tips for napping, spooking, shooting to side horse

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narkymare

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I am taking my horse out on his own tomorrow - he is fien with other horses, but a complete wuss when alone
My husband is walking with us - but to get out of yard we have to pass 2 white houses which he hates, he spooks at trees, bushes, fields - basically anything he can see
Btu with other horses he is fine - so fine he has to go up front (he was previously used as a lead horse for a riding school) - its just ridiculous and ive had enough.
Hes not pretending, previously he has got so worked up and nervous - so basically any tips please - I know the leg on and push him through, just wondered if any of you experienced riders had any other tips!
 
Do you keep your hands relaxed? I find this is key with my mare, she is much spookier with age :rolleyes:
I find keeping her on a looser, gentle rein helps alot, i try to get her to stretch down when it is safe to get ride of some of that spooky tightness they develop in their back in these situations
 
Try half pass, or shoulder in past the spooky stuff, either towards or away from the things that upset him, whichever feels best. Givew him something else to think about and makes him lkisten to you, good luck :)
 
I never thought of that moggy - when i get to places i know he will spook i automatically tighten, so i have control if he turns and runs - ty, i will definiteley try that :)
 
yorksG said:
Try half pass, or shoulder in past the spooky stuff, either towards or away from the things that upset him, whichever feels best. Givew him something else to think about and makes him lkisten to you, good luck :)
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ok now you will know how novicey i am - what do you mean half past, shoulder in - oh im sorry i sound daft now xxx
 
narkymare said:
I never thought of that moggy - when i get to places i know he will spook i automatically tighten, so i have control if he turns and runs - ty, i will definiteley try that :)
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It is hard at first, but it can be done. I would automatically tighten the reins up when I felt something coming or felt her spooking, I do shorten the reins a touch but I try to it so gently that she does not notice, it seems to help alot I have found. I have been trying to rebuild my confidence and hers after not doing enough solo hacking, and we are getting there. Good luck :)
 
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With both of my horses I've had to teach them to hack on their own as they haven't done it in previous homes. I've put a headcollar on over the bridle and got OH to walk next to me with a lunge line clipped onto the headcollar. They very soon learn that they can't shoot sideways because there's someone else holding onto them. It also meant that I didn't tense up because I wasn't worrying about ending up in the middle of the road so i could deal with any silly behaviour calmly. Only needed to do it a couple of times with each of them.
 
thank you moggy - i am very much a novice but my confidence is now growing and imn determoned ot crack this because my horse is missing out on so much fun we could have - im sick of the schoola nd so is he - I bought him for my daughter, she lost interest, i fell totally in love so am determined to do it - i especially ahte it when he "dips" he sort of goes down on his legs when scared xxx
 
absolute diva said:
With both of my horses I've had to teach them to hack on their own as they haven't done it in previous homes. I've put a headcollar on over the bridle and got OH to walk next to me with a lunge line clipped onto the headcollar. They very soon learn that they can't shoot sideways because there's someone else holding onto them. It also meant that I didn't tense up because I wasn't worrying about ending up in the middle of the road so i could deal with any silly behaviour calmly. Only needed to do it a couple of times with each of them.
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omg thats a brillaint idea - ty!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! xxx
 
Leg yield him towards the scary thing. This may sound strange but by thinking 'leg yield' as you pass the scary thing this will help to keep him straight and stop him from shooting out into the road. Reassure him with your voice too and once he has passed the scary thing praise him for being good and stop and give him a treat.

Another good tip is to try and not let him stop as you are something scary. (It is usually harder to get a horse moving forwards again if he actually stops) Ride him forwards strongly from your seat and legs. If he does stop and simply refuses to go forwards, rein back past the scary thing. This will confuse him as he will be going backwards but still in the direction in which you want him to go!

A common mistake which is often made is when the horse stops/hesitates, the rider puts the leg on and asks the horse to go forwards quicker than the rider wanted (trots/canters past the scary thing) The rider's immediate reaction is to pull back on the reins and slow the horse down. It is actually better if you keep your contact quiet and your hands down and let the horse go forwards past the scary thing and then ask calmly ask him to slow down. If this means you canter for three/four strides past the scary thing this is fine! You asked the horse to go forwards and he did as you asked (if a little quicker than you would have liked) so let him go forwards until you have passed the scary thing.

Hope this helps! :)
 
Moggyinmanolos said:
It is really hard, but it can be done. I would automatically tighten the reins up when I felt something coming or felt her spooking, I do shorten the reins a touch but I try to it so gently that she does not notice, it seems to help alot I have found. I have been trying to rebuild my confidence and hers after not doing enough solo hacking, and we are getting there. Good luck :)
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It's such a tough one isn't there you are anticipating the worst and your horse is then thinking "holy heck if she is scared then it must be bad" and oh so easy to say keep calm!

Just make sure your take deep calm breaths and i know it sounds stupid but humming or singing really helps. Keep her feet moving in essence at the moment you don;t really care if you go past sideways as long as she goes past either looking at the terror or not....(as Yorks has said) if she stops then small circle, tight turn, rein back as long as you direct the movement keep those feet moving.

I keep up a sort of odd running commentary to my horse in a very calm sing song voice " mmm its a bin coming up vardi don;t think it will kill us today, if you scares you don't look mate" he is normally so busy listening to me prattling on that by the time he registers "OMG" we are past it.

And one last tip....a few drop of rescue remedy on two mints one for you one for the horse x

Good luck and update us tomorow.
 
Yeah I agree with the relaxing the hands!!! I know it sounds stupid but my horse got to a point where he was waiting for me to tense up so he could spook got so annoyed one day I hacked him on the buckle end!!! (well almost) he was very confused as to why I wasnt getting tense, shortening the reins etc. and he just walked past the scary thing I used my voice alot!!! Also agree with shoulder in dont let him look at the object but what I would say is make sure you dont tense up when you do shoulder in x
 
My ex racer was bloody night mare to take out on his own because he had never had to do it before.

I started off by long reining him round quiet lanes and then when he would quite happily do this I started riding him out wit OH on bike.
We have had a few slip ups and I have sat on him in the rain for half an hour because he refuses to go forward and I refuse to go backwards but eventually he gave in and now is exemplary on my yard as he will now go anywhere on his own.

I would try everything suggested by all the replies and you will find out what works. Just don't put pressure on yourself it may take ages or not !

Good luck xx
 
thank you all so much - excellent advice which i knew i would recieve here - ive taken all your tips on board - i will let you know how we get on - thanks xxx
 
Sorry to put a negative thought in but what are his eyes like? - i have had exactly the same issue with my big lad...... turns out he has cataracts in his one eye which makes him a little bit more spooky when on his own.... knowing this has helped me to understand, and i talk to him alot more to reassure him BUT i now insist he works in an outline all of the time when on our own - i do lots of "thinking" things with him, leg yeilds, shoulder in, haunches in, collected walk, extended walk, leg yeilds etc to keep the brain on something else but knowing that he is only doing his best to "keep us safe" has totally changed my attitude and guess what, he is now less spooky !

good luck and it does make you a better rider getting through this bad stuff so treat every day like an opportunity to improve your riding skills

good luck

GW
 
All above is great.

My add on tip would be not to make a fuss coming up to and passing the scarey thing. No patting strokeing or cooing, just be cool about everything.......Oh, and don't look at it either because the horse will know that you are.
 
ty gw - he is only 7 so i never thought about his eyesight - he is due his injections next month so i will ask the vet to check - actually, that could explain a lot xxx
 
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