spooking.........

[jasmin]

Would really appreciate any advice/ opinions.... I've owned my welshcobX gelding since June. I bought him as a fun hack for me as my other horse is getting on a bit and I wanted to do some basic dressage and have some lessons etc. I thought I'd done as much as I could to find a horse to fit the bill but now beginning to wonder. He's very kind, easy to handle and responsive to ride, not sharp or strong at all. When i bought him from a dealer who I think is reputable he did say he sometimes looks at things in the hedge etc - I tried him in company and alone and on a busy road etc and he did 1 minor "look" which wasn't a problem.
However he's now out in a field with plenty or grass and being hacked out 3-4 times weekly plus a weekly lesson and since he's been here the spooking has been much worse. He will sometimes be walking quietly and appears relaxed and then see something and spin round. I'm not an excessively nervous rider but am beginning to dread taking him out which i'm sure isn't helping. Am having lessons which are going well and he is fine in the school. Have had an experienced friend ride him and he is similar with her although she's not too bothered.
Should I battle on or admitt defeat and pass him on to someone with more confidence than me??
I was really hoping to enjoy relaxed hacks rather than take on a challenge.
Am looking enviously at all your safecobs
Any advice apprecitated!

[Briony and Anakin]

Hiya,
please persevere for a little while longer as it would be a shame to have to pass him on although of course where your safety becomes a concern, then sometimes it has to be considered.

I cant really tell you what to do as every horse is different, but i can tell you how i fixed the problem on my old thoroughbred and maybe if you think your horse sounds similar to my old boy then it may give you some ideas?

My thoroughbred was an absolute delight when i tried him out from the dealers, where it was winter time and he was turned out 24 hours a day with no extra feed. However as you can imagine when spring time came around, with two hard feeds a day, the nervous energy was a bit much! he began to 'spook' at all kinds of things that he never would before! I really do believe that he felt so well that he couldnt contain it and released it in this way! At first i took a really symptathetic and gentle tact, reassuring him etc, but this seemed to make it worse.

I then decided to cut down his feed, and be instead of reassuring when he spooked, to give him a tap behind my leg with the stick each time he did, and a short sharp squeeze from my legs. im no expert but this really seemed to work with him, probably more down to the cutting down his feed.

Your horse could be completely different but i wish you all the best with it and really hope you enjoy hacking out again soon!

Briony & Anakin

[Annie]

Hi Jasmin, so sorry to hear you are having problems, a new horse should be pleasurable and exciting in the right way, not a trial of your nerves.

There are a couple of points worth thinking about here i feel. The first being that any horse, (no matter how intrinsically quiet and easy) that has not had undergone enough training to know its job inside out and be very established can show this sort of behaviour, simply because it has never really been trained to go correctly, in a straight line without spooking and take you out for a hack. This has little to do with age, as at mysafecobs we often find horses of 14yrs can have less idea that a horse of 5yrs, depending on what they have done before they come to us. A horse has to understand that you are the leader, once he realises that you tell him where to go and not vice versa, he will be able to relax, knowing that he doesn't have to take responsibility for deciding what is "dangerous". The best way to achieve this is by riding forwards, making sure you are not keeping your reins too tight (which is telling him to stop) using the stick to back up your leg if required.

The second point is that any horse that is being well fed and and not worked very much is likely to have more energy than it requires. I totally agree with the post from briony here, its like the horse has so much energy he doesn't know what to do with it. So this energy comes out in all sorts of uncharacteristic behaviours, such as spooking, spinning, bucking, and generally not listening to the rider. If a horse is very established in its job it is likely it will control this extra energy better, but if it is still a little unsure, and for example tended to bee a bit "looky" or spooky anyway, this will be exacerbated.

If you feel this may be the case with your horse, it might be worth either restricting the amount of grazing or increasing the workload of the horse, we find giving a little 10 minute lunge before we get on quite effective if we are working through something like this. Something to bear in mind is that keeping the horse stabled for longer periods of time will also increase energy levels, so this may not be the best way to reduce the amount of grass your horse eats.

