Scared out of my mind!

Mazz

Mazz

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Hi all, was wondering if anybody might be able to give me some advice on my new horse, Taffy. Have had him for a couple of months now - didn't realise something quite vital when I had him trialled - he is a right spooker! You name it, he's scared of it. Bomb proof in traffic to the extreme, but the noise of wind? Rustly leaves? No chance. Tried to get him used to them, brushing past leaves when we ride deliberately but no matter how much I try the desensitising approach he either forgets he stopped being afraid on the very next ride or finds ten more things he hates. I don't want to be limited to riding on the roads forever... I think that even on the roads, if the wind started to pick up he'd be gone... Even in his paddock he works himself up something HORRIBLE when the wind starts to pick up, so it's not just when we ride.

It's not as if I'm a complete beginner (going on 12 years riding now...) so I do have experience with spooky horses and usually get my way in the end, but he is a whole different story. Taffy is what we call a true bolter. Now I'm not talking the classic stuff you moody cow I'm bored and I want to go home spin and bolt home, I'm talking that horrible blind panic NOTHING WILL STOP ME bolt (he never spins, he just rushes straight forwards into a flat out gallop). Now I'm not exactly in the position where I can rely on going out with other riders all the time as our current yard is the only one for miles. Recently we nearly ended up ploughing two walkers and their dogs into the dust before clattering straight onto a main road - a VERY close call I don't fancy repeating, and definitely a confidence knocker. So now it's at the point I don't only fear my own safety, but other peoples' too. So this has got to stop! I hope it isn't me setting him off, I always put efforts into riding in a calm and focused manner so I don't think it's the classic terrified horse = terrified rider = horse notices = thinks: owner's terrified, it must be scary! = RUN. But maybe it is me, and I need to get him to trust me more!

I love this horse to bits and he is the sweetest most lovely soppy cob in the world (so much for cobs being the calm ones eh!), and this really doesn't seem like the same horse sometimes. Any advice on how to overcome this problem? I'm worried my confidence will become non-existent soon...

Thank you and sorry for the mini-novel!
 
I think you need to find a good trainer to help you really. There are things you could try, like figuring out a pattern, keeping an eye out for early warning signals etc. But without actually watching his behavior, any advice would be educated guesses. And bolting is too serious to be solved by trial & error of what might work. I also wouldn't hack at all till you have some help, both for your safety & everyone else's.
 
I agree with littlelegs re: the trainer.

Also, what's he like during schooling and have you had his tack etc checked in case it's not spooking but caused by pain?
 
Not sure what you are feeding, but is it worth cutting him back to a low energy diet while you try to sort this out? i have sometimes found spring grass and course mixes etc can give some horses a bit too much energy and they can get a bit jumpy as a result!
 
poor you! My yongster used to bolt, like your horse blind panic and running for his life!

I would stop taking your horse out on the roads until you have a solution.

Also agree re looking at his feed and getting an instructor to help you.

What i found really helped me was feeding him a calmer, i gave him NAF magic. it seemed to really take teh edge off him and helped him concentrate more, therefore he was concentrating on me and not looking at the monsters that were around him. He is not on the magic anymore and is honestly like a different horse. Went his first hack on his own the other night and did not put a toe out of place (never thought I'd see the day)

I hope you get sorted. :D
 
If you are able to, and have a sandschool or area available, try doing a lot of lunging and ground work and take him on some walks through the country paths to get him used to everything. He will feel safer if he has someone on the ground with him, and if you give him enough walks out, he should chill out a bit. Lead him in chiffney if he is really strong.
 
littlelegs said:
I think you need to find a good trainer to help you really. There are things you could try, like figuring out a pattern, keeping an eye out for early warning signals etc. But without actually watching his behavior, any advice would be educated guesses. And bolting is too serious to be solved by trial & error of what might work. I also wouldn't hack at all till you have some help, both for your safety & everyone else's.
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I'm with littlelegs on this one too - what area of the country are you in? I know a few people in the South East that work with horses with issues like this.
 
how scary!! I would also feed mag ox. often new grazing that is lacking in magnesium can cause all sorts of mad behaviour and on ebay it is SO SO cheap
 
Poor you, it sounds very frightening.

