spooking - how do you deal with it

Ok you absolutely need an instructor. Confidence problems are surprisingly common - we're not all mad hedge hoppers! Someone on the ground will make you feel safer, be able to distract you from your fear and give you good tips to deal with both the spooking and your fear. At the moment, you are showing your horse that he is right to be scared so this will only get worse until you get help.

Try not to despair - many struggle with their confidence and overcome it in time.
 
Lunge him in all areas of the school before you get on - if you know how long rein him, make him work hard from the ground then get on and do a 10 m circle in walk and get off. This horse is learning 'if I spook she gets off' so don't let it mean that if you must get off then fine but then get him back on the lunge from the ground get him working hard - so it means 'if I spook I have to do tonnes of transitions and work my bum off' if you are scared have the battles from the ground... it will soon improve
 
You've already had some excellent advice about feed, turnout and instruction. So I'm going to look at this from a slightly different angle. As you've not mentioned any falls, I'm guessing you haven't fallen off? He spooks, you stay on. That's a giant WIN in my book, your seat and reactions ARE good enough. You need to try and focus on this as a positive - even though his behaviour isn't what you want, you ARE dealing with the spooks. What you need to maybe get a bit better at is thinking, "ok he spooked but we're still in one piece, lets put it behind us and get on with it".

I know you say you're embarrassed to have an instructor but I think this is where an instructor can help you most. You may never stop the spooks but that doesn't matter as you're already dealing with them, you really are. If you tell us where you're from people might be able to suggest a sympathetic instructor who's good with nervous riders and won't judge you.
 
Last edited:
I agree with everyone else, I regularly have a crisis of confidence, however spooking is a BIG pet hate for me and I refuse to let it get to me. If either of my horses spook at something they are asked to walk up to item that they've spooked at and stand there looking at it as closely as possible (only works if it's not an invisible hedge monster). They both now know it's better to ignore scary thing than spook at it as if they do they have to get closer to said scary thing.

However I don't think you're ready for this kind of approach, so you have 2 options, 1 put a confident rider on your horse first and get them to ride around the school and take this approach. Or option 2 where you say to yourself ok he spooked at something at A so we'll do 20m circles at C until you've composed myself and then gradually make the circle bigger until you're back going around the whole school.

I agree with others that you're horse is a smart one and has worked out that spooking = end of work, a good instructor will never laugh at you or embarrass you, they are there and being paid to help you and your horse have fun and enjoy the partnership that you will build. Good luck x
 
muddy_grey said:
No instructor worth paying would ever make you feel bad it is their job to help you.

I think I would stop riding for now in your situation and just do some ground work, lunging and long reining. Hopefully this will help you enjoy your horse again. Also you will keep his brain busy while you find an instructor, who can help you with your nerves.
Click to expand...

Sadly that's not true. There are too many who work to a set picture - core strength, correct diagonal, etc - rather than working how to get horse and rider safe and having fun.

Also if the horse is a plank, ground-work may allow him to be even naughtier.

Stay on board, be brave, and get a teacher you click with!
 
As the owner of a horse who may as well have a masters degree in hugely explosive spooking, I feel your pain.

Mine does the spook and spin, fast. He ditched a friend twice using this method in the space of 5 minutes.

My advice- remove any Alfalfa from the diet, this made a massive difference to mine. Remove feeds high in sugars and starch. Do not feed carrots (orange sticks of explosive hell), give as much turnout as possible and lunge or do ground work in the arena for ten minutes before you ride. The lunging can actually work for and against depending on the horse. If I lunge mine around the whole arena and he spooks at something, he loses his brain and explodes. I'm actually better off lunging in the centre, away from scary stuff, but making him work and think. Then when I get on, I just straight away pop him into trot and make him work, I get him totally focused on me and nothing else.

When mine does a hooligan special, I usually mutter some expletive at him whilst turning him back in the direction we should be going, then it's leg on and carry on. He's enough of an idiot that he then scares himself to the point that everything is terrifying, and he becomes dangerously idiotic, we simply pop onto the other rein and do some work for a minute or two, then back onto the other rein and carry on as normal. What doesn't work for mine is to keep presenting him at the same point over and over, he doesn't get any better, he actually gets beyond stupid. However, he is always made to work back that way eventually, even if it's five or ten minutes later.

He is a special case though!
 
I am always surprised to see lunging and long reining being suggested for naughty horses with novice riders. TBH I think they are both skills that few novice riders have and potentially puts them in a rather vulnerable place. Also, you do need a suitable area and many yards don't allow either in the arena. I may be wrong but I suspect that most riders who are capable of lunging a nappy/spooky horse are also capable of riding it through spooking in an arena. Loss of confidence is horrid but a good trainer will show you how to gain control which IMHO is key to building confidence. Good luck and let us know how it is going.
 
I agree - there's nothing to be embarrassed about don't worry!

I can understand it though, sometimes I feel a bit inadequate and think instructor must think i'm useless!!

