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Re: [RC] rider fear - Steven Proe


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Steven Proe" <trails@xxxxxxxxx>
To: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 7:34 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] rider fear



Hi Folks: I have used granular bee pollen to relax one of my horses that
used to be flighty. Copious amounts depending on the amount of riding. A

cup

a day was not unusual, like most food stuffs, start off getting them used

to

the new tastes. I purchased it from Springfield in big buckets and had to
refrigerate it till feed. Great for P&R's also.

HTH
Steven Proe

----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Barbara McCrary" <bigcreekranch@xxxxxxxxxx>
To: <Agilbxr@xxxxxxx>; <ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Sent: Sunday, May 09, 2004 4:39 PM
Subject: Re: [RC] rider fear



I 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/

============================================================






============================================================
The two best drugs to have in your kit are Tincture of Time and a Dose of
Common Sense. These two will carry you through 99.999% of the problems
associated with horses and endurance competition.
~ Robert Morris

ridecamp.net information: http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/

============================================================