Spooky horse is taking the mickey, moan sorry

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Louby

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I have struggled with my spooky boy for years and its no fun. Some days hes fine, other days hes awful. It isnt spooky things he spooks at, its 'normal' things, people being the latest.
Today we went in the school which at one end is surrounded by the yard and stables. He was spooking at the wheel barrow and at the 2 people mucking out. This isnt a small shy, this is a dirty stop and violent spin. I can feel him backing off, head in the air, I am a passenger at this point as hes lost the plot and spins and rushes off in the opposite direction.

Its so hard to ride him through it, I manage a lot of the time to keep inside bend and send him forwards (in a fashion!) past it but hes a nightmare. I wear spurs and carry a schooling whip, which in the past Ive given him a crack for spooking or as I feel him back off but this isnt the answer with him as he ends up more tense. Im now trying to ignore it and carry on.

It just rreally annoyed me today as he was spooking at people, then once Im off him, he is totally rational, so he is def taking the mickey.

He is a very talented clever horse and I do try to occupy his mind with plenty of transitions, lateral work etc but I find Ive done a circle fighting with him each time he spooks, without doing anything else, so the schooling session consists of 80% mad tense circles and 20% decent work.

I am working at getting him more forwards thinking but its so hard.

I dont think Im a bad rider but the truth is he is cleverer and quicker than me and I know I need to sort some lessons out.

On that subject anyone reccomend a dressage instructor in the North West region and any advice on dealing with the spooks.

Thanks for getting this far :D
 
I am sure that there are people with far more experience on here than me, but wanted to say that I know how you feel. I have a Welshie who is just the same and usually I have problems because he is bored and not concentrating. If he is made to work (even when hacking) the spooking is far less. When bored or not paying attention he will literally spook at nothing and 'find' things to spook at. He too does a complete spin un-announced too.
I have for many years just ignored it and got used to it as he will not change and if he is told off in any way he just gets wound up and worse. Best with him to turn him back round and push him on firmly.
He also has freaks at things he has gone past for many years happily before but the novelty soon wears off with him.
Where the schooling is concerned I would get an instructor as you say...my lad is virtually un-rideable in a school as he cannot stand it and you can do hundreds of transitions and changes of directions to keep him occupied but he hates it and just plays up terribly.
 
Have you assessed his diet, to see if there's anything in there that might be making him unsettled? Give the people at Dodson & Horrell (or any decent feed merchant) a call, and see if they can work out a new feeding programme for him. People so often miss diet as a factor in behavioural issues (I know I have in the past), it might be worth taking a look at it. NAF do some good supplements too - maybe try something like Magic (a calmer) or Pink Powder (a digestive supplement). Let us know how it goes.
 
Yep I agree with IndigoMoose. Reassess feeding. My horse was always EXACTLY as you describe in the school. Ridiculously spooky, violent spins. He too would chuck his head in the air etc just before he did it... I often fell off. I tried telling off, ignoring, keeping him busy with schooling movements etc. He just got into the stupid habit. He was fine if other horses were there, just silly when we schooled alone.
I changed his feed and moved yards at the same time. Swapped haylage for hay, cut out molasses and cereals completely, feeding TopSpec Calmer. He now gets more turnout too. We vary his work as we don't have an all weather surface, he gets to hack a range of routes and school or jump in the field.
He still has his spooky/spinning moments but is 99% better!
 
I feed mine Allen & Page feeds which are barley and molasses free, and only enough to keep condition, he is better out but even then has to be ridden three times a week, he is getting better, but I broke him in using my bareback system which only allows walking bareback, and he is much better as I can feel every movement and push him on thorough it. There is no issue with saddle, he has had two and both fitted nicely, I just find I am sitting an inch off him , and by the time I know what is happening, it has happened!
Try a better stronger, fitter more experienced rider, someone used to breaking in youngsters, I think the average amateur is likely to let a horse off too much, which leads to confusion and nappiness.
 
Thanks for replying.
He gets literally a handful of Hifibre cubes with half a round scoop of Hi Fi twice a day. I cant feed him cereals or sugar beet, even un molassed. Ive tried a few calmers but found So Kalm Plus had some effect on him. It is mag based but another mag based one didnt touch him.
He does get haylage as they come in at night all year round but it isnt wet rich smelling stuff, more dry hay looking. He gets a small net.
I think he needs a strong good rider who can occupy his busy mind. I go into the school with good intentions but it soon goes out of the window.
We do hack out too but due to my friends horse being a happy hacker due to an old injury, it is always a walky type of hack with the odd trot. Maybe he needs a good blast and a bit of fun?
 
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