Of course if you feel that the situation is dangerous or that you are not able to cope it may be best to get someone else to do this work, or consider rehoming your horse.

Good luck whatever you decide to do, and remember you are not alone, we all go thorough difficult stages in our lives with horses, if in doubt, remember to breathe and keep your leg on!

Annie xx

[lisandsaf]

Hi Jasmin
remember a horse can feel your heart beat so it is vital you do not react to the spooking and remain calm,, if you get nervous your heartbeat increases and your anxiety levels rise and the horse feels this and spooks again because he things you are spooking therefore there must be something to spook at syndrome!!!
So so hard to achieve but imperative to learn and such a useful tool when all around you crumbles,, if you are in any doubt and feel totally unsafe get off!!

Lisa and Saf

[jasmin]

Thankytou all so much for your replies - will remember to keep breathing and keep leg on!!
It's interesting that he doesn't spook at things he's already seen - just has a look and goes part - it's often when he;s vey relaxed and then suddenly sees something that wakes him up ie flying birds or even something stationary that he's only just noticed. We've passed some genuinely scary huge tractors etc which he has been fine with. He almost seems to have a "panic button" which suddenly triggers a major reaction...
In most ways however he's a joy to own and ride so I'm going to keep going for the moment and see how we go. At the moment I feel asthough i need a glass of wine before hacking out (!) however the friends who rides him too loves him. Have just discovered she comes from Kenya and used to event for her country so maybe thats why the odd bit of shying doesn't bother her!!! My trick so far has been to pretend i'm Mary King (or even Avril!!!) when I'm riding sounds a bit strange but I think it helps....
Thanks again - will keep you posted

H

[Fudge]

Hi Jasmin

I have exactly the same problem with a Welsh cob x 9 year mare, I too bought her from a reputable dealer in June and I had her on a weeks trial, which went well. She was also suppose to be 100 % in traffic but this turned out to be not true and she meet a push bike which she spun and I flew out the side door.

I have decided to work with her for a least six months before I make any decision to as to regard if she is the horse for me, as I too only wanted a safecob. I am doing lots of de-spooking exercise on the ground, via reading some very good books and friends help. I have taken a push bike up to the yard and she see it everytime she eats etc.

If I am out hacking and I feel she is getting too spooky and upset and I feel we are in a dangerous situation I get off and settle her down and walk passed. I know some people are against getting off but it works for me because at least I get home in one piece.

I am hoping all these things will help with her confidence - as I am only a novice at this and she is my first pony, but I feel I have to give her a chance as she is so good to handle on the ground and to ride in the arena and in lessons.

Hope it goes well for you and your welsh cob x and you know that you are not alone in owning a spooky pony.

[joy Griffiths]

Hi Fudge

I was told by an BHS Accreddited instructor -when I fhad my first horse in Jan 2008 as a novice- you must never get off as it means they have won!!!!!!

As I was looking at natural horsemanship and everything and everyone to do with it I knew that it was the right thing to do-and I certainly did get off my 17.2h I/D and would lead him through his point of no go-and get on him again at next high gate or fence!!!!! He did improve vastly through the next few months only for me to lose him in the August!!!

Hence coming to safecobs and Bella & Dolly! I must admit Bella has stalled a couple of times at things that seem so trivial to us but to her it was a matter of -who is behind that hedge waiting to kill me!!!!! I did get straight off and led her through and got on her again a few minutes later- I think that to listen to people who tell you just to stay on when a horse is blowing up is madness -just listen to your own gut instinct and stay in one piece!!!

