Sensitive, quirky, spooky horses - how to deal with them?

joolie

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My Connie x can be a proper sensitive drama queen, and once something happens to upset him he likes to remember it. Saturday while turning him out after riding I stumbled on mud at the gateway, massive panic from pony who disappeared off into sunset leadrope still attached. Another half hour to get leadrope off, and yesterday and today a resulting 45 mins to catch him as he cantered, bucked and snorted around as I'm now the demon from hell in his eyes.

He is similar to ride, a spook/moment can ruin a whole schooling session (even more if he remembers scary moment in arena) or hack as he gets very tense and wound up and I find it difficult to diffuse him. He can't be told off as this makes matters worse!

Has anyone with similar sensitive horses? How do you cope with their moments especially when you are feeling a bit nervous? When he is on side he is great - sometimes it feels like a battle though to deal with his more quirky habits.
 
I have a very sensitive and quirky OTTB mare so I understand where you're coming from. Best advice I can give is for you to provide him with a strong, calm leader. Horses like that tend to feed off your uncertainty or nerves - hard as it is to remain calm and relaxed when you expect them to do something silly, it really is the best thing.

Watch his ears - if they are perked right up, he's more apt to be looking for scary things. So ask him to do something before he spooks - move off your leg, or bend, or change direction. If his mind is on what you're asking, he's less able to find the scary stuff. It's much easier to defuse a situation before it happens than during or after.

Remember to breathe. Relaxed, deep breathing communicates your calmness to him (even if you're not so calm).

A lot of times I think it's less that THEY remember these things than it is we do and we communicate it to them through our tension. We expect a reaction, they feel that uncertainty, and so they react.
 
When leading use a long piece of rope through ring so when he runs off let half of it slip and hold other half so he then has nothing dangerous attached to him (obviously only if into safe enviroment such as his field), this made a massive difference to my mare as when she panic'd and got away she then would wind herself up more because of the "snake" attached to her!
Also clicker training has made a massive difference to her. Good luck
 
Thanks - I've had him 18 months now and sometimes I feel we go back to square 1 with the smallest of events! When he is working with me he is fab and a total pleasure to own and be around. When he isn't I feel like tearing my hair out, and that he doesn't even like me all that much! That's a really good tip horsefeed - when this sort of thing has happened before I resort to the lunge line which makes him easy to re-catch if he gets away but will serve to panic him even more before I do! Clicker training has been mentioned to me before, will do some reading up on it.
 
I have a mare who is extremely quirky and spooky. I find that the more ground work you do with her the better she gets in all situations generally. Lots of voice aids whilst lunging, getting her concentration fully on me - watching where her inner ear is pointing. If she isn't concentrating fully on me and what I am asking, I will ask for a sudden transition - ie if she is in trot, I will ask for stand, or more effective still I will bring her onto a smaller circle, where she is closer to me and I am able to have a little more control over her. I have found the more I do of this the less she tends to spook and get tense in the school at other times. She has become more resigned to the fact that when she is in the school, she is to listen to me, and concentrate on what I am asking of her, rather than everything else around.

Also, alternating the lunge sessions with different activities/exercise to keep her on her toes works wonders. I will swap from lunging on a circle, to asking her to work on a square, or even make her trot down the long side, and onto a new circle at the other end. Raised poles, and raised poles on a circle will really get their concentration too.

What I find is that my mare is so intelligent that it's easy for her mind to wander, and she is a real worrier, which I think is the problem in many quirky horses. That's where I find the above techniques really work in order to teach that when they are working/being led etc they are to pay more attention to you than other things around.
 
Oh I have a sensitive soul of a Connie! Very similar to yours particularly regarding hacks and schooling. How old is he? My lad will be 12 this year and in the last 12 to 18 months he is better, will settle much quicker when something has upset him, it now does not set the tempo for the whole ride or schooling session if something has upset this at the beginning. He still spooks and can spin on a sixpence, but is definitely getting better with age. I do find growling at him tends to work better than anything else, or sometimes a bit of a slap on the shoulder to get him to listen again. My lad is truly scared a lot of the time when he reacts and that must be taken into account.
I also watch his ears, it been commented on in dressage tests that I look down, but yes when his ears are coming off the top of his head I know he is about to do something!
 
