TarantuLove
Well-Known Member
Any advice? Particularly hacking out, my boy has a tendency to spook at almost everything
especially things behind him...
riding a spooky horse
- Thread starter TarantuLove
- Start date
loopyloop
Well-Known Member
sit tight.......
ldlp111
Well-Known Member
some horses are naturlly spooky my mare will be walking along fine then legs go everywhere for the invisible horse eating monster!!!
sea_view
Well-Known Member
Talk to him, keep ur leg on and reward him when he has passed something spooky without a big fuss. If he over reacts don't you over react because then he'll think there has been something worth over-reacting to.
I would also make sure you maintain even contact, don't hack about on a long rein as your more likely to snatch at the reins if he has a flaky which will increase the upset.
Anyway, this is what I've been doing with my over-reactor for the past month or so and he seems to be improving.
X
I would also make sure you maintain even contact, don't hack about on a long rein as your more likely to snatch at the reins if he has a flaky which will increase the upset.
Anyway, this is what I've been doing with my over-reactor for the past month or so and he seems to be improving.
X
vikuca
Well-Known Member
I remember watching a dressage clinic with some famous guy (Ferdi something or other) and he said just ignore it completely and concentrate on working your horse properly. Easier said than done but good advice!
You could also do some bomb-proofing in the field if you think he is genuinely frightened of the things he meets out hacking.
Often spooking can be due to too much energy (particularly at this time of year with the spring grass coming through) and lunging before riding can be great at taking the edge off them. I'm a great believer in avoiding confrontation rather than tackling it head on!
You could also do some bomb-proofing in the field if you think he is genuinely frightened of the things he meets out hacking.
Often spooking can be due to too much energy (particularly at this time of year with the spring grass coming through) and lunging before riding can be great at taking the edge off them. I'm a great believer in avoiding confrontation rather than tackling it head on!
Kenzo
Well-Known Member
Ditto above, my Arab years ago was very spooky, she'd just go spook at nothing so you didn't even get a warning lol which was fun.
Anyway if you think there going to spook at something then getting there attention of what they have clocked onto usually helps, half halt, a bend...anything to basically say hey I'm up hear listen to me, rather than you focusing on if or when they are going to leap up etc also riding (don't know how to explain this to be honest) with knees set more in and your feet out a little (like if you had K legs) so if they shoot the side, you have that side of your foot/leg to set against the direction so it keeps secure in the saddle,
Say for example if you were sat on your horse in the school and I came to the side of you and tried to push you out of the saddle off the other side, what would you naturally do with that outside leg to keep you in the saddle? that is how you keep your legs positioned on spooky horse so you can brace yourself, and making sure you ride with your heals down and the correct length of foot is in your stirrups (just past your toes) also a good point was raised at a demonstration I went to which is very true, a rider who has a good seat/length of stirrups etc will move with the horse and not be jolted backwards if the horse took off (spooked forwards) from a being stationary which is very true, something to do with your posture, leg, seat bones etc.
Another thing as well if you ride with a whip, I tend to hold the handle further down so 8 inches of it comes across the neck, great little way of stopping you going over that neck with they do spook/shoot forward or even buck as you can press it against the neck and kinda push yourself back were as in some intances your hands would fall forward and drop contact.
Sorry I sound like I'm talking jibberish but its hard to explain in writing lol
Anyway if you think there going to spook at something then getting there attention of what they have clocked onto usually helps, half halt, a bend...anything to basically say hey I'm up hear listen to me, rather than you focusing on if or when they are going to leap up etc also riding (don't know how to explain this to be honest) with knees set more in and your feet out a little (like if you had K legs) so if they shoot the side, you have that side of your foot/leg to set against the direction so it keeps secure in the saddle,
Say for example if you were sat on your horse in the school and I came to the side of you and tried to push you out of the saddle off the other side, what would you naturally do with that outside leg to keep you in the saddle? that is how you keep your legs positioned on spooky horse so you can brace yourself, and making sure you ride with your heals down and the correct length of foot is in your stirrups (just past your toes) also a good point was raised at a demonstration I went to which is very true, a rider who has a good seat/length of stirrups etc will move with the horse and not be jolted backwards if the horse took off (spooked forwards) from a being stationary which is very true, something to do with your posture, leg, seat bones etc.
Another thing as well if you ride with a whip, I tend to hold the handle further down so 8 inches of it comes across the neck, great little way of stopping you going over that neck with they do spook/shoot forward or even buck as you can press it against the neck and kinda push yourself back were as in some intances your hands would fall forward and drop contact.
