Tips for leading round spooky corner

[sassandbells]

Just want some advice for what others think I could to to help my youngster in this situation.

I’ve attached a diagram (sorry for the terrible drawing) that might help explain it a bit better…

I’m on a yard where we all rent our own fields, off one central track. I have one of the top fields where my horses currently are but to get there we have to go round a corner and we’re having some issues!

The horse that’s in the field on the corner is new, has only been here a couple of weeks, she’s on her own (that’s a whole other issue) and always comes galloping over to see us when we walk past, this in itself isn’t too much of an issue, however they have their field shelter just down from the corner so if the horse wants to follow us round she gallops round the shelter and pops out the other side, which in turn sets my horses off.

tonight I was leading my horse past and the pony did the gallop round the shelter, but slipped into the fence next to the shelter, broke a bunch of posts and then went galloping off round the field trailing electric fencing. This spooked my youngster and she tried to run away, I let go but thankfully she stopped after about 10 meters and turned and trotted back to me.

leading her back past the shelter on our way back to the field was a bit of a nightmare though. She was incredibly tense, jogging and trying to spin and go the other away. I tried refocusing her and we did eventually get past it but it wasn’t a particularly fun time for either of us.

In absence of us being able to do anything with the pony in the field, is there any ways I can try and help my youngster deal with this scary corner/ponies popping out? I had the idea of feeding her down there so she associated the corner with something good, but it doesn’t resolve the issue of the pony darting round the corner…

Or do I just keep leading past each day and hope that pony/youngster get used to it?

Thanks in advance!

On the diagram, red is the pathway we walk round, pale orange is the fence lines of the field, x is where the pony crashed into the fence, blue is the shelter, and the yellow arrows are where she runs around.

View attachment 106726

 

[Equi]

When the pony comes galloping, do you just keep on walking to try and get past quickly or do you slow/stop to let your horse adjust and them both to calm?

 

[sassandbells]

When the pony comes galloping, do you just keep on walking to try and get past quickly or do you slow/stop to let your horse adjust and them both to calm?

We stop when she gallops round, and I calm her down until the pony has stopped moving and then we continue. She’s really good with this part - it’s the popping out the other side that seems to upset her most and just send her over her threshold

 

[Barton Bounty]

Id use food… try and focus her solely on you! Keep her attention with treats , loud voice , plenty of praise and eventually she will not react at all.
we had an issue years with a similar area round the arena ?

 

[Horseysheepy]

Sounds spectacular and I don't envy you to be honest!

But think of it as a great opportunity to train your youngster how to handle situations that will set it up for future hiccups!.
Like someone once said, each problem encountered creates a training opportunity.

I echo others above about getting the horse focussed on you, listening to you, and the more you encounter that pony, the less interesting it will become.

 

[smolmaus]

You can't control when another horse is going to be an idiot and wrecking ball a fence but it sounds to me like your little horse did wonderfully with that part! To come back to you straight away is lovely!

I agree with your first instinct of building positive associations with food now she is nervous about that corner. Have a treat ready when Fence Disaster is about to pop out. And chat away "oh here she comes, are you ready for her to say boo, there she is! Have a snack" Talking will keep you calmer as well as pony (you have a negative association with that corner now too!) and also shows your horse that you know and are aware of the silly thing and aren't bothered, I really think they pick up on that.

 

[Highmileagecob]

Try using a few treats in a crisp packet. The crackly sound coupled with a treat is a good diversion, and you might be able to stand and let your youngster investigate the treats whilst the other one completes the circuit. Sounds as if the other one needs a companion.

 

[Flowerofthefen]

Crisp packet is a great idea! We have a spooky big container to go past. Unfortunately whilst leading my horse I had children jump out from behind it, then the odd rat would scuttle away, now cats! My horse now hates it and I can physically see him tensing up. I usually have 2 hands on the lead rope but I will try the crisp packet. OP hope you find a safe resolution.

 

[sassandbells]

Tried the crisp packet idea today with some higher reward treats & it worked perfectly, thank you for all the suggestions

 

[tristar]

could you ask the owner of the loopy one if they could possibly hold their pony as you lead past so you can stop and let yours have a good look, even touch noses, and then as you progress past the shelter get them to walk on too and pop out quietly, the other side, perhaps repeat a few times, backwards and forwards, a bit of a training session, if its all slowed down and everyone can have a good look at each other and each others antics it might not seem so scary, then reward with treats

say its yours that is having a problem , but that you are worried about hers having an accident as well, because if they are crashing into fences and breaking free it needs sorting?