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Oh I have a sensitive soul of a Connie! Very similar to yours particularly regarding hacks and schooling. How old is he? My lad will be 12 this year and in the last 12 to 18 months he is better, will settle much quicker when something has upset him, it now does not set the tempo for the whole ride or schooling session if something has upset this at the beginning. He still spooks and can spin on a sixpence, but is definitely getting better with age. I do find growling at him tends to work better than anything else, or sometimes a bit of a slap on the shoulder to get him to listen again. My lad is truly scared a lot of the time when he reacts and that must be taken into account.

Mine is a bit of an irish bog pony mix, came from a dealer who had him brought over from Ireland. I often wonder if he had a tough time over there with how he reacts sometimes. He's soon to be 8 but I struggled with him a bit to start with (very, very different from my last horse). He can now chuck out an OK prelim test (64.5% and 3rd in his first ever a fortnight ago) and although jumping isn't my thing we can pop a couple in the school. He is an absolute diamond though out and about competing almost to the point of looking bored! I do find him very strange. He can go through a phase of being fab for a month or so then a little incident will 'set him off' in all aspects of life generally. He absolutely hates strangers too!

Thanks Moomin - some excellent tips there, maybe I need to think more about the work he does and challenge him more. He is out 24/7 with just hay and a small token feed for vits and mins so it's not as if his spookiness can be attributed to lack of turnout/too much food!!
 
I agree with Moomin1 - gain your horse's confidence trust and respect on the ground and that will translate to your ridden work.

I went to a really interesting trainer demo on Sunday - basically good western horsemanship and his horses were impeccably trained. I had a go (with his horse)at lunging with his methods and the horse was so responsive. He said when he got her she was a bag of nerves, but she has transformed to a really obedient and mannerly horse. I was most impressed and he said he trains buckers and bolters in the same way. You gain their respect and ear on the ground bu making them move their feet and you desensitize them and tech them not to run and that the scary thing will stop or go away so don't panic. Brilliant and I shall certainly be using his tips on my youngsters.
 
I agree with Moomin1 - gain your horse's confidence trust and respect on the ground and that will translate to your ridden work.

I went to a really interesting trainer demo on Sunday - basically good western horsemanship and his horses were impeccably trained. I had a go (with his horse)at lunging with his methods and the horse was so responsive. He said when he got her she was a bag of nerves, but she has transformed to a really obedient and mannerly horse. I was most impressed and he said he trains buckers and bolters in the same way. You gain their respect and ear on the ground bu making them move their feet and you desensitize them and tech them not to run and that the scary thing will stop or go away so don't panic. Brilliant and I shall certainly be using his tips on my youngsters.

Very true - I think he would probably respond well to more groundwork as sometimes I feel there is a lack of respect for me at times. I think working on the bond we have certainly wouldn't do any harm as I think perhaps sometimes he is questioning my confidence/ability as a leader. Food for thought - thanks!
 
I feel your pain; mine's exactly the same, massive drama queen. I've had the exact same thing with a leadrope and then not been able to catch him for a few days; I never thought in his whole life I'd be able to throw the rope over his neck and let him walk through the gate while I close it, like I do with my other horse! Or use neck covers, etc. Or an exercise sheet. Sometimes he is scared of his tail if it gets too long. Anything like that really!


Yeah, I'd echo the others; just lots of time and patience and clicker training. I don/t know if yours is greedy, but I find that I can use treats very strategically and they make a massive difference and genuinely calm him down. I don't mean feeding them all the time, just when needed. E.g. he used to be very, very tense about his saddle when I was tacking him up, which in turn led him to be nervous about mounting, so I turned this into a game and we do 'shake hands' after I do up the girth; on command he stretches his legs forward (as you do anyway to stop hair pinching) and he thinks this is good because he'll get a treat for it, and therefore he is much keener about having the saddle on than he was before.

I am not sure about the whole dominant/moving feet thing with this type of genuinely very nervous horse. I think it can help to an extent, but things like Parelli whihc are overly focussed on moving feet can be detrimental with this type of horse. Obviously - depends on the horse and the trainer!
 
