Youngster excitement/tension

[bounce]

Just wondering if anyone has any training tips for dealing with a youngster when they get a little too tense or excited and have a tendency to put a handbrake on and just bounce up and down on the spot. Trying to push her forwards results in bigger bouncing, bucking or rearing but I haven't tested the waters so far with really getting after her when she does it as I do not want to risk making matters worse as she is already rather tense at this point.

When confronted with an exciting situation she basically puts her own handbrake on, becomes a coiled spring and shortens up in front and becomes fairly rigid through her body which means we then lose any forwardness. Generally she is a really forward responsive ride. This tension only happens when life becomes a little too exciting for her to deal with such as horses galloping about in a field next to her whilst hacking solo.

Obviously time and training will help but just wondering if anyone has any particular tips for defusing the situation

 

[TheMule]

I'm a big believer in teaching the horse to relax and breathe by allowing them the time to look and digest the situation rather than increasing the stress levels by forcing them through it. Mine learn to watch, have a quiet scratch at the wither and hopefully they then eventually relax, put their heads down and eat grass, as they would in the wild. I know it sounds a bit fluffy, but it makes for very well adjusted horses!

 

[bounce]

I'd prefer the look and digest approach as well but she becomes a little explosive so I need to try and defuse it otherwise it currently escalates. At the moment she won't start to chill again by giving her a scratch

 

[JFTDWS]

I'm a big believer in teaching the horse to relax and breathe by allowing them the time to look and digest the situation rather than increasing the stress levels by forcing them through it. Mine learn to watch, have a quiet scratch at the wither and hopefully they then eventually relax, put their heads down and eat grass, as they would in the wild. I know it sounds a bit fluffy, but it makes for very well adjusted horses!

Absolutely. I'm a coward, I don't want to die! I like mine to stop, look, and learn to chill and then move on when I ask. I've been known to bribe mine in this circumstance too, which really isn't text book.

I'm pretty hardcore about going forward when I ask for it - if I ask, they're flipping going! - but part of that is not asking until they're in a situation where they can, reasonably, go forward - so not when they've just encountered something new and scary.

 

[DabDab]

As long as I'm in a relatively safe place for such antics I just sit there super relaxed until they chill their beans and then walk on quietly.

In general, if I feel like they are going to boil over I slow them to a walk before they hit super bounce mode and immediately make them leg yield a couple of steps from side to side as we walk - silly thoughts result in slower, more technical but less exciting work

 

[milliepops]

As long as I'm in a relatively safe place for such antics I just sit there super relaxed until they chill their beans and then walk on quietly.

In general, if I feel like they are going to boil over I slow them to a walk before they hit super bounce mode and immediately make them leg yield a couple of steps from side to side as we walk - silly thoughts result in slower, more technical but less exciting work

i'm trying sideways as an attention-getter with my distracted one if I lose her attention to something she wants to stare and stare at she bunches up until I can feel her heartbeat between my legs... and then we often zoom off bucking. Gently moving her feet in a more difficult way is helping

 

[SEL]

When my mare was young she used to boing on the spot and then rear - properly upright too - when something freaked her out. Add in a noise that sounded like a dinosaur roar and it wasn't good for my blood pressure.

I used to sing tuneless versions of 10 green bottles (well, 100 actually - it took more than 10 to calm us down) and I also used to try and slip her a polo if I could feel her getting tense. She's greedy so it was a good distraction.

Sideways, forward or even turning had no effect at all. She used to go solid and if you asked for anything then boing and up. Distraction was the best technique and going out with other horses so she could see they weren't bothered. She's still spooky, but now tends to look at stuff and listen to me more.

 

[bounce]

When my mare was young she used to boing on the spot and then rear - properly upright too - when something freaked her out. Add in a noise that sounded like a dinosaur roar and it wasn't good for my blood pressure.

I used to sing tuneless versions of 10 green bottles (well, 100 actually - it took more than 10 to calm us down) and I also used to try and slip her a polo if I could feel her getting tense. She's greedy so it was a good distraction.

Sideways, forward or even turning had no effect at all. She used to go solid and if you asked for anything then boing and up. Distraction was the best technique and going out with other horses so she could see they weren't bothered. She's still spooky, but now tends to look at stuff and listen to me more.

This sounds very similar to mine. Although she squeaks rather than Roars.

 

[SEL]

This sounds very similar to mine. Although she squeaks rather than Roars.

I admire the Lipizzaners etc doing their high school movements, but when you're sitting on something in the middle of a field that pushes up off her hind legs out of a rear its a bit off-putting! She's actually got hock and muscle problems as well, so just goes to show how adrenaline can take over.....

 

[bounce]

I admire the Lipizzaners etc doing their high school movements, but when you're sitting on something in the middle of a field that pushes up off her hind legs out of a rear its a bit off-putting!

Tell me about it, and add into the mix that she doesn't always know what she is doing with her legs I tend to get concerned that she is going to end up putting both of us on the floor when she loses the plot. Think I'll get the polos out and see if distraction therapy can help, if I can take the shaky hand off a neck strap to offer one!

 

[Hallo2012]

ride some shoulder in or leg yield with line of vision away from exciting object/situation so shes having to move steadily between hand and leg still and to THINK about you.

keep talking and rubbing neck and keep your eyes up and breath slowly, easier said than done but think about riding THE most perfect shoulder in or leg yield to keep your mind off possible explosion.

 

[JFTDWS]

This sounds very similar to mine. Although she squeaks rather than Roars.

That's what one of mine used to do - squeak and everything. He is a prize idiot though... I never used to worry about falling off, so much as collateral damage - we had a close squeak with front hooves and an unsuspecting dog walker on a narrow track once - and him falling backwards down ditches etc :eek3:

 

[Auslander]

Alf can in no way be classed as a youngster,but he is inclined to do what yours does. Usually, it's when hacking in company, and the further ahead they get, the more he gets his knickers in a twist, and the more up and down he goes! I sit there like a cowboy, and completely ignore the behaviour - whilst plaintively bleating at the others to come back and rescue us! If I put any pressure on him, he gets worse, so I just have to sit there and wait for him to get a grip. Don't think he's going to change - he's 21!