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Re: [RC] rider fear - Barbara McCraryI am riding a spooky Arab who is also inclined to jump, usually in place, at a burned log, a patch of sunlight on the forest floor.....that kind of thing. I just rode him at a walk, up hill, down hill, everywhere for the first 18 months after I bought him. When I found out that he didn't bolt, run away, spin 180, or any of that stuff, I started to relax. My instinctive reactions are fast enough to keep me on the horse, and soon I felt my life was not being threatened. In nearly two years, he's not managed to unload me, although he came close once, doing what I call the crouch and spin thing. But he only turns 90 degrees, not 180, so that's easier to manage. At that particular time, I threw my arms around his neck and hung on. He doesn't run away, just finishes his spook and stops. Often, his spooks are just a jump in place or a complete stop. I do a lot of riding hanging on to his mane :-)) I'm planning to rig up a panic strap attached to his breastplate, so I don't end up pulling his mane out. I really think he's becoming less spooky with time and experience. He came from open country where there were no trees or forests, and limbs and light and shadow bothered him a lot at first. Maybe if you spend lots of time just walking, eventually he will become less spooky and you will become more confident. Your confidence is very important in this equation. I'm not sure lessons will do much good, unless you are not an experienced rider. You just have to deal with his idiosyncrasies and develop your balance, reaction time, and self-confidence. Barbara ----- Original Message ----- From: <Agilbxr@xxxxxxx> To: <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> Sent: Saturday, May 08, 2004 9:13 AM Subject: [RC] rider fear Now, Alpine is spooky. He spooks at everything. and nothing. While we were corto-ing out there today, he spooked at lizards and logs and dark spots and leaves and wind and once at his own stomach gurgling. The tenser I got, the more he spooked. Talking to myself and telling myself I'm stupid didn't seem to help me any. Where I'm at, if I want to ride, I am going to ride by myself most of the time. If we do have company, Al still spooks, but not nearly as bad. He's not a violent spooker, he just kind of jumps, and I've never come off it, but in the last month or so I've gotten more and more apprehensive about riding him and going any faster than a medium trot. (corto). So, any suggestions out there? Will I eventually just get over it if I continue to ride. I thought about taking some lessons, but he doesn't do this stuff in the ring and I really don't have the funds for lessons right now. Or do I need to trade in my spooky partner to someone who doesn't ride alone as much and find myself a bit calmer creature. I love Alpine to death, and it kills me to even think this way, but neither one of us had fun this morning, and what's the point of doing this if I'm not having fun. On that note, anyone want to trade me one spooky, but fit and sound Paso Fino (kinda dirt colored at the moment, but usually a nice palomino color) for something suitable for endurance riding that doesn't feel the need to jump every 12 strides? Juli ============================================================ Common sense should also be a part of the decision making process. If you see someone who doesn't have any, hand them your tool box. ~ Lisa Salas - The Odd Farm ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================ ============================================================ There are few places where the horse does not fit in; at least in my world, as delusional as that one may be. ~ Howard Bramhall ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/ ============================================================
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