He is a greedy so-and-so and does respond well to treats. He's a bit funny with the farrier trimming his back feet but responds well to a soft approach and treat bribery! Clicker training sounds very interesting, I will do some reading around and see if I can apply it to him. Sometimes I feel he needs more confidence with things. Generally he responds well to voice/praise so I try and use this as much as I can when he's being a good boy.
 
I feel your pain; mine's exactly the same, massive drama queen. I've had the exact same thing with a leadrope and then not been able to catch him for a few days; I never thought in his whole life I'd be able to throw the rope over his neck and let him walk through the gate while I close it, like I do with my other horse! Or use neck covers, etc. Or an exercise sheet. Sometimes he is scared of his tail if it gets too long. Anything like that really!


Yeah, I'd echo the others; just lots of time and patience and clicker training. I don/t know if yours is greedy, but I find that I can use treats very strategically and they make a massive difference and genuinely calm him down. I don't mean feeding them all the time, just when needed. E.g. he used to be very, very tense about his saddle when I was tacking him up, which in turn led him to be nervous about mounting, so I turned this into a game and we do 'shake hands' after I do up the girth; on command he stretches his legs forward (as you do anyway to stop hair pinching) and he thinks this is good because he'll get a treat for it, and therefore he is much keener about having the saddle on than he was before.

I am not sure about the whole dominant/moving feet thing with this type of genuinely very nervous horse. I think it can help to an extent, but things like Parelli whihc are overly focussed on moving feet can be detrimental with this type of horse. Obviously - depends on the horse and the trainer!

Oh don't I know about the drama queen thing!! My mare is a complete diva. She creates such a fuss about nothing. She literally gets so worked up that all her veins stand out and she freezes to the spot before spinning and trying to run. It can be anything as minor as a squirrel sat on the fence, or a new item on the yard. Sometimes she will just stare at nothing and start freaking out.

OP, I forgot to mention, if you don't already, then lessons are a fab way of getting your horse's confidence. What I find is, that because I am being instructed, and my attention is on what I am meant to be doing, rather than on what she MIGHT do, she improves ten fold with regard spooking. My mind on the instructor's instructions, her mind on my instructions... works a treat! :-)
 
Make sure he is mineral balanced - lack of magnesium and zinc can make a spooky horse 5 times worse! Worth getting your hay tested or if you're on a LY with no choice a good balancer such a Forage Plus (tack shop ones don't have enough minerals in to make it worth the money)

Also try offering him a bucket of water with bi carb of soda in - as well as his normal plain one, see if he goes for it. This seems to help some nutty types and is to do with the acidity of pasture they're on.

Have a look around the Calm Health Horses, which is a New Zealand based site. I think their main argument is that certain grasses have too much potassium which makes horses over-react. One of the things they suggest you do is to get a piece of Litmus paper and check the pH of your horse's urine. It should be around 7. Anything over 8 will produce physical and behavioural difficulties in the horse

Make sure that you are in an almost trance like level of calm, no shrieking, shouting, sudden moves etc. If you trip just take a biig deep breath and let it out loudly so he can hear - fake a yawn as well. You might find he yawns back, releasing some tension. :)

Also always handle a horse like this on a 15ft rope, not a 6ft short one, as you know if they shoot backwards you're left with nowt to hang on to!
 
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I've got one - and he's 17.1hh and built like a brick outhouse! He's more than capable of knocking me over, trampling all over me, and then panicking because I'm not in the normal upright position. He was appalling when I first got him, but has improved a lot over the years. He still has complete meltdowns at time, but he looks to me for reassurance now, so isn't as likely to hurt me. He still has paddies over silly things - the hosepipe being a regular culprit, and me breaking carrots in half! I am very very calm in my dealings with him, but make sure he knows when he's being stupid - he knows that a growl and an elbow in his shoulder means he's pushed me too far. if he's in a silly mood, i lead him in a bridle and lunge line, and push him away from me, so he can create at a safe distance. He tends to stop now when he gets sent away, as he'd rather i was holding his hand. As long as I'm firm and quiet, he settles pretty quickly. Ridden, I ignore his shenanigans, avoid grabbing at his mouth, and just keep pushing him forward. Daft animal
 
