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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
 Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 01:38:43 AM
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When Lily arrived as a four year old I was so pleased with her steadiness, we have 2 pretty spooky geldings who I think have taught her bad habits - now rising 6 she is so spooky - shadows, puddles, gateways, dark patches in the hedge, I know that she has had quite a bit of time off due to throwing a splint in the field, but it is getting to the point where she is so spooky that I am not enjoying riding her at all. I will say that she is responsive to my voice, and she will pass things that she has decided are horrific when I talk her through them, but the average hack out is becoming exhausting because she bounces around so much.She does not do this if I am on the ground with her. I guess I am just looking for reassurance that this is just a phase she is going through...
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  Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
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Etoile
Silver Member
275 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 03:31:23 AM
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Last week as Senj marched confidently down the side of the road I was thinking back to when he used to spend most of the ride leaping along down the middle of the road and I despaired of him ever actually walking in a straight line at the side of the road. He too initially was far better when I was on the ground. Ridden it just took a lot of time but it came in the end. Though he still does levitate sideways from time to time just to test my stickability - as arabs will So just keep going and hopefully she'll soon grow out of it. |
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Fee
Platinum Member
2601 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 04:59:42 AM
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I would defo say firstly it's not you! Next I would say stick with it, it's a hump you'll both get over. If she responds well to your voice have a phrase(s) that reassures her and gives her confidence, taught from the ground then keep it up in the saddle.
I did loads of leading Polka out and making the world an unpredictable place but I also did/do lots of 'driving' her. I use the 12ft line and walk at her middle or quarters or behind just to get her used to meeting everything first. The equivalent of this would be long reining but I just can't work with them and use my 12ft line for everything! All good prep work and building confidence IMO but alongside this I believe you must just get out and do! I'm sure you're doing all this already Linda, sorry if it's a no brainer.
I know how frustrating all the looking and not wanting to pass things can be. If you are frustrated and not enjoying it that's how she'll feel too. Its hard and I still struggle to maintain it but you've got to try to not blame her, focus on you and dont become so 'involved' in what they're doing or not doing. You must try to be consistent, confident, calm and 'removed' from them, if that makes sense? I tell myself it's none of my business! But I also tell Polka it's none of her business when she wants to stare at things! When she looks at things I gently bring her head back to looking ahead to where i want her to go. Focus on YOUR breathing or anything so long as its not her! Keep looking ahead and never even glance at the 'monster' at the side. Try not to let each 'incident' be a build up as it will only 'build' her up too. Try to imagine each spook or stop is the first she's done on the hack and before you know it that'll be true!
Just trying to think of all the random things I do and know, hope some of it helps.
Fee
ETA sorry forgot the main thing! Always have FUN!! Smile, laugh, tell her jokes, just love it!!
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Edited by - Fee on 10 Jun 2011 05:06:52 AM |
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Patriot
Bronze Member
USA
77 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 05:55:37 AM
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| Hmm Patriot is pushing 20 and he is worse when im on him than when im on the ground. Hes not super spooky, but if hes gonna do it it will be when im on his back, he seems to feel more secure when im by his side to protect him He reminds me of the Thelwell pony that jumped into its little riders arms when there was something scary I will have had him 2 yrs in August, and as yet weve never ridden outside of the barn. Were on a busy road, and i havent managed to find the time or courage to trailer out to a bridlepath yet. However... in a week out whole barn is moving to a new buliding on a much quieter road which we will be able to ride out on and i cant wait to try him out! Im sure Lily will get over it, with a little time and consistency I know how it feels to not enjoy riding your horse, Pat and i had a rough patch when i first got him, its not nice, but im sure if you stick with it you'l both be fine! |
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Dot
Gold Member
England
669 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 06:00:54 AM
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| Personaly I have always found unfit horses are way spookier then fit horse it is almost like they can not contain themselves. My gelding is also lethal over the winter when they are not turned out all day. I also find teenagers worse then youngsters as they take the P. I ride with a heart rate monitor a lot whichgives you a really good idea if they are taking the P or not, if not the heart rate does not elevate. Has taught me to laugh at there antics while riding them. |
Dot
www.threelowsfarm.com
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Emmo
Bronze Member
Wales
132 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 08:25:22 AM
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My gelding (Hanoverian) is 15, i have owned him from a yearling, backed him myself. I have ridden him twice since last October as he is that spooky and jumpy when we are out he has frightened me to death. I am not the most confident rider since having my children but this has stopped me riding all together. So I'm sorry, i can't reassure you its a phase as he is getting worse the older he gets!