But honestly, get a good instructor and they should help you through this. They're not just there for the people who compete or know all the fancy moves. There's an instructor for all levels :) I don't know where you're based - but there are places that do confidence clinics, I know of one that does 1-2-1 sessions or group sessions and they don't have to be on the horse. Might be worth a look into?

When you ride, try and finish on a positive to help your confidence. I always make sure I feel like we've finished on something good. If we're attempting something and it's not working, I used to try and try until we both got frustrated and then it always ended negatively. Now, if we're not getting something I go back and do something simple we can do and end on a positive - even if it's just doing a nice walk circle! If you can only ride for 10 mins before getting scared, then only ride for 10 mins until you feel more comfortable :)

You'll get there - owning a horse is a big change from just loaning or sharing. I get the pressure feeling - I had loaned before I bought and it was so much easier loaning as I always had someone to back me up or ask questions or something! When I bought it was like I had to make all the decisions myself and didn't want to fail the horse! I felt bad I wasn't doing more with him and felt like I should have achieved more in the time I've had him - but now I just think, so long as i'm enjoying it then what does it matter what i'm doing with him? So don't feel pressured to make it 'work', I'm sure you will, but these things take time and you'll get there :)
 
My last horse had a shocking spook on him, so I can sympathise. Please don't be embarrassed to get help from an instructor, they will have seen far worse in their time than you and your horse and the right instructor will gain some much job satisfaction from being able to help you and your horse.

It's great that you've got the physical stuff checked out, and the advice previously given about plenty of turnout, no sugary/starchy feed and preferably just hay is really important. If you are only managing ten minutes a day, which is what I think you're saying, it would be really easy to be supplying more energy in his feed than he needs. If you think he needs more exercise than you're able to give him at the moment could you find someone else to ride him for you a few times a week?

You can and will get through this, if I can anyone can. For us it was about keeping him forward, keeping his attention, making his work interesting, giving my hand into the spook and plentiful use of shoulder in. You really do need an instructor on the ground watching what's going on and helping you in real time. If you tell us what area you're in I am sure someone will be able to give you a good recommendation.
 
annagain said:
You've already had some excellent advice about feed, turnout and instruction. So I'm going to look at this from a slightly different angle. As you've not mentioned any falls, I'm guessing you haven't fallen off? He spooks, you stay on. That's a giant WIN in my book, your seat and reactions ARE good enough. You need to try and focus on this as a positive - even though his behaviour isn't what you want, you ARE dealing with the spooks. What you need to maybe get a bit better at is thinking, "ok he spooked but we're still in one piece, lets put it behind us and get on with it".

I know you say you're embarrassed to have an instructor but I think this is where an instructor can help you most. You may never stop the spooks but that doesn't matter as you're already dealing with them, you really are. If you tell us where you're from people might be able to suggest a sympathetic instructor who's good with nervous riders and won't judge you.
Click to expand...

This with bells on. You need to start believing in yourself a little bit!

You are your own biggest critic (I know I am more critical of myself than anyone, I really give myself a hard time even when things are going well!), an instructor worth their salt will want to help you through this. Do some research and find one who specialises in nervous riders.

And use a neckstrap!

I cannot tell you how much just having one there improves my confidence, it's like a security blanket for me now. If you feel unsure, grab your neckstrap and apply your leg.
 
You've had some great advice and I definitely agree with lessons.

My best tip is "fake it 'til you make it" - when I bought my current horse my confidence was low and, as he is a complete wuss and scared of everything, it wasn't a match made in heaven.

However, I now use every trick in the book to "present" myself as confident to him, including singing to ensure I breathe, chatting about everything under the sun, including whatever he is worried out, sitting well back and using an old instructor's "t*ts and teeth" instruction, which basically means sit back, stick your chest out and smile! I am sure we give everyone around us a good laugh but it works and I'm sticking with it.

Once you have mastered that, it is much easier to make sure that your horse's attention is on you and your aids. We are now at the stage where my immediate reaction isn't "oh heck...." but is more likely to be "oi, whatever it is is none of your business - you are working so get on with it".

It can be a long road but you can do it!
 
Some really excellent advice here!! My personal top tips - lots of groundwork especially long lining (including doing this on roads etc); a balance strap (sometimes called a jesus or oh ***** strap); a strap called a RSTor (google it); and yes a sympathetic encouraging instructor would be extremely helpful. Also groundwork using Le Trec type obstacles is useful as well as listening to music while in the saddle (singing along helps). Good luck x
 
Some absolutely excellent advice on this thread!

The only other question I would ask is: when you ride in the school do you have a plan or a goal or are you just wandering around?

Could you set up some ground poles and have him walk over them? Or around cones etc? If you can get him using his brain a bit you might find he stops looking for bush dragons all the time. :) Plus you can do these exercises on the ground first so his brain should be engaged by the time you hop on!
 
