with a spooky horse do you....



Let them have a good look. How are they supposed to learn it's nothing to be scared of otherwise?
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It depended very much where we were. Near a road for example I would turn away and get my leg on. If we were in an environment that I had assessed as being suitable then I would let him go and have a look, as close as he would go with a little pressurizing before pushing on. If it was a regular issue i.e. frequent hacking route I would be aiming to get a little closer to the object each time we were out. Avoiding too much pressure or being close to the object for too long. Also with certain problems such as carrier bags in hedgerows we worked on that back at home in an effort to desensitize. It did not totally cure the problems but helped reduce the reaction, to one more manageable when out.

I found he gradually improved with most things we met using this approach, but he was a horse very receptive and trusting to try anything new or unsettling with encouragement. So I feel the approach also depends upon their character.
 
depends whether its a green youngster, or an older horse taking the mickey. In an arena, when old man is spooking at flower pots, then I would put him deeper and ride slight shoulder in, saves bouncing half way across the arena. Having said that, in an arena, you wouldn't want any horse to get in the habit of popping its eyes out for a bit of amusement.
 
I'd agree with Cyberhorse, depends on the situation - if out on the road and is busy/people around, turn him away from it, but if its quiet and can see if any traffic is coming let him look. I'd be the same at a competition, if there are horses/people etc around ask him to look away from what he is spooking at and push him confidently past, if its quiet let him look.

If you're talking about in the arena, I'd probably push him past and try to discourage him from looking, however you can do what you like before you enter the arena of course and if you feel letting him look will help for next time he goes past let him look!
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It depends on what it is and where we are, if its something pathetic like a scary leaf then i'll ride him dressage style with his nose in the hedge! If its something really scary then I'll let him see it face on and then carry on. But if we are somewhere busy and I feel he'll spook at something I'll turn his head away from it. What you can't see won't hurt you!
 
My Ex Racers spooks at Shows so, I use FRENCH BLINKERS on him. He can turn and see "whats what" whic, i think you should allow your horse to do.
 
Agree it depends what it is and whether its him being spooky or genuinely scared. My horse is a wally and isnt scared of what he should be but is ultra spooky at daft things. I sat there and let him have a look at a comp when he refused to go passed the drinks machine in the corner. He took all the dressage boards with him as he went backwards making a big issue. When I noticed everyone watching me from the cafe I gave him a slap and he shot passed. I made it into an issue which could have been prevented. I reckon you make him go past riding shoulder in. If its something really scary then let him have a look unless you are in a dangerous situation when he has to respect your legs so that you can ride past almost anything safely if you have to..
 
I found the more i let my horse look at scary things the more things she wanted to look at, if i am schooling i work her past it by creating a slight opposite bend to the scary object and pushing her forward past it. Do the same if i am competing as tend to find it slightly more acceptable to get slight oppostite bend and keep going forward than for horse to grow to 22hh and gawp at everthing continuously while slowing down and elevating to enable her to stare at things for longer! ( She is soooooo nosy and naughty as she pretends to be scared but rarely is!)
 
I tend to let merlin have a good look and make him go up to it to make sure he knows it wont bite him!!!!

We did this at the local clear round jumping on sunday...... really weird filler with swirly lines on it.... makes my eyes goo funny so he had a real good wow look at that moment. I made him walk up to it, eyes on stalks style.... he then realised that it wouldnt hurt him and proceeded to walk through the fence, demolishing it
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And Mudsplasher and Lozxx saw it all!!!!
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The latter, I put mine in shoulder in and attempt to divert his attention.

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I also do this!!
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I ride a variety of horses. If it's the right place, and safe, I would let them look, otherwise, I find that staring hard in the opposite direction really works. (whilst maintaining a contact and relaxing!!) I used this today on a hack where there were no less than three sets of roadworks, and a huge lorry unloading with a digger arm. All this was walked calmly by, using the staring method ( and no, I was not riding a rocking horse - but a 6yr old who is inclined to be spooky!)
 
it depends - I turned Frankie into what he was spooking at once and backed up into a hedge
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so from then on I tried the shoulder in method and it worked! you could still feel some tension from him but it was alot safer if you were out hacking. If he spooked at something in the school then I would calmly walk him past it but ask him questions so it would take his mind off it.

IME anyway
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My horse used to spook at things quite a lot when I first had him, now I ask him to concentrate on me by riding shoulder in, leg yielding etc and he no longer spooks.
My pony will usually go past anything as long as she is allowed a good look first.
Just goes to show what works for one horse might not work for another.
 
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