I've got one - and he's 17.1hh and built like a brick outhouse! He's more than capable of knocking me over, trampling all over me, and then panicking because I'm not in the normal upright position. He was appalling when I first got him, but has improved a lot over the years. He still has complete meltdowns at time, but he looks to me for reassurance now, so isn't as likely to hurt me. He still has paddies over silly things - the hosepipe being a regular culprit, and me breaking carrots in half! I am very very calm in my dealings with him, but make sure he knows when he's being stupid - he knows that a growl and an elbow in his shoulder means he's pushed me too far. if he's in a silly mood, i lead him in a bridle and lunge line, and push him away from me, so he can create at a safe distance. He tends to stop now when he gets sent away, as he'd rather i was holding his hand. As long as I'm firm and quiet, he settles pretty quickly. Ridden, I ignore his shenanigans, avoid grabbing at his mouth, and just keep pushing him forward. Daft animal

Yep - mine's a 16.3hh 700kg Cleveland Bay x - no fun when she is hovering above your head with her hooves. :-(
 
OP, I forgot to mention, if you don't already, then lessons are a fab way of getting your horse's confidence. What I find is, that because I am being instructed, and my attention is on what I am meant to be doing, rather than on what she MIGHT do, she improves ten fold with regard spooking. My mind on the instructor's instructions, her mind on my instructions... works a treat! :-)

Yeah we have a minimum of fortnightly lessons, the only reason I think that we've got to where we are from a schooling point of view! I have gone through a couple of instructors though as he hates anyone 'shouty' - my current instructor is lovely and calm and has taken a soft approach with him which he likes. Although when he isn't playing ball it's simply a case of working through (and trying not to react to) him charging off at warp connie speed!
 
Yeah we have a minimum of fortnightly lessons, the only reason I think that we've got to where we are from a schooling point of view! I have gone through a couple of instructors though as he hates anyone 'shouty' - my current instructor is lovely and calm and has taken a soft approach with him which he likes. Although when he isn't playing ball it's simply a case of working through (and trying not to react to) him charging off at warp connie speed!

Sounds just like my girl. She has managed to break my finger before simply because I yelled slightly loud at her (she was about to crush me against a metal gate and a knee jerk reaction to scream to get her away from me - she reared and caught my finger in the leadrope). If you don't raise your voice enough with my mare, she won't respond at all, but raise it slightly too much, and she will freak. It's a very small window in which you can get it right with her. Anybody too gobby and loud, she reacts very badly.
 
Make sure he is mineral balanced - lack of magnesium and zinc can make a spooky horse 5 times worse! Worth getting your hay tested or if you're on a LY with no choice a good balancer such a Forage Plus (tack shop ones don't have enough minerals in to make it worth the money)

I did try an Mg based calmer on him last year which didn't make a slight bit of difference! I've had Valarian (sp?) suggested also which I haven't tried - am aware this isn't comp legal though. I don't think there is a nasty bone in his body, despite my moanings he has never bucked, reared or kicked, his reaction is speed and shooting off/away from potential source of danger! It would be nice if this 'flight' reaction could be tempered a bit.

Auslander - great to hear yours has improved, I feel mine is 2 steps forward and 2 back sometimes, when I feel we are getting somewhere he tends to take 2 back!! Agree with what you say as grabbing his mouth to try and stop when he shoots off makes matters worse.

Thanks all for advice/stories - it's great to know I'm not alone at least! :)
 
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Sounds just like my girl. She has managed to break my finger before simply because I yelled slightly loud at her (she was about to crush me against a metal gate and a knee jerk reaction to scream to get her away from me - she reared and caught my finger in the leadrope). If you don't raise your voice enough with my mare, she won't respond at all, but raise it slightly too much, and she will freak. It's a very small window in which you can get it right with her. Anybody too gobby and loud, she reacts very badly.

Mine exactly! A shouty instructor just wound him up to the point of incessant agitated head flicking throughout the whole lesson! He would be fine without her there. Ouch for the finger - thankfully no broken bones from mine (yet)!
 
Mine is a bit of an irish bog pony mix, came from a dealer who had him brought over from Ireland. I often wonder if he had a tough time over there with how he reacts sometimes. He's soon to be 8 but I struggled with him a bit to start with (very, very different from my last horse). He can now chuck out an OK prelim test (64.5% and 3rd in his first ever a fortnight ago) and although jumping isn't my thing we can pop a couple in the school. He is an absolute diamond though out and about competing almost to the point of looking bored! I do find him very strange. He can go through a phase of being fab for a month or so then a little incident will 'set him off' in all aspects of life generally. He absolutely hates strangers too!

