Tips to 'bombproof a horse'

You Wont Forget Me

You Wont Forget Me

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As title really, i have a big full on 17hh horse called rambo and he is the spookiest horse on the yard, spooks at the most stupid of things and just does not live up to his name, why they named him rambo i have no idea! But anyway i want some advice on how to help him with his spookyness anything will help! Thanks:)
 
Do a dave the dolphin search on here theres a few threads from me and a few other posters showing what can be done with a pound shop shopping spree and a bit of time :D
 
While somewhat hairaising, I have accidentally made mine bombproof. It's easy, take one fit small red Stafford bull terrier learning to hack out. Make sure you go through woods with plenty of deer, pheasants etc. do bring treats to ensure dog does stay put.

My dog will loop in and out of the woods appearing ahead of us and running alongside. My youngster no longer cares about ANYTHING !!! appearing out of the woods or strange noises!!! Big bonus as have runners, dogs and heaven knows what that spook the horses..
 
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Do not underestimate how important hacking is to a horse. I spend many many months walking my young horses out inhand to see the world and they are pretty much bombproof (even big silly excitable Roo).

Housing estates especially are ideal for bombproofing: loads going on but very slow and minimal traffic.
 
Thanks dafthoss i will have a look!

Hacking isnt geat where we are as only decent places are across a very busy fast road, do plan on taking him out a few place with friends for some exploring hacks over the holidays though so hopefully that will help him a bit
 
I was taught how to bombproof horses by a member of HM Kings Troop.
I do things like get them to walk calmly over tarpaulin on the floor, wrap tarpaulin over and under them. If they freak out and act stupid, then it stays wrapped on/under them. Their reward for behaving and standing still is to have it removed - they don't behave, it doesn't get taken away. Same goes for walking over the tarpaulin. Give them time to sniff it, paw it then gently walk them over it. If they freak out, move away from it, circle and try again. You keep going until they can do it. Be prepared for it to take a long time. If your horse will only do a few steps on it to start with, reward and leave it there. Eventually you want your horse to be able to stand in the middle of the tarpaulin in a calm manner. You can do the same with large flat containers of water, barrels for them to walk through etc etc

You can also tie plastic bags to the end of a stick and rub it over them - again, if they move or act silly then the stick with bags stays on them. When they calm down and stand still, you remove the stick.

Do a lot of inhand hacking through areas you know the horse finds tricky. Again, reward each time they meet a scary obstacle and overcome it.

You have to do these things over and over and over again until they get the jist of it. There are lots of different things you can do and use. Take a load of props with you and work with the ones the horse finds scary. Keep calm and in the leadership role whilst doing these things. ALways end on a positive and reward with strokes, or treats, each time your horse does what you want it to. Remember that even one small step in the right direction is a huge step forward in terms of your horses behaviour. Start off small and work up to the big things. You need to earn your horses trust by always ending on a positive so if you find you've gone too far and your horse is totally freaking out, drop it down a level - reward for the success of the lower level and then try again the next day. It takes time and patience.

I have also just found out about rhythm beads which you can also use to de-spook a horse
 
All of the above but I also play hide n seek with mine and I actually jump out in front of him from behind buildings, hedges and he gets a mint for not running away, who needs people around you to play games.
 
I did loads of inhand stuff with mine when she was very young; leading over tarps, hung carrier bags in stable, walking out in hand, in between poles, rattled dustbins, got friend with motorbike to bring it to yard, etc etc. while she still spooks occasionally (she's four) I tend to just push her forward and don't make a big deal so she's learning that I'll keep her safe. Took a lot of time and patience and not getting cross but has been so worth it. I actually really enjoyed the early learning stuff!
 
With some, food is the key. I put hard feed on a plastic sheet, starting at the edge. Then use a Tescoes umbrella (£6) which you can have lots of fun with. In hand hacking at your local show has to be a good one as most there will be sympathetic -- though maybe best to get permission first! Mine are exposed to lots of scary stuff as youngsters, such as feeding in the trailer, plastic sheets, plastic streamers on gateways. Balloons (total failure -- they just pounced on them and burst them!). Plastic footballs/exercise balls in the paddock. Supermarket carrier bags are great for all sorts of things (but don't let them eat them!), also that plastic film around haylage bales.
 
I often wonder why people don't train their horses BEFORE they take them out into the big, scary world. Our horses do public displays where they have to be rock steady with umbrellas, baby buggies, kites, kicked footballs, balloons, drums, flags, tannoys, gunfire and cannons going off at irregular intervals. So we do all of this at home, something new every day, until it is boring and routine. But a horse going over a jump is REALLY scary, apparantly! (recent experience....)
 
Cortez said:
I often wonder why people don't train their horses BEFORE they take them out into the big, scary world. Our horses do public displays where they have to be rock steady with umbrellas, baby buggies, kites, kicked footballs, balloons, drums, flags, tannoys, gunfire and cannons going off at irregular intervals. So we do all of this at home, something new every day, until it is boring and routine. But a horse going over a jump is REALLY scary, apparantly! (recent experience....)
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Did you not get the note? jumps you go round are life threatening and require immediate evasive action :cool: as do dressage boards you go past but not inside.
 
I've done a most of the above with my horse but when something changes out on his normal hack routes (which I vary a lot as I'm lucky to have great hacking) Like it is bin day he freaks particularly over bin bags. I took to placing them around the yard so he would come unexpectedly across them after having a nervous breakdown each time he would then kick it about and be very brave. But next time he sees one in a different place he goes back to square one! At least he is less likely to spin around and pee off like he used to but he can still make a greay song and dance about it! :D

Any tips?
 
My Appy mare is a bit of a drama queen and somewhat known for spooking :eek: She is brilliant with all traffic, including trailers and tractors, however many other things cause sideways jumping, with a shoulder drop thrown in for good measure. The de-spooking only works to a degree with her, as she knows that MY plastic on the ground/wheelie bin etc etc are safe, the wild ones we find on hacks are a different matter :D The last major meltdown was caused by a lot (think close planted carpet) of small white flowers in a garden, which had not been there the last time we went that way :)
 
I sold a two year old pony to a lady who lives on a shooting estate. She was frightened the shooting parties would upset the pony. I suggested she leave the pony for another couple of weeks. When it left here, it was coming to call -- to the sound of a gunshot!:D
 
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