A few things i have noticed though....
1, He is not actually scared of any of the things he spooks at, its not even the same things at each ride, its completely random.
2, He doesn't do half the spooking if my sister rides him. She is not nervous in the slightest and just ignores it, he soon gives up.
3, The fitter he gets, the worse he gets, and if i ride him in an outline we hardly go in a straight line his spooking is that bad. He is effectively evading work!!!!
4, He doesn't do any of the above if out in company, just sticks his head up the ass of the horse in front and goes to sleep!!
We had a fall on the road 2 years ago where he spooked so suddenly at a Shetland he lost his footing and before i could blink we here both lying on the road.
I would consider myself an experienced rider, been riding all sorts for over 20 years but he has just about made be hang up my boots, hence my sudden interest in in hand showing!
Emma x |
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Arachnid
Platinum Member
England
1872 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 09:29:15 AM
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I think 6 is a spooky year or least it was for us! She'll definitely get over it but I recognise that feeling of feeling a bit apprehensive of getting on when you think you might be catapulted out of the side door at any moment. Spider can still teletransport to the other side of the track if he feels like it but it is becoming a rarer occurance (hes nearly 12 ) He is the only horse I have managed to fall off of in walk 
Is she spookier in walk than in trot and canter? Spider definitely finds walking boring and spooks to amuse himself. I think that endurance training did cure a lot of the spooking for us anyway - working in trot rather than walk concentrates his mind but I expect you are not trotting much at the minute because Lily is recovering from a splint. |
   
West Sussex |
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Mrs Vlacq
Platinum Member
Wales
3776 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 12:58:21 PM
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It's true, they hit seven and suddenly mature! Work on your schooling so that you can be doing / asking more when out hacking and switch between 'asking' and 'slobbing' when out on hacks. Can you do mixed sessions so you school until she's warmed up, then do 15mins hacking and come home nice and long and loose?
It sounds like a phase, but don't be downhearted |
    
- V Khazad - V Calacirya & V Sulime - Quarida(L) - V Boogie Knights - V Hamra Tofiq |
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Callisto
Platinum Member
6905 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 1:21:19 PM
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| Thanks for all the replies and advice - a bit more info - Lily is unfit due to her lay off, she is far worse in company than she is on her own, leaping left and right and straight up in the air on occasion. She is still good in traffic. Most of the time I do not even know what she is spooking at, so it is not as though I have tensed up in anticipation. She behaves better if I keep up a constant stream of chatter/bad singing to her. I think she has resented her lay off, she certainly started attacking my pony when I took him out of the field to ride although they are very good friends normally. I do think the heart monitor is a good idea, so I can tell whether she is genuinely scared or just entertaining herself. She is also probably bored because although she is now finally being hacked out again, I am mainly keeping her in walk because of the splint and the hard ground. I will try schooling her gently to see if that occupies her mind a bit more. I think it just started getting to me because of the sheer frequency of the leaping about, combined with concerns about her splint, so glad the concensus is that she will grow out of it (mostly - our 20 year old can still throw in a nifty jink when he wants to see if you are paying attention ) |
Zahkira (GR Amaretto x Taffetta)
Linda
East Sussex |
Edited by - Callisto on 10 Jun 2011 1:24:26 PM |
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LYNDILOU
Platinum Member
United Kingdom
13976 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 2:26:03 PM
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| I was taught years ago that while you are hacking, when you come to a thing they are likely to spook at , put them into work mode, IE: place them onto the bit , start using your voice and leg aids and get them concentrating on commands until you are past it. it used to work for me, I would even be pushy with them , so they were more concerned with me than with the really scary dustbin ! |
   
www.dreamfield-arabians.com |
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RUTHIE
Gold Member
United Kingdom
1238 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 2:58:31 PM
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| Don't worry they grow out of it. My boy,who I have had since he was 3, at 6 spooked at everything, frighten to go out sometimes. I persevered with him and he is 18 now and really sensible. I did a lot of ground work with him and sometimes it helps to go back to that as gives you both confidence again. Good luck. |
     
In Memory of Crystal Flash 2010-2012 |
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garnet
Platinum Member
2382 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 3:21:52 PM
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| My instructor always reckons they get spooky while they are getting fit and then settle down once they are fit. Red, 11 last month, has started having conniption fits at drains and manhole covers but lets buses, tractors and trailers meet or pass him, so it could be worse! |
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Pasch
Platinum Member
2277 Posts |
Posted - 10 Jun 2011 : 11:17:18 PM
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Fee and Lyndilou you stole the words from my mouth,I agree not looking at the scary monsters but ahead and asking them something to get their attention works wonders!Problem is when they teletransport(never description was more apt)when you're not expecting it!Pasch is less spooky when I lead him only because he can hide behind my back when he's scared,he's so sweet he really makes me smile when he does that!But always curiosity will win over fear in the end.