Thanks so much for all the advice :) I am based in Essex (Thurrock)
I have been recommended an instructor who I am speaking with trying to organize a lesson! hopefully she is a gooden and will be a keeper :)
I haven't fallen off my horse, my last fall was about 16 years ago, I hit my head, didn't get back on that same horse .... but honestly it was my fault I hit the floor, I was faffing about with my stirrups and didn't expect him to bolt across the field (silly young girl at the time)
In my 15 years of riding at a riding school as a young girl i can honestly say i never experienced one single spook (i know that sounds silly) so for me it is an entirely new skill for me to learn to trust me seat and learn to use my reins correctly to stop him (not just lean forward and pull on his mouth in a panic reaction)

I managed to ride for about 35 minutes yesterday, I had my friend on her horse in the school with me and I was following them. Was a great distraction my horse seemed calmer, I had something to focus on besides worrying and anticipating his next spook. We only had one spook (a nice one no running off this time) and with the other horse in front of me to focus on i literally just took it in my stride and as soon as he had stopped the spook 2 seconds later i had forgotten about it (so proud lol!) I will be honest and say following the other horse meant i wasn't riding as well as (as i said i am not the best rider and have so much to learn) it is easy for my horse to just follow ... not sure he if he was 100% with me or was just following the leader :P BUT i did it, i got on and stayed calm :D

I am hoping an instructor and trying his method of riding with a buddy in the school will help me to just feel secure on him.

Thanks so much!
Truly hoping the dread and fear of getting on my horse will soon pass and i will start to enjoy him as he is a wonderful horse and i want to be his forever person but i know i have a loooooong way to go and much to learn :)

xx
 
Horsekaren said:
Thanks so much for all the advice :) I am based in Essex (Thurrock)
I have been recommended an instructor who I am speaking with trying to organize a lesson! hopefully she is a gooden and will be a keeper :)
I haven't fallen off my horse, my last fall was about 16 years ago, I hit my head, didn't get back on that same horse .... but honestly it was my fault I hit the floor, I was faffing about with my stirrups and didn't expect him to bolt across the field (silly young girl at the time)
In my 15 years of riding at a riding school as a young girl i can honestly say i never experienced one single spook (i know that sounds silly) so for me it is an entirely new skill for me to learn to trust me seat and learn to use my reins correctly to stop him (not just lean forward and pull on his mouth in a panic reaction)

I managed to ride for about 35 minutes yesterday, I had my friend on her horse in the school with me and I was following them. Was a great distraction my horse seemed calmer, I had something to focus on besides worrying and anticipating his next spook. We only had one spook (a nice one no running off this time) and with the other horse in front of me to focus on i literally just took it in my stride and as soon as he had stopped the spook 2 seconds later i had forgotten about it (so proud lol!) I will be honest and say following the other horse meant i wasn't riding as well as (as i said i am not the best rider and have so much to learn) it is easy for my horse to just follow ... not sure he if he was 100% with me or was just following the leader :P BUT i did it, i got on and stayed calm :D

I am hoping an instructor and trying his method of riding with a buddy in the school will help me to just feel secure on him.

Thanks so much!
Truly hoping the dread and fear of getting on my horse will soon pass and i will start to enjoy him as he is a wonderful horse and i want to be his forever person but i know i have a loooooong way to go and much to learn :)

xx
Click to expand...

WELL DONE! It certainly sounds like you're taking the right steps. At the moment I don't think would matter if you were sitting backwards and holding the reins between your toes. You're doing it and that's fab. Forget about being good for now, just do it and be happy! Every single time you do that it will get easier.
 
Horsekaren said:
Thanks so much for all the advice :) I am based in Essex (Thurrock)
I have been recommended an instructor who I am speaking with trying to organize a lesson! hopefully she is a gooden and will be a keeper :)
I haven't fallen off my horse, my last fall was about 16 years ago, I hit my head, didn't get back on that same horse .... but honestly it was my fault I hit the floor, I was faffing about with my stirrups and didn't expect him to bolt across the field (silly young girl at the time)
In my 15 years of riding at a riding school as a young girl i can honestly say i never experienced one single spook (i know that sounds silly) so for me it is an entirely new skill for me to learn to trust me seat and learn to use my reins correctly to stop him (not just lean forward and pull on his mouth in a panic reaction)

I managed to ride for about 35 minutes yesterday, I had my friend on her horse in the school with me and I was following them. Was a great distraction my horse seemed calmer, I had something to focus on besides worrying and anticipating his next spook. We only had one spook (a nice one no running off this time) and with the other horse in front of me to focus on i literally just took it in my stride and as soon as he had stopped the spook 2 seconds later i had forgotten about it (so proud lol!) I will be honest and say following the other horse meant i wasn't riding as well as (as i said i am not the best rider and have so much to learn) it is easy for my horse to just follow ... not sure he if he was 100% with me or was just following the leader :P BUT i did it, i got on and stayed calm :D

I am hoping an instructor and trying his method of riding with a buddy in the school will help me to just feel secure on him.

Thanks so much!
Truly hoping the dread and fear of getting on my horse will soon pass and i will start to enjoy him as he is a wonderful horse and i want to be his forever person but i know i have a loooooong way to go and much to learn :)

xx
Click to expand...

WOW !! massive well done !! You must be chuffed to bits with yourself (and rightly so too!)
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Top