This describes mine too (and he is the same type of horse). He is a really lovely person, such a sweetie, but he can't just react normally to anything. If he reacts to something, he has to overreact massively. He can't look at things with his eyes, has to look with his whole body. He is also a worrier, he hates not being able to see the whole herd, dislikes one being brought in away from him or being taken from the others himself. He is fine to hack (spooky and sharp, but not naughty or nappy), but if we go a long way from home, he does have a tendency to scream. Used to nap a lot at competitions but much better as he has got older (will be 8 this year, did nothing but hunt until he was 6 and only started proper schooling when he was about to turn 7). He loves to work - his flatwork is nice but he has to be kept busy and he has such a temper if he gets bored or thinks he shouldn't have to do something. He LOVES to jump and is incredible XC. So so bold, there's nothing he won't jump and I don't think he has a stop in him. He doesn't mind if I mess it up, he gets himself out of trouble, and he is absolutely perfect to handle. But he is a super sensitive soul, he likes routine, likes to be handled by the same people, dislikes men generally, needs to have things done in a certain way, can't make fast or unexpected movements. He takes offence at things and doesn't forgive you for ages.
 
This describes mine too (and he is the same type of horse). He is a really lovely person, such a sweetie, but he can't just react normally to anything. If he reacts to something, he has to overreact massively. He can't look at things with his eyes, has to look with his whole body. He is also a worrier, he hates not being able to see the whole herd, dislikes one being brought in away from him or being taken from the others himself. He is fine to hack (spooky and sharp, but not naughty or nappy), but if we go a long way from home, he does have a tendency to scream. Used to nap a lot at competitions but much better as he has got older (will be 8 this year, did nothing but hunt until he was 6 and only started proper schooling when he was about to turn 7). He loves to work - his flatwork is nice but he has to be kept busy and he has such a temper if he gets bored or thinks he shouldn't have to do something. He LOVES to jump and is incredible XC. So so bold, there's nothing he won't jump and I don't think he has a stop in him. He doesn't mind if I mess it up, he gets himself out of trouble, and he is absolutely perfect to handle. But he is a super sensitive soul, he likes routine, likes to be handled by the same people, dislikes men generally, needs to have things done in a certain way, can't make fast or unexpected movements. He takes offence at things and doesn't forgive you for ages.

My girl is a real lovely person too - not a nasty thought enters her head at any time - she is so sweet natured, and really tries her very best for me, but she over thinks things and gets herself so het up. She likes routine too - gets very upset with any changes.
 
This describes mine too (and he is the same type of horse). He is a really lovely person, such a sweetie, but he can't just react normally to anything. If he reacts to something, he has to overreact massively. He can't look at things with his eyes, has to look with his whole body. He is also a worrier, he hates not being able to see the whole herd, dislikes one being brought in away from him or being taken from the others himself. He is fine to hack (spooky and sharp, but not naughty or nappy), but if we go a long way from home, he does have a tendency to scream. Used to nap a lot at competitions but much better as he has got older (will be 8 this year, did nothing but hunt until he was 6 and only started proper schooling when he was about to turn 7). He loves to work - his flatwork is nice but he has to be kept busy and he has such a temper if he gets bored or thinks he shouldn't have to do something. He LOVES to jump and is incredible XC. So so bold, there's nothing he won't jump and I don't think he has a stop in him. He doesn't mind if I mess it up, he gets himself out of trouble, and he is absolutely perfect to handle. But he is a super sensitive soul, he likes routine, likes to be handled by the same people, dislikes men generally, needs to have things done in a certain way, can't make fast or unexpected movements. He takes offence at things and doesn't forgive you for ages.

They sound very alike except mine is a bit 'detached' from the other horses to the point of being disinterested really - he is quite happy on his own, can be turned out/left alone with no drama and stabled at night alone without any fuss. Again to hack he is OK, used to spin a bit at scarys but is fine now, will just react to large vehicles or really scary things by shooting off for a few strides and tensing up. Nobody can catch him except me (just not particularly well at the moment!) and he is very wary of new people. Though oddly he likes my dad as he tows us places I think!!
 