Happy hacking
Kind regards
Joy.Bella & Dolly

I

[liz]

I wrote a lengthy reply last night but got disconnected and my essay disappeared into the ether

I've had a few spooky horses but, back then I was a very fit and pretty competent rider so it never bothered me that much. One horse was so bad I had his eyes checked - they were fine! He was a conundrum as he was very brave with traffic, even passing hedgecutters without batting an eyelid! However, if an ant moved in a hedge it was the scariest thing ever and as for writing or lines on the road - WELL!!! They were definitely going to wrap themselves around his legs and kill him! He would pass stuff with a forward thinking and confident rider and I always carried a whip with him - not to smack him but simply to hold against his shoulder, which together with my outside leg, helped stop him spooking into the middle of a road. He was not an easy horse in any respect and though I was fond of him, we never quite formed a good partnership and so, after 2 years I swapped him for my WC x TB mare who was certainly VERY spooky!

She was a very sharp mare and her favourite thing was to stop suddenly, drop a shoulder and whip around. She got me off 4 times doing this over the many years I had her Kelly, the mare, was bad in traffic but fortunately I didn't have to ride much on roads and the ones I did ride on were very small country lanes. I occasionally crossed the main Taunton to Minehead road to have a change of route and usually managed that OK. She was an ex hunt horse and when I took her out with the hounds we could pass ANYTHING! She had her eyes on the hounds and that was it - she knew her job!! However, when the gamekeeper left out his bags of pheasant feed in the spring I had an uncomfortable ride for a day or two until we'd passed them once or twice. She never changed and, quite frankly, I just got used to it! Mind you, I knew that apart from her dropped shoulder lark, she wouldn't do anything else - she never, ever kicked, bit, bucked or reared. I simply adored the old bag! We had a great relationship. She was very bargy with strangers but with me she was fine.

Other horses I've had were easier rides but they all spooked from time to time. My dear friend, Murray, had a very large heavyweight hunter who I rode a fair bit and he was awful when he arrived as a fairly green youngster from Ireland. I rode him out with a couple of friends and he bowled along quite happily at the rear. BUT when I asked him to go in front it was a different matter. I insisted and we went sideways for about 2 miles. The penny dropped that I was serious about him being leader and he eventually learned but he was never what I would call a forward going horse, except when out hunting. His spooking consisted of running backwards at speed - not funny when a gangly 17.3hh 3/4 TB does that! I always kicked my feet out of the stirrups that as I couldn't be sure he'd stay upright! He did improve a lot with maturity and lots of work. I did like the horse a lot.

I'm rabbiting on a bit now - I guess what I'm saying is that confidence works wonders with a spooky horse!

ETA - I meant to write a bit about feeding and that includes grass! All my horses had a lot of turn out bar one winter when YO refused me any t/o and I had to ride every morning before work in the dark along the lanes, kitted out in reflective gear - that was when I had the above mentioned mare. Slight deviation here! When I first put her reflective boots on she caught sight of them when stretching her neck whilst out on a ride and tried to run away from them - she looked again and they were still there ;D After 3 or times she realised they would not hurt her ............

Anyway - could it be that your horse is eating grass which is to high in energy? Mine were on a ley made for horses and most of them only had hay plus HiFi lite, non-molassed sugarbeet and a broad spectrum supplement even when in hard work and they all looked great. A couple of my horses did have pasture mix during the winter when they were hunting but they were always turned out during daylight hours except (obviously ) on their hunting days.

[jasmin]

Just a quick update on my spooky boy.... We've kept at it and things are improving. My weekly lessons have been a godsend as I now feel i can stick on no matter what!! (well almost) which has improved my confidence. I'm not frightened to really ride him forward now which has helped, and our flat work has improved beyond all recognition.
He's still a "looky" horse and when pheasants fly out in front of him he will still attempt a vertical takeoff but I'm pleased I've stuck with it rather than giving up. I have to say that i'm not sure he's the horse for me - I think I'd rather have a relaxing easy life out hacking, but am hoping that even if I end up selling him in the Spring, he will make the right person a fun hack and do some dressage etc as well....
Thanks for all your advice...

