Spooking issue getting worse

[courage_uk]

Hi all,

Im looking for some advice really, my 17.3 gelding and I recently ( its been about a year) relocated from wales to nottinghamshire ( vale of belvoir). Since we moved up, my gelding has become very spooky at hedges and pigeons flying out. I try not to pay to much attention to him flapping and I try my best to site quietly and talk to him which normally calms the situation - in in walk or trot the worst he'll do at this speed is drop a shoulder and bounce 2/3 steps.

But he's becoming almost dangerous to the point of unseating me and sending me out the front door if we are in canter and something either rustles or there is a gap in the hedge. He leaps to the opposite side and tries to tank off. I have had a few extra lessons to try and improve my seat, and I am doing lots of work in my field bare back to improve my balance, but Im starting to loose my confidence with him. Iv also tried just walking the routes I use so he knows the area.
his back teeth etc are all ok, Iv tried a stronger bit but it doesn't help as I find my self socking him in the teeth when he spooks trying to cling on.

Would love any help or advice from you all, Jo

 

[charlie76]

What do you feed him?

 

[charlie55]

Brewers yeast from ebay, amazing stuff for spooky horses x

 

[courage_uk]

I'll have a look now on ebay -

I've not started feeding yet, not even bothered rugging up yet, been too warm. But normally he'll be on cheap chaff and cool mix

 

[coreteam1]

I had the same problem. Since about Feb this year and I was ready to pack it all in I'd had enough!

I got my instructor to ride (PM me if you would like her number) mine and we've come out the other side really well, however....Mine has just beed diagnosed with stifle trouble which is all sorted but he also has some saddling/back issues which I've since found out could be why he's been so spooky.

I would be riding round really well then all of a sudden out of nowhere he will spook and run, sometimes spinning so fast I'm out the door! he's done it loadds of times. More ofter when he's not focused on the work being asked of him. Now I've found out it may well be a saddle issue (he's recently had tests at Newmarket) and he's having the physio out next week hopefully.

he made a drastic improvement though with my instructors help

 

[diggerbez]

my horse is quite spooky and i've tried him on equifeast's cool calm and collected with some success- but TBH it took a bit too much edge off him- might be worth a try though? have found the trick with mine is to keep him in front of the leg...its when he gets behind the leg that he's a sod

 

[charlie76]

All of mine can be spooky. Have found Alfa a to be a big factor and now off this are better.
I always work mine to a contact even when stretching or hacking. They never just slop along.
In the school I do lots And lots of transitions and lateral work to keep focus. Polework Also focus the mind rather than spoiling.

 

[charlie76]

Spooking not spoiling!

 

[overtherainbow]

my mare suddenly became spooky during xc and so i was told to get her eyes checked and lo and behold she had developed a semi floating thing that will be flapping across her eyes at gallop- just a thought- its worth getting them checked before you start getting into arguments!

 

[courage_uk]

It didnt even occur to me to get his eyes checked out LOL. I'll try him on a herbal calmer too, its such a pain as we dont have local instructors in the near by area which is easy to hack to - otherwise I'd love to carry on lessons

 

[Amaretto]

my horse is quite spooky and i've tried him on equifeast's cool calm and collected with some success- but TBH it took a bit too much edge off him- might be worth a try though? have found the trick with mine is to keep him in front of the leg...its when he gets behind the leg that he's a sod

Agree completely.