As others have said, this is too dangerous to second guess what might be happening with you & your horse. Please find a good instructor to come & help you. In the meantime, do you have access to a school or at least a small, flat enclosed field?

I would also be tempted to cut out ALL hard feed, bring him in during the day & just give a small amount of soaked hay.

Good luck, i hope that you get him sorted out & can enjoy summer hacking very soon :-)
 
Littlelegs - Yep I was thinking about calling somebody in to take a look at him, want to definitely make sure I'm not the problem here. Oh don't worry I'm not taking him out alone, wouldn't want to take any more risks because a bad fall isn't going to do either of us very much good. ): Thank you!

Pookie - His bridle is fine and saddle was specially fitted for him by a saddler - will get a second opinion on this though just in case! Schools fine as well, no silliness - seems to just be a problem when out. Thanks!

Maresmaid - Only have him on a plain mollichaff at the moment but will switch to mollichaff calmer and see if it makes any difference. Know what you mean about the grass though, and will be bringing him in much more because he's getting far too much of it for his own good! Thank you (:

Asommerville - Ah I have heard of that! Used the Oestress version on my old mare and seemed to work a treat so will look into getting some - thanks!

C Davison25 - That's exactly what I've been doing as of late - keeps him fit and little danger to me! Shall carry on exactly so then. Thank you!

Suziq77 - Southwest, down in Devon. Have had a little look around and know of a few but nobody I'm really dead set on. :/ Would much prefer somebody recommended to me! Thanks :)

Soulfull - Yeah it is... Third ever ride I had when I was a littleun I was bolted with, ended up falling off and breaking my arm! Not a big deal but seems it when you're much younger and still very new to it all! So it's always been my little fear with riding, thankfully used to it by now! Oh right, Asommerville suggested NAF Magic and I'm pretty sure that's got it in it but I will check first! Thank you!

HazyXmas - Yep we do have a little arena area in which I'm doing groundwork and schooling with him at the moment just to keep him fit really. Cut all of his feed? He's having a small token feed of mollichaff at the moment just to keep him sweet about coming in - should I cut that as well? It's only a scoop a day he's getting. And he will definitely be coming in during the days now it's warm enough to be out at night. Thanks!

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Talked to somebody else today who'd been in a similar situation as me - she told me my only options were to sell him on as a known bolter who needs to be hacked in company (he's sweet as pie when he's not by himself!) or I must move him to a busier yard where I will definitely be able to hack out with others... Any thoughts? I'd love to be able to move him but unfortunately our current yard per week is an absolute steal for the 3 of them and don't think I could afford to move them - plus the other two are oldies and I don't want to cause them any more stress than I absolutely have to! We're very away from other yards in this area so I also can't depend on others to always be around to hack out with. :( I'm at a total loss here... Should I pay for a trainer to come here/him go there or is the issue that he should learn by example from other horses? Really don't want to lose him but will do anything that will be for the best.
 
Just a thought - get his eyesight checked. I knew a pony once that was often spooked by silly things and did tank off a few times (not true bolts like yours, but he was a small pony with a young child rider so it was dangerous), he was also great in traffic. It turned out that he was going blind and that this was the cause of the unpredictable behaviour.
 
Faracat said:
Just a thought - get his eyesight checked. I knew a pony once that was often spooked by silly things and did tank off a few times (not true bolts like yours, but he was a small pony with a young child rider so it was dangerous), he was also great in traffic. It turned out that he was going blind and that this was the cause of the unpredictable behaviour.
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Also his bit. I had a lovely horse years ago and he was the same. Basically he worked out he could call the shots when he fancied and would just tank. I did have a trainer then swapped to a really good dressage lady.

And she watched us. Saw me being tanked off as and when...and promptly swapped hs nice snaffle into a pellham. Next time he tried it he got the shock of his life. Now I ended up having this horse for over 20 years and he was an out and out Jumping machine but I always struggled XC to hold him, though after 2 very hairy times out, he was.a dream to hunt!

To this day, years late, I still have never sat on a horse as strong and determind as my first one!
 