[nellie]

Hi Jasmin,
There is something in what you say that mirrors Liz's attitude and though Liz is far braver than I will ever be (I'm a real scardy cat) I kind of know where she is coming from. For me it all comes down to how you feel about the horse. When I was younger, I used to ride a pony which never, ever shied at anything but I was usually scared silly on her! Then the stables bought a pony from the riding school where I had ridden previously. I knew her as being a "good" pony so, despite being turned out in a martingale and proceeding down the road sideways and shying I just laughed, relaxed and put my leg on! The fear was associated with how I felt about the pony not about its behaviour and I have found this throughout my riding life. If I have confidence in the horse/pony, its behaviour makes very little difference to me but if I don't, well, I can be, literally, frozen with fear. Not logical but true.

And, on a slight aside, on the stay on board/dismount debate, I would like to add my h'pence worth! My old horse had been trained by an ex-mounted policeman and was unflappable. However, she was new to the stables and we had taken a route out on a hack that she was not familiar with. As part of this route we had to cross a bridge that had very small gaps between each "plank" (it was actually metal but don't know how to describe it). Well my friends phlegmatic pony refused to cross and the others were getting upset so I said my girl would cross it and took the lead - but she also stopped. So, off I hopped and led her over. Like the star she was she calmly and without hesitation followed me over.

Moral of the tale: I could have stayed on board and tried to persuade her or fight her to get her to cross but probably in vain (she was a girl with strong opinions) and we would have further upset all the other horses in the group so what was the point? Problem solved and an even stronger bond forged between me and my girl.

[angie]

Hi Jasmin,

Glad the lessons are working - mine have really helped me with my confidence issues, and now I'm not scared to 'get behind' Ella a bit if needs be.
Ref how Nellie felt on the good pony/bad pony issue. I can so relate to that. I would not even walk my girl off road, let alone trot or canter, but I went on a riding break to France, and actually had my first ever gallop, off-raod on an unknown 5 year old Arab, and it was amazing!! It certainly made me question if it was me or Ella with the problem, and it was definately me in my case. She has rarely given me thought to doubt her over-all safety. Yes, she spooks much like your boy at times, but we're getting there, and I'm so glad that a year down the line I didn't give up.
Hang on in there a bit longer, and maybe you'll both successfully come the other side too.
Good luck,

Ange and Ella x

[Erika and George]

Jasmin,
If it is any consolation I gave myself 6 months before I made a final decision about keeping George. It wasn't always a bed of roses with him and we had quite a few challenges to overcome before the partnership was formed.
Like your horse he was fantastic with the largest moving objects hurtling past, but then the smallest thing would make him spook. We had a bit of backing up and quite a lot of spinning at one stage but managed to work through it. He will also be a bit on his toes and looking at the hedge if I haven't ridden for a week but I know to keep a contact, use the stick on his shoulder to remind him that he needs to listen. Generally I do some schooling on the road at the start of such a ride such as half halts and leg yields to get his attention. After about 10 minutes he usually settles down and we then ride along on a very long rein as per normal. I have also discovered if he is being a bit silly that it can be because of discomfort such as a sore back ,(due to over exuberance in the field!), a saddle that is pinching or even a flint stuck in his hoof. So it isn't always high spirits.
If you can work through your current stage then you will have a horse that you can trust and one that will trust you. It is only by overcoming such challenges that a bond can be formed.
Keep going and I am sure that you will have a horse for life.
Best wishes,
Erika & George

[liz]

Great progress, Jasmin! Really well done. Most horses do settle when they feel safe at their new home and with their new owner. When you think about it, a majority of horses never have one home for life and it must be worse for some than others to feel safe and secure.

Nellie - brave is what I used to be! It never occurred to me to be frightened to get on a horse. How things have changed! But that was mainly due the breakdown of my health which scared me and shattered my confidence more than any horse ever did!