Sorry I sound like I'm talking jibberish but its hard to explain in writing lol
TarantuLove
Well-Known Member
Thanks
his reaction to anything scary is to run off, so it throws me off balance and I sometimes fall off! Not doing any wonders for my confidence...
merliebug
Well-Known Member
I felt I had to respond to this one because I've had such a similar experience with my youngster (now not quite so young as he's just turned 6!) My horse can spook at quite literally ANYTHING... his shadow, a leaf, a leaf's shadow... and don't get me started on squirrels, logs or cracks in the road!
The major breakthrough we've had is that he spooks alot less when in the company of a sane horse, as he doesn't see the need to spook. As he's been growing in confidence I've been able to do alot more with him, and hopefully in time we'll be back to hacking out alone (we used to before a road-incident) and hopefully we won't be leaping 6ft across the road at the slightest opportunity! Of course it does help to have glue stuck to your bum and the saddle though...
Echoing what was said above, it is best to ignore spooking or to quietly praise your horse once he's gone past something scary - don't make a big deal of it or he'll think it's worth making a big deal of in the future. Easier said than done but just stay as calm as possible and don't be tense.
Good luck!!
The major breakthrough we've had is that he spooks alot less when in the company of a sane horse, as he doesn't see the need to spook. As he's been growing in confidence I've been able to do alot more with him, and hopefully in time we'll be back to hacking out alone (we used to before a road-incident) and hopefully we won't be leaping 6ft across the road at the slightest opportunity! Of course it does help to have glue stuck to your bum and the saddle though...
Echoing what was said above, it is best to ignore spooking or to quietly praise your horse once he's gone past something scary - don't make a big deal of it or he'll think it's worth making a big deal of in the future. Easier said than done but just stay as calm as possible and don't be tense.
Good luck!!
Nosey
Well-Known Member
Agree with merliebug - company def helps. Its usually a confidence issue with spooky ones, and if they lack confidence it is being constantly drained out of them like an egg timer when hacking out alone.
Mine too was a nightmare but infinitely better now. I did lots of hacks in company with her periodically taking the lead then dropping back to regain her confidence and kept repeating this. Also when you do hack on your own try not to look at spooky objects...I try and make a conscious effort to look the other way whist keeping the object in my peripheral vision. It sounds daft but it does work!!
...and finally - sticky seat breeches and the sprenger irons help with stickability as its lot harder to lose one and become unbalanced, and the book the Fearless Horse has some good tips!
Mine too was a nightmare but infinitely better now. I did lots of hacks in company with her periodically taking the lead then dropping back to regain her confidence and kept repeating this. Also when you do hack on your own try not to look at spooky objects...I try and make a conscious effort to look the other way whist keeping the object in my peripheral vision. It sounds daft but it does work!!
...and finally - sticky seat breeches and the sprenger irons help with stickability as its lot harder to lose one and become unbalanced, and the book the Fearless Horse has some good tips!
sammiea
Well-Known Member
I have learnt with my girl to read the road/track ahead of her so i can be ready for her spooky antics that combined with a decent pair of breeches with suede seat and i'm happy to go anywhere with her
canteron
Well-Known Member
My advice is hack as if you were schooling, give your horse things to think about so it doesn't have time to spook. Make it work dont just slob along.
Easier said than done? Learn to ride in double reins properly (the outside finger controls the curb rein). I now hack out in a pelham. I feel that this gives me much more control.
Also, lots and lots and lots and lots of work in trot in the school without stirrups - yep so you can sit tight.
Easier said than done? Learn to ride in double reins properly (the outside finger controls the curb rein). I now hack out in a pelham. I feel that this gives me much more control.
Also, lots and lots and lots and lots of work in trot in the school without stirrups - yep so you can sit tight.
amycov
Well-Known Member
Lots of talking, try to relax, and make sure you don't lean forward as you need to keep a deep seat.
smirnoff_ice07
Well-Known Member
Haha, my boy can be the same, he was spring loaded today! Horse-eating daffodils are out at the moment and it was windy!!
I find keeping my leg on and sitting really deep helps, and little alternate sqeezes on the reins but giving a bit when he goes forward. When we're out hacking i ride like i'm schooling, doing half halts/transitions etc all the time and always asking for an outline so it keeps him focused on me an less likely to notice all the monsters lurking behind bushes!!!
Also ride really positively and keep pushing him forward, he will take his confidence from you!
I find keeping my leg on and sitting really deep helps, and little alternate sqeezes on the reins but giving a bit when he goes forward. When we're out hacking i ride like i'm schooling, doing half halts/transitions etc all the time and always asking for an outline so it keeps him focused on me an less likely to notice all the monsters lurking behind bushes!!!
Also ride really positively and keep pushing him forward, he will take his confidence from you!