Spookyness

[that_eventing_ connemara]

what would your thoughts be on a spooky horse? i’m going to compete at Area (Dressage) and my horse is really spooky at all the flowers and cars. I’ve tried to kick him on, but when we go round the corner or go down the C end, he will just spook and go into the middle of the arena. Any thoughts of what to do?

Thanks

 

[SpotsandBays]

Can you get to any arena hires before this and just have a ride around and work on the spooking without a competition environment?
Edited to add: ones with all of the things your horse likes to spook at

 

[CanteringCarrot]

A few things:

Stay calm, do not anticipate the spook. Sometimes the rider spooks before the horse

Ride forward and if the horse usually spooks to the inside/runs to the middle, exaggerate your inside bend a bit. Really emphasize inside leg to outside rein connection.

It's not about kicking through it, but being tactful about it. Strong inside leg, and do not let the horse get behind your leg (this is a lot of what spooking is, the horse being behind the leg).

If you can recreate the scenario at an arena hire, that could be useful too. If you can't, do your best to put all of the tools in your toolbox so when the issue arises, you've got the tools to fix it...horse on the aids, not behind the leg, able to be supple, inside bend, good inside leg to outside rein connection, rider staying firm but relaxed.

 

[PinkvSantaboots]

I would try and hire the arena where your competing or put similar items around your arena at home.

I have Arabs and they spook at everything I find getting them really forward and off your leg makes them less likely to do it, before approaching spooky corners slightly raise your inside rein and push over with inside leg you have a bit more control, don't look at the offending objects look in the opposite direction, at home I will often speak to them or make a noise it just helps distract them but I appreciate you can't do that in a test, but I find sometimes just a tap of the leg and a half halt is enough of a distraction and it gets them to focus on you rather than what's around them, just a bit of strategic riding really helps and being ahead of when you think they will do it.

 

[LegOn]

I would totally agree with Cantering Carrot - half the time once they have spooked at something, we have tensed up so then they take that as a sign the thing is dangerous because they werent sure so spooked the first time and we re-enforced it! So the next time, we already start to tense to anticipate the spook which re-enforces again to the horse - IT MUST BE ABOUT TO KILL ME!!

In your head if you fake it until you make it with relaxed confidence and saying - you are fine, its not going to kill you, its not going to move, its completely fine... it can help you relax and then you hope that whats in the brain goes down the rein!

Also if you can at home, set up a mock dressage arena and get as many plant pots and umbrellas and bins and all sorts of other random stuff you know he will have a 'look at' and not just practice your test, but practice being relaxed at things he doesnt like!

Best of luck in your competition!

 

[Trouper]

Also if you can at home, set up a mock dressage arena and get as many plant pots and umbrellas and bins and all sorts of other random stuff you know he will have a 'look at' and not just practice your test, but practice being relaxed at things he doesnt like!

This absolutely - but change them round or change items regularly so that he never knows what he will be meeting on any given day so that he gets to the stage where he "expects" to see something there but isn't bothered by what it is.

 

[that_eventing_ connemara]

I would totally agree with Cantering Carrot - half the time once they have spooked at something, we have tensed up so then they take that as a sign the thing is dangerous because they werent sure so spooked the first time and we re-enforced it! So the next time, we already start to tense to anticipate the spook which re-enforces again to the horse - IT MUST BE ABOUT TO KILL ME!!

In your head if you fake it until you make it with relaxed confidence and saying - you are fine, its not going to kill you, its not going to move, its completely fine... it can help you relax and then you hope that whats in the brain goes down the rein!

Also if you can at home, set up a mock dressage arena and get as many plant pots and umbrellas and bins and all sorts of other random stuff you know he will have a 'look at' and not just practice your test, but practice being relaxed at things he doesnt like!

Best of luck in your competition!

Thank you so much i’ll definitely have a go at showing him things that’s he doesn’t like (which is A LOT of things ?)

 

[that_eventing_ connemara]

This absolutely - but change them round or change items regularly so that he never knows what he will be meeting on any given day so that he gets to the stage where he "expects" to see something there but isn't bothered by what it is.

Thank you, and yes there is a lot of different things like sheds and plant pots ? very helpful

 

[that_eventing_ connemara]

Can you get to any arena hires before this and just have a ride around and work on the spooking without a competition environment?
Edited to add: ones with all of the things your horse likes to spook at

Yeah i’ve been to places around near me and there have been all the posters and banners advertising things and he’s always spooked at them, thank you, this has been great

 

[that_eventing_ connemara]

Can you get to any arena hires before this and just have a ride around and work on the spooking without a competition environment?
Edited to add: ones with all of the things your horse likes to spook at

Yeah there’s a few near me that have a lot of spooky banners and fences so hopefully i can practice with those! thank you

 

[that_eventing_ connemara]

I would totally agree with Cantering Carrot - half the time once they have spooked at something, we have tensed up so then they take that as a sign the thing is dangerous because they werent sure so spooked the first time and we re-enforced it! So the next time, we already start to tense to anticipate the spook which re-enforces again to the horse - IT MUST BE ABOUT TO KILL ME!!

In your head if you fake it until you make it with relaxed confidence and saying - you are fine, its not going to kill you, its not going to move, its completely fine... it can help you relax and then you hope that whats in the brain goes down the rein!

Also if you can at home, set up a mock dressage arena and get as many plant pots and umbrellas and bins and all sorts of other random stuff you know he will have a 'look at' and not just practice your test, but practice being relaxed at things he doesnt like!

Best of luck in your competition!

Thank you that’s great definitely umbrellas!! thank you so much for the advise i will try it!

 

[Carrottom]

Depending on the layout at the venue you may have a couple of minutes before the bell goes for you to start. I try to make the most of this time going past as much as possible in a spanking trot, expecting spooks and riding defensively. At the lower levels and especially unaffiliated the judge will rarely ring the bell when you're mid problem.