Post by chriswisk on Oct 31, 2015 20:46:32 GMT 1
Hi
My horse has never liked our school, particularly the side by the trees. For a while it was just a particular corner, which I couldn't blame him for, because there were some nasty thorn bushes growing in it, but I cut these back months ago and he got better. Unfortunately over the summer we had a whole load of things go wrong! he had foot problems and breathing problems and I had a huge crisis of confidence! All are now on the mend (how I have dealt with the confidence crisis is something for another thread!) and I really want to get going with him again.
He now seems to have taken a dislike to that whole side of the school and it's really hard to get him to go within 6 feet of the track. Last week I had a lesson with my very sympathetic instructor and managed it, but barely, and the next day he was worse! He spooked at the corner, jumping about three feet sideways, the next attempt had a small bucking fit. The following day I decided to walk him round the school before getting on to let him take a calm look at everything. He didn't want to go to that side of the school, even in hand, and when ridden he was even more reluctant, eventually leading to him planting himself solidly every time I turned him to face that direction, irrespective of how far away from it we were. Maybe my taking the time to show him just made him more of the belief that there was really something worth being frightened of?
I have thought of simply turning him out in the school on his own for a couple of hours, see if he investigates and takes a good look for himself in his own time. Has anybody done this with spooky things? Did it help?
Any other suggestions gratefully appreciated. I am only just getting my confidence back, and although he hasn't knocked it yet, I don't think we are going to progress until we can get over this problem. I want to improve my riding and our partnership, not have a battle of wills every time we go in the school.
Many thanks
Chrissy
My horse has never liked our school, particularly the side by the trees. For a while it was just a particular corner, which I couldn't blame him for, because there were some nasty thorn bushes growing in it, but I cut these back months ago and he got better. Unfortunately over the summer we had a whole load of things go wrong! he had foot problems and breathing problems and I had a huge crisis of confidence! All are now on the mend (how I have dealt with the confidence crisis is something for another thread!) and I really want to get going with him again.
He now seems to have taken a dislike to that whole side of the school and it's really hard to get him to go within 6 feet of the track. Last week I had a lesson with my very sympathetic instructor and managed it, but barely, and the next day he was worse! He spooked at the corner, jumping about three feet sideways, the next attempt had a small bucking fit. The following day I decided to walk him round the school before getting on to let him take a calm look at everything. He didn't want to go to that side of the school, even in hand, and when ridden he was even more reluctant, eventually leading to him planting himself solidly every time I turned him to face that direction, irrespective of how far away from it we were. Maybe my taking the time to show him just made him more of the belief that there was really something worth being frightened of?
I have thought of simply turning him out in the school on his own for a couple of hours, see if he investigates and takes a good look for himself in his own time. Has anybody done this with spooky things? Did it help?
Any other suggestions gratefully appreciated. I am only just getting my confidence back, and although he hasn't knocked it yet, I don't think we are going to progress until we can get over this problem. I want to improve my riding and our partnership, not have a battle of wills every time we go in the school.
Many thanks
Chrissy