spooking in new arenas?

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Belleoftheball

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I want to get my cob out competing more but hes really spooky in new arenas. At home hes jumping 90cm+ confidently but when hes out hes reluctant to jump anything. Hes just turned 7 but hasent been out much, we have 3 menages at home and hes comfortable in all. Could it just be an age thing which he wll grow out of?
 
Could you try riding in different arenas without jumping to start with, then reintroduce jumping when he is settled out and about? Perhaps pole work clinics may help?
 
Belleoftheball said:
Could it just be an age thing which he wll grow out of?
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He will definitely not grow out of it; in fact it will probably get worse with age if he isn't exposed to a lot of things.
You need to habituate him (get him used to) as many different places and arenas as possible e.g. hire an arena, lead him around and show him everything; when he has stopped spooking then get on and walk round until not spooking, then trot, then canter, then jump in that arena (may take more than one go). You don't want to jump him until he can concentrate, as if he knocks his legs then he will associate the arena with the pain. You can also beg and borrow other people's arenas to save money, or now that the ground is drier just borrow other people's fields.
Also, in your own arenas and paddocks, put spooky things out and change them each time he gets used to them. Don't introduce them all at once, but gradually get him used to change. My range includes; coloured buckets, flower pots (if you can borrow without damaging), haybales in odd places, rugs of all different colours (on the ground and over railings/jumps etc.), blue plastic tarp, green tarp, green imitation grass, coloured towels, umbrellas, flags, etc.
Read up on how to desensitise a horse - if you do it properly he will end up accepting different things well, but if you scare him then it can make him worse!
 
wkiwi said:
He will definitely not grow out of it; in fact it will probably get worse with age if he isn't exposed to a lot of things.
You need to habituate him (get him used to) as many different places and arenas as possible e.g. hire an arena, lead him around and show him everything; when he has stopped spooking then get on and walk round until not spooking, then trot, then canter, then jump in that arena (may take more than one go). You don't want to jump him until he can concentrate, as if he knocks his legs then he will associate the arena with the pain. You can also beg and borrow other people's arenas to save money, or now that the ground is drier just borrow other people's fields.
Also, in your own arenas and paddocks, put spooky things out and change them each time he gets used to them. Don't introduce them all at once, but gradually get him used to change. My range includes; coloured buckets, flower pots (if you can borrow without damaging), haybales in odd places, rugs of all different colours (on the ground and over railings/jumps etc.), blue plastic tarp, green tarp, green imitation grass, coloured towels, umbrellas, flags, etc.
Read up on how to desensitise a horse - if you do it properly he will end up accepting different things well, but if you scare him then it can make him worse!
Click to expand...

Completely agree with this. At the end of the day a lot of horses will spook if they see something new especially fit competition horses but they have to get over it & still do their job.

Don't tell him off for spooking just keep riding him past whatever it is until he trots past normally then praise him & let him rest :) i always find doing these exercises in trot is best as you have most control.
 
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