blitznbobs
Well-Known Member
I'm stuck. My cob has an irrational fear of pigeons.
I'm not sure what a novice is but I'm pretty sure I'm not one, having trained a dumblood to GP (Dressage) -- fairly easy and 2 Welsh CObs to medium(much harder) and have been riding for over 30 years but I'm stumped as to where to go from here.
You see, my Cob has an irrational fear of pigeons. At one end of our arena is a big oak tree where a load of wood pigeons have decided to set up home. CObby won't go near it. I've tried everything I can think of from ignoring the problem and trying to get slightly closer each time round and ignoring the explosions to full on battle 'YOU WILL GO THERE' with big pony club kicks and backing up leg with whip. I've tried lunging near the tree and leading him towards it... even tying haynets under the tree (he's ruled by his stomach!) I finally worked out it was the pigeons --IF the pigeons aren't there he's fine.. but as soon as they arrive that's it he loses it.
In any other arena or place he's fine a bit spooky but dealable with but these pigeons have got me stumped... I've also tried getting rid of the pigeons and am heading towards the idea of pigeon pie but I'm not that good a shot! Or should I take a chainsaw to the tree???
Any ideas??
I'm not sure what a novice is but I'm pretty sure I'm not one, having trained a dumblood to GP (Dressage) -- fairly easy and 2 Welsh CObs to medium(much harder) and have been riding for over 30 years but I'm stumped as to where to go from here.
You see, my Cob has an irrational fear of pigeons. At one end of our arena is a big oak tree where a load of wood pigeons have decided to set up home. CObby won't go near it. I've tried everything I can think of from ignoring the problem and trying to get slightly closer each time round and ignoring the explosions to full on battle 'YOU WILL GO THERE' with big pony club kicks and backing up leg with whip. I've tried lunging near the tree and leading him towards it... even tying haynets under the tree (he's ruled by his stomach!) I finally worked out it was the pigeons --IF the pigeons aren't there he's fine.. but as soon as they arrive that's it he loses it.
In any other arena or place he's fine a bit spooky but dealable with but these pigeons have got me stumped... I've also tried getting rid of the pigeons and am heading towards the idea of pigeon pie but I'm not that good a shot! Or should I take a chainsaw to the tree???
Any ideas??
they make a tasty pie... I assume they are wood pigeons???