Spook busting training?

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Tayto

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Hiya!

I have heard a few people on the yard speaking about doing spook bust training with their youngsters.

I have had my new horse for 2 weeks now, she is rising 8 and I wondered if she would benefit from this too?

This is the types of things that we would be doing;

Walking over blue tarpaulin
Walking between jump wings with streamers attached
Walking beside umbrellas/cuddly toys/wheel barrows with items inside i.e. jackets etc to try and mimic a buggy (we have to pass a lot of parents with buggys where we hack)

I don't know much about my horse's history other than she was hunted in Ireland so I thought that a little spook busting would do her good and would build up our relationship on the ground as she would have to put her trust in me. On the other hand I don't want to provoke a reaction that may not have occurred otherwise (does that make sense?)

Also, if I did decide to do this, I assume it is an excercise we would need to do regularly i.e. once a week?

What's everyone's thoughts on this?
 
I'm going to try some spook busting with my six year old as he is a right wolly! Take a look at Joanna day's website, she has a book on it, think its called the fearless horse. I'm lucky she is local to me and holds clinics so I'm going to try and get along to those!
 
Definitely worth while with a new horse. I do it with my pony for fun and a change of routine. He doesnt spook as such but he gets wide eyed and snorty :)

You can use anything and everything you can get your hands on.

My pony will let me put a tarp or traffic code on his head/back but spooked at my shedding blade!

Have fun and enjoy. Just make sure you wear a hat and gloves and use a lunge line so you have give if your horse spooks dramatically.

Have fun and take some pictures!
 
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