Tips for a spooky horse

Barbara F · Grand Prix

Tips for a spooky horse

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Jane makes excellent points! Though her tips are a wee bit more dressage specific, I think they can be applied throughout your riding career, no matter your discipline.

As a general standard, I like to make sure my horse and I have a solid, mutually trusting connection. I find that this helps a lot in the way of shying or trying new obstacles/etc. Of course there will always be the instinct to run (horses are flight animals after all), showing your horse that you are a strong leader in your herd of two (or more) can be beneficial in calming his/her anxious mind. Your horse is more likely to trust your instincts and actions if they are aware of your leadership abilities, in my experience. As Jane says, if you reward your horse when he or she is shying, that reverses the role of the leadership, making your horse think that you're a follower as well. Building a solid, trusting connection and establishing yourself as the "herd leader" is a very essential base for your relationship.

:) Thanks for sharing, Barb!

Marlene · Advanced

For my sometimes spooky Arab I have found these things help: regular exercise (spooks more likely to happen after a day or three off), no alfalfa, no grain,grass hay only (this made a huge change), having a really good seat, conditioned muscles, never relax (he tends to think I am asleep at the wheel, goes back to leadership), you have to be braver than your horse, if you loose it, he can't respond to direction, never punish, always redirect. Always wear a helmet, and body armor isn't a bad idea either (speeds recovery after eating dirt). One point where I differ from the pro videos provided, I prefer to keep hold of my reins when thrown. I really would hate to have to find my horse in the woods and walk a long way home. But I happen to know my horse prefers not to step on me. If he way really crazy, I'd let him go.

Barnmouser Ash · Grand Prix

Marlene, you make an excellent point about feed. Too many people assume hot-headed, spooky behavior has to do with a specific breed, or that it's a behavioral issue, without checking out the source first. Alfalfa, oats (does anyone still feed solely oats?...), and other "hot" feeds can sometimes be the culprit behind flighty horses. Also being cooped up, or sometimes lots of fresh spring grass. We can't blame our horses for responding to the situations we put them in ;)

Geoffrey Pannell · Well Schooled

I'd have to agree with Ash, feed is the most common reason for shying. My wife came off one of the TB's yesterday, he'd been in the clover paddock for 24 hours and was looking at everything, didn't take much to make him flip out. Over night in the famine paddock and butter wouldn't melt in his mouth.

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I hope your wife is ok, Geoffrey!
By the way, why isn't she here joining in?!

-- Edited by Barbara F on Monday 31st of October 2011 06:37:30 PM

Marlene · Advanced

Another thing that really helped my guy out on rides, as we approached a "really scary" parked vehicle, and his nose goes straight up, I know we will be in for a "learning opportunity". This particular vehicle was justifyably terrifying, and the road was fortunately otherwise quiet for traffic. It was a largish truck with this monstrous hose coming out the back, writhing on the ground, and making a hellish vaccuuming sound. I stopped him before he decided to back out altogether, gave him a good half a minute to size up the situation, then asked him to continue on (knowing we weren't going to get too far). When I thought he had almost reached that point, I turned him away, walked a short distance back, then turned again in the general direction of the truck. Each time we got a little closer, though still not forcing him to go directly at it, or closer than it seemed he could manage. I was pretty amazed when he finally managed to walk right past, albeit on the other size of this narrow road, and I did praise him even more so at that point. The set up had to be just right to pull this off, but honestly that day, I originally didn't think I was going to get him past. Which also proves that it helps to fake being confident, even if you aren't.

Trouble Horse · Well Schooled

I'm glad I read this post today as I am going to ride my friend's horse for his first time in a new place (and indoor). He is usually pretty quiet but you never know. I think what Marlene says about faking confidence is really good advice because I know I am my own worst enemy by being too timid sometimes. I just have to believe he'll be good and then he will be!

barnfrog · Advanced

Although lack of exercise may create some 'wheeee' moments of fun when riding, feeding has little to nothing to do with causing a horse to shy. Horses are flight animals, and if they dont trust the leadership of the rider, they feel the need to keep the rider safe instead. Growing up I saw few horses shy, but I think this is because horses were started by horsemen with a depth of horsemanship AND they grew up in HERDS of horses, so they understand how to be horses first. This confidence usually starts with a first ride in which a rider tenses/holds/grabs the horse, and for the horse that proves there is something to be weary of in the first place. As riders we need to always look for 'incomings' and position the horse in such a way that it doesnt look from one field of vision to the other (which makes the thing appear to jump). Keep the horse on the aids by PULSING them, if we hold them the horse feels the need to try to escape.

Marlene · Advanced

I have ridden at least two horses (one a very young filly, the other my current gelding) who were normally behaved on a particular diet and kooky, jumpy or just really badly behaved on grain or alfalfa. This was with same rider, same trails, within days of the diet change. So there was no other explanation that I can figure out. Maybe some horses or most horses don't have these behavior swings with different diets but these two definitely did. And in the young fillie's case, I didn't know they had switched her diet, so it wasn't that I was anticipating the behavior. She just went bazannas and I could barely stay on her after a whole summer of riding her bareback everywhere.

And with my gelding I've played around with various combinations of diet enough times now. I couldn't believe it at first, but it's been proven several times over now, so I am convinced. I call up my hay guy and order what I call his "Magic Hay", and my guy calms down, somewhat within 48 hours, and very noticeably after a week or two on the boring grassy hay.

-- Edited by Marlene on Thursday 30th of August 2012 11:16:55 PM

-- Edited by Marlene on Thursday 30th of August 2012 11:18:01 PM

Barbara F · Grand Prix

I think it's a combination of factors depending on the horse. I know with myself, food can make me jumpy or lethargic, and I also think the training and "lifestyle" of the horse make a huge difference. Even though I have my horse at what people would call a fancy dressage barn, I treat him like a regular horse. That means LOTS of time outside and lots of hacking to get used to new sights and sounds. I also do find that if I ignore something, he ignores it too.

My last horse, interestingly, was ALWAYS afraid of parked cars. Not moving cars, just parked cars. Perhaps he caught his reflection moving as we went by. He was a super hack horse and wouldn't care if dogs ran up behind him in the woods - but he was always tense and on his guard going past (or near) parked cars.

p.s. "As riders we need to always look for 'incomings' and position the horse in such a way that it doesnt look from one field of vision to the other (which makes the thing appear to jump)." BRILLIANT insight. Thanks for that!

-- Edited by Barbara F on Thursday 13th of September 2012 05:35:40 PM

Eventing101 · Well Schooled

Since my horse is only 5 and can be spooky on a trail about oh, lets say puddles (he despises puddles,horse eating mosters in there ya know) anyway, since i am on the lighter scale of weight i always ride johnny (my horse) in quite a light seat (i do this on purpose, you'll see y) when i'm out hacking or if he's acting like a 5 year old i usally just sit even a tad deeper and he knows that i'm being serious and just walk past whatever is scaring him.. that usually works :) stay firm!