With cold weather and when he's not working regularly he will be jumpy and ready to spook just for the sake of it,it's all the pent up energy,when he works regularly he's cool even if he did nothing for a couple of days.One thing that puts him in a bad mood and likely to play stupid is when he's hungry,if he's got something in his stomach he's much calmer!
I'm sure she will grow out of it as soon as she resumes regular work,so dont give up! |
Edited by - Pasch on 10 Jun 2011 11:23:34 PM |
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proctorclaire
Silver Member
437 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 1:13:25 PM
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| My Arab mare is very spooky (although she was mistreated alot in previous homes). How she hasn't killed me on the road yet I've no idea but over time she is alot better. Before she jump 10 feet in the air sideways/forwards/backwards but now unless something really spooks her she tends just to walk sideways round thinga that bother her. I just kept taking her out all the time (this is ok if you have good hacking)and eventually she realised that not every noise or shadow was going to jump out at her. |
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Kelly
Platinum Member
England
1571 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 2:08:57 PM
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Hi there
Not much to add to the already wise words on here, except sympathy and another 'it'll get better'!
This weekend, I was thinking exactly the same as Etoile. As Jack marched out on a ride, peering at himself in windows (but not jumping away from them), standing while a lorry noisily rattled past in front, completely ignoring the wind turbine and quarrying noises, and stomping past the half unloaded co-op lorry with delivery men hanging off the trolley......I was thinking back to four years ago when I didn't dare leave the field with him and had to take Kalms tablets to ride.
He was five then, and for him, his 'age of maturation' was 8 - he become a grown up, and is now a pleasure to ride, and I can trust him. Every time I ride, I come back with a smile on my face thinking 'this is why I got a horse'  
It's difficult when you don't know what they're spooking at, to be able to distract them in time - perhaps shorter hacks and constant 'schooling' during them and asking of things would keep her mind occupied? I do like the heart rate monitor idea.
And Jack is also better when in 'work' mode - we don't do endurance training as such, but he's better when I send him forward - they do seem to get bored and find their own sources of amusement (Jacks is to jump ever so slighly on the spot, freeze for a second and then carry on as though nothings happened....  ) |
Kelly
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Miska
Gold Member
United Kingdom
627 Posts |
Posted - 13 Jun 2011 : 2:40:00 PM
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My slightly spooky mare became very spooky at the beginning of last year. She would spook at nothing and suceeded in getting me off on a number of occassions - I installed a handle onto our saddle (I got a pelham rounding and put clips either end and then clipped to D rings). She was only 6.
However it got so bad that I got her checked over by the vet and it turned out (eventually after lots of tests) that she had osteo arthritus of the hips.
Obviously this is very rare and spookiness is mainly just youngsters being inexperienced but if it continues and becomes dangerous, I would get her checked over by the vet for piece of mind. Don't mean to sound like a doom-sayer  , it's probably just her being a baby or going through her 'teenage tantrum' stage.
Also if she has had time off, maybe she has changed shape and the saddle is pinching?
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RIP Ettie 2003 - 2010 |
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Aargh! Is it me?
