coming from behind, by turning his hind quarters away from the object and his head towards it, sometimes having to turn his neck if it was something really scary. If you didn't as soon as something drew level he'd bolt, so by turning I could make sure he saw it from a mile off and if he was still scared I had his attention as I'd just asked him to do something.

That pony was a b*******, but he taught me to sit to bucks, rears and bolts like and old pro!