They sound very alike except mine is a bit 'detached' from the other horses to the point of being disinterested really - he is quite happy on his own, can be turned out/left alone with no drama and stabled at night alone without any fuss. Again to hack he is OK, used to spin a bit at scarys but is fine now, will just react to large vehicles or really scary things by shooting off for a few strides and tensing up. Nobody can catch him except me (just not particularly well at the moment!) and he is very wary of new people. Though oddly he likes my dad as he tows us places I think!!

I'm so jealous lol!! My girl has terrible separation anxiety. She's fine being left in the stable with nobody else about, and not so bad when she is in the field right infront of the stable block (even if there are no other horses in the stables or field), but put her in one of the fields slightly away from the block, and she will freak out if she is on her own. She's fine being taken away from others - it's just if they are taken from her. She's great to catch for anybody though. Can't hack her alone - she gets so tense and spooky it gets a bit too dangerous for my liking. She will go though, but just very very flighty and spooky.
 
I'm so jealous lol!! My girl has terrible separation anxiety. She's fine being left in the stable with nobody else about, and not so bad when she is in the field right infront of the stable block (even if there are no other horses in the stables or field), but put her in one of the fields slightly away from the block, and she will freak out if she is on her own. She's fine being taken away from others - it's just if they are taken from her. She's great to catch for anybody though. Can't hack her alone - she gets so tense and spooky it gets a bit too dangerous for my liking. She will go though, but just very very flighty and spooky.

They can be funny things! Mine often doesn't react to obvious things either - often when I think a situation would wind him up he proves me wrong by not reacting at all. Out competing surrounded by spooking and bucking horses in a dressage warm up warrants no reaction. He seems quite happy in his own company really - it's as if he's not fussed whether the others are around him or not. He'll also hack alone, better with company I guess but he doesn't ever feel a truly unsafe hack, just a bit reactive to certain things. Thankfully a good chunk of my fave route is offroad which helps I think.
 
What is his breeding on the connie side? I had a very similiar sounding chap, but eventually gave up and sold him on as was just too 'high maintenance' for me!

Hopefully he will settle in the spring - even our quiet cobs are a little wired atm.
 
Absolutely no idea - he's on a dodgy PetID passport described as a 'Connie X.' I have thought about giving up on mine a few times if I'm totally honest but I am too stubborn for my own good and refuse to after all the time, money and tears shed! I just hope that the good moments will outweigh the bad, he is capable of being the horse I ultimately want and often he is. There are just a few moments with him that make me wish I'd got something simpler.

I also feel I couldn't sell him, I'd be worried he'd end up in a horrible home!
 
Mine is incredibly hot & sensitive, mine is more in the school- I find on very very bad days- when she's so sharp I can't get my leg on - I ride lots of shapes; changes in directions etc not on the bridle ; good days she works on the bridle and I do the same. Leg on all the time & if she's not listening a sharp transition!
With these horses - I think it's what works with them
 
I have a connie x iberian. It took me 18 months to get to know him. He's a strange one too, sharp, easily distracted and no concentration if I am not totally on his case. What helped settle him down was lots of variety in his work, lots of turnout, absolute minimum feed (last years hay and a handful of chaff) and tons and tons of praise. After 5 years with him I tend to just ignore him when he has one of his hissy fits. Nothing calms him down so we just move on. Seems to work best!
 
I always used to say my lad was a contradiction, he would be bl@@dy hard work trying to get him to walk out etc. then before you knew it you were facing the other way due to a large leaf or small log. I have him on Magnesium, and I do think it makes a difference to him. He is also very wary of strange men, terrified of the vet.
He is very sensitive to the fit of his saddle and will let you know the minuet it gets a bit tight. I watch his ears, if they are coming off the top of his head I know he is about to react. Time and consistency in his handling also has helped, moving him to a large yard also seemed to have helped him, daft as it may seem.
My other half has often said why don't I sell him! who,d have him I reply. I have had him since he was a yearling he came over from Ireland at weaning, and I feel some of his reactions are due to how he was treated there.
 
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