Riding through a spook

Grumpy Herbert

Grumpy Herbert

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I have quite a spooky horse. When he has a spook, he tends stop suddenly then leap off to the side. He doesn't usually spin or try to bolt off, although he has done.

He is a big lad and sometimes his spooks unbalance me a bit. I'm finding that I'm raising my hands when this happens and quite probably jabbing him in the mouth - not good. Does anyone have any tips on how to keep my hands down? I don't have a problem keeping them still generally, just when he has a big spook.

Also, after such a spook would you act as if it hadn't happened, comfort him or tell him off?
 
my lad can spook he did today at a billbord that he has seen many many times thig with us is we have to go past this billboard on a very busy main road to get anywhere and he hates lorrys too so we had the board lus a car transporter he decided t spin i sh*t mesen! but i got myself together and kicked him on i flap my hands when i panick which doesnt help grr ! i find that if i can just get him kicked on and carry on as we were he is usually fine but today we had double wammy lol!
 
I'd act as if it hadn't happened. When the horse initially backed off or spooked, I'd firmly (but not in a pushy way) apply my leg aids to support the horse and show him I was there and paying attention.

Your hands is just something you'll need to practise I think - try to have it in your head that if the horse spooks you need tp lower them - that should counteract the upward movement. Lunge lessons/work without stirrups might help too, as having a secure seat makes sitting to a spook much easier (believe me, I know!
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Personally I wouldnt worry too much about a bit of a jab in the gob if spooking unnecessarily, but I am sure others will disagree.

I always used to comfort one of mine when she used to spook, then someone pointed out that I was actually rewarding her for spooking at things, which I thought was a good point. If its genuinely scary now I just scratch her withers a tiny bit rather than full blown congratulations. If its stupid, like imaginary horse eating monsters in the hedge she gets a boot in the ribs. Seems to work for me or am I just a horrid person?
 
Can I just ask, Do you see something your think he wont like the look of quite a way ahead of you and then gather your reins up just in case he will spook? - just have a think if this is what you do before you answer my question!! you need to totally ignore his behaviour, dont tell him off nor praise him, try to ride as normally as possible and if at all possible don't gather your reins tighter than you usually ride with. If you tell him off you have given him a reaction which is what he expects! but if you praise him you are telling him its good to spook, Just sit quietly and after the spook just continue what you were doing without letting him know it affected you. If you are in a school you can practise by putting a strap on the D rings of your saddle and tucking your last 2 fingers under it so that if he spooks you won't raise your hands, try, if at all possible to ride a little more on the bit so that he is having to work hard as spooking is also a way of evading work. Good luck
 
Thanks for your replies!

Dressage_Babe - sometimes I'm guilty of tensing up when I see something he might spook at, yes. But a lot of the time he spooks at ridiculous things that I couldn't possibly anticipate him spooking at (blades of grass, shafts of sunlight....)!! These are the ones that get me - they catch me completely unawares! The bit you said about spooking as an evasion is very interesting, as this horse has a whole manual of evasions and I did wonder if this was yet another one.
 
It certainly sounds like he is getting out of work by doing it then, I would give him loads to think about when in the school serpentines, shoulder in, increase & decreasing circles - the list can go on but make sure you ride him quite deep (if he is physically up to it) so that he can't actually look at anything to make an excuse from! Good luck
 
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