One of my younger ones was VERY spooky, to the point where she'd spook at a white gate into the path of an oncoming car/lorry/hgv, she just didn't care. Prokalm helped A LOT, as it gave her the ability to reason and give things a go. Before the Prokalm, however much we did the same route with the same things, she got no better. On it, she improved steadily and she's now on a tiny maintenance dose only. She went from a horse who'd rear if asked to stand still and where every hack was an adrenalin-filled experience, to one who can be ridden (under supervision) by a novice, and is such a sweet, adorable little 'person' now.

ETA: We also found Soya didn't agree with her,
 
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Faracat said:
Just a thought - get his eyesight checked. I knew a pony once that was often spooked by silly things and did tank off a few times (not true bolts like yours, but he was a small pony with a young child rider so it was dangerous), he was also great in traffic. It turned out that he was going blind and that this was the cause of the unpredictable behaviour.
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Oh, I never even thought of that! He is only just going on 8 though - I suppose it's still worth checking? Thank you!

Luci07 - Will definitely get a second opinion on his bit as thought this might be the issue - He's only in an eggbutt snaffle at the moment. Only thing is, I've had a horse before who bolted as a way of getting out of doing things she didn't want to and she seems very different from him. You really could tell she was full aware of what she was doing and could easily be bullied into behaving properly! But nothing seems to stop Taff... He doesn't even seem to notice people when he charges straight through them, won't be calmed down by being talked to and will only stop when he physically runs into something or is to exhausted to run any further. Could it still just be him being a pain in the bum? Thank you by the way (:
 
My advice would be:

*check which side he spins to and keep the opposite rein secure to block the turn

*use a bit with full cheeks, especially a pelham is a godsend for riders with horses that spin and bolt

*spend a lot of time with him being soppy and doing things like join-up

*lead him out and ride him home to get him used to the area

*and stick with him; you can work through this.
 
Hi,I know an ace trainer in Devon who could help you. It sounds to me as if this is a horse you really need to have listening,respecting and above all,trusting you,so you need someone who digs a bit deeper than an average riding instructor. I will PM you a name if you like.

I like the fact that you are questioning yourself. I had a couple of horses a few years ago who had similar issues to yours. One was a loan horse and I sent it back,the other was an ex racer who I sold. I later found out that I had an over-active thyroid gland which, amongst other things causes raised adrenaline levels.Add a bit of stress(horse spooking) and adrenaline goes through the roof! I am guessing both horses picked up on this and took my hormones seriously:(
I still have the condition but my current horses have grown up with my hyper-mode and have learned to cope with it and I have learned that I need to make more effort than most to STAY CALM NO MATTER WHAT MY HEARTBEAT IS DOING!!!!!!!:D
 
I've got one like this! Also rising 8...am just in the process of getting someone out to take a look at him...similarly, really really sweet tempered and love him to bits - but just spooky as spooky can be!
No other advice than the good stuff that's been offered along here, except in my case I've decided to get someone out sooner rather than later, as don't really want either of our confidence to get knocked any further...keep us posted!
 
:( how awful but PLEASE DONT GIVE UP!!! I had pretty much exactly teh same thing with my 6yo cob when i first bought him. Turned out his saddle didnt fit, he didnt like nutcracker action on a bit and had hardly any schooling. I just did months of groundwork- clicker training, long reining, join up etc. (AND I GOT A TRAINER WHICH IS ESSENTIAL)then I gradually built up to hacking out in company at walk with a steady old mare. Now he doesn't bat an eyelid really and has totally chilled out so much we can do almost anything without worrying about spooks or no brakes :p
 
I have a 5yr old mare who can be very sharp and spooky especially in the wind. Like yours she is fine with cars, lorries etc but the trees rustling is terrifying!!! I found that ear covers (fly veil) worked really well at keeping her concentrating on me rather than sounds. You can even put cotton wool in their ears if need be. My mare is much better now and i barely use the ear cover. But obviously if it is pain/sight related it may not help.
 
Until you get this sorted I would NOT ride him out on the road. Its just not worth the risk for u and him or for anybody else. I do hope you get to the root of this with some pro help, best of luck ;)
 
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