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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Gaited Horse Training Discussions > Gaited Horse Training > Spooky from behind? |
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Gaits of Gold Gaited Horse Community Messageboard > Gaited Horse Training Discussions > Gaited Horse Training > Spooky from behind? |
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| Spooky from behind? | Rate Topic |
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| Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 08:54 pm |
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1st Post |
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HopeMissouri G.O.G Community Member 
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I have this image of her being a bucking bronco in my head which I am sure doesn't help!!! You're right. A more positive vision might be more helpful! Le't's see, she's 4 years old. Unconfident. Over-reacts. Sounds like a young horse waiting for her leader to let her know there's nothing to be concerned about. The more you worry about what is behind her, the more she's likely to worry, too. My RMH was very concerned about horses coming up behind him when he was that age. I sure didn't want to tackle the problem while I was on him. He could scooch and spin way too fast for my riding abilities! During a "What's your problem?" clinic, I asked the clinician what I might do to help my horse become more confident and less defensive about protecting his hindquarters when a horse came up behind him? The clinician asked if any of the clinic participants had a similar concern. Surprisingly, to me, there were two others of the 12 of us that admitted to the same challenge. The clinician had us circle our horses with the 3 of us people, on the ground, back-to-back. We would hand our lead ropes to the next person as our horses circled around us. Our focus was on the task of getting the horses to circle, not so much whether our horses would be bothered by the other horses. Amazingly, the horses did fine even though there was some accidental jostling and bumping. This was a breakthrough day for all 3 of the horses! Since then I've had horses bump into my horse's rear as we're trailriding and he's been fine. Last week he got a sticker bush limb caught in his tail, dragging it into his hindlegs, getting it caught tighter and tighter into his thick tail. We bounced sideways down the trail and into my friend's horse. But, my guy listened to me, bent to a (one-rein) stop. I dismounted after he quit breathing hard to untangle his tail. Through all of these exercises he's learned to trust me. I guess it wasn't about the demon behind us. It was about his trust and confidence in me?
____________________ [IMG]http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v294/Hope-Missouri/ChipMissyandHope2008-2.jpg[/IMG] [i]My horses give me as much respect as THEY THINK I DESERVE. Their opinion matters.[/i] |
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| Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 06:52 pm |
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2nd Post |
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Karal G.O.G Community Member 
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The last horse in line gets eaten by the bear. The only way I figure to get over it is exposure to this happening. Try riding with some friends two groups take turns in line. Try to pare up with a calm horse. Have the second group come up behind, not fast or far behind, but just out of sight. Try this over and over till she calms down with it. Try not to react to her getting scared, don't hold your breath. Keep imagining she is getting better, when you show confidence she is more apt to pick up on it. Happy riding, be safe. 
____________________ live - laugh - love |
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| Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 05:41 pm |
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3rd Post |
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ssecmft G.O.G Community Member 
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Sounds like ground work, ground work, ground work. Desensitizing her to any and everything. Have you done any 1 on 1 with her? I use ponchos, tarps or anything handy to get them used to noise and things flapping around. Clapping hands, dogs barking, ( 2 terriers ). I live a quarter of a mile from a drag stip so when horse are new here they get used to loud noises from a distance in a hurry. Nitro fueled cars are the the clincher for noise. She's probably being more sensitive because she can't see where or what's back there. As she builds trust, things will probably settle down.
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| Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 05:21 pm |
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4th Post |
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GypsySusan G.O.G Community Member 
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I've have no idea why she's spooky from behind. The only desensitizing that comes to mind is to use a rope/whip over her back, along her sides, around her legs and feet - over and over and over again until it's redundant. Also, you can use other objects to drag over her backend - plastic bags on the end of your whip, tarps, coiled ropes. Also, tie a rope to a log or barrel and have her drag it. Do these from the ground and then when she's good with these, try some of them from the saddle. Remember, start with the spooky object as close to her as you can (no feet moving and not poised to move away) and when she tolerates it reasonably well, move it closer and closer until she stays still and it's no longer spooky but "ho hum" for her - just that crazy Mom again with her "boooorrrring" objects. Is she jumpy when you groom her hindquarters? Just keep stuff there all the time - I've "groomed" all of mine with whatever I have in my hand - white plastic bags, buckets, feed bags crumpled up, pieces of evergreen I was pruning, a leaf rake, etc. Remember, don't approach her like you are sneaking up on her, i.e. don't tiptoe around her. Make big noises at her (STAY OUT OF THE KICK ZONE BOTH FROM BEHIND AND AT HER SIDES). Jump up and down, wave your arms, cough, laugh loud, slap your legs and arms, etc. Always put your hand on her backside when you walk around her. Walk close to her back legs and brush up against her butt and legs (do this after you are reasonably sure she isn't going to kick). And, keep doing these whenever you are around her so she never gets a chance to think "spook coming from behind"; at least, not when she's with you or you are on her. Just some ideas that I've used. Last edited on Wed Jul 9th, 2008 05:53 pm by GypsySusan ____________________ Susan www.gypsytrotters.com Phil 4:11-13, 19 Missouri Fox Trotters: To Ride One... Is to Own One. |
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| Posted: Wed Jul 9th, 2008 04:55 pm |
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5th Post |
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Phoebe G.O.G Community Member
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Gracie is doing really good under saddle. She is 4yrs old & I purchased her from a pasture where she had had no training and very little handling. She is VERY nervous/jumpy. She has gotten tons better with all the spook in place exercises but is just so sensitive from behind. She doesn't react too strongly, she just tucks her fanny under herself and lounges forward. When a friend was riding her she was very jittery & the friend casually touched her fanny and she exploded bucking bronco & threw my friend hard. I still have this image in my mind. My friend said it was her fault, she saw how jumpy & green she was & she shouldn't have even casually smacked her fanny. She listens to me and I can get her to calm right down, but it can be anything/everything behind her. Not the front of her, behind her. It can be a faint noise a few miles away behind her and she reacts! Does anyone have any suggestions on why she would be so overreactive to behind her and what other exercises/tips I can do to help her get over her spooks? I have this image of her being a bucking bronco in my head which I am sure doesn't help!!! Thanks!
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