Re: [RC] My experience--Horses Spooking & Spinning - Barbara McCrary
Your technique makes a lot of sense, but in
my case, it happened so fast that I didn't have time to think "do this, do
that." Banner has lightning quick reactions! I kept thinking,
afterward, that had I put my right leg on him (he jumped to the right), I
might have been able to correct him, as he is very responsive to leg
cues. But I just couldn't react as fast as he does.
Subject: Fw: [RC] My experience--Horses
Spooking & Spinning
Hi Kim,
This is kind of hard to explain. I am not a
trainer but have many miles........ That said, we all become one at some
time or another. My quarter horse not only did that spin but reared
first and did the spin on her rear legs...... Great rodeo horse if you wanted
to keyhole race...never touch a line.....however, very dangerous.
Unfortunately, the only way I could fix this was
to stay on (grin!)... but first and most important, strengthen
her trust in my decisions which seems to come with miles as well as close work
on the ground.. This alone may reduce the number of times the animal is
spooking....I swear that if they don't feel confident in you and your
decisions, they will baby sit you and get you the heck out of a place
they just KNOW will eat you too (smile). Your fear (albeit of what the
horse might do and I don't blame you if you keep getting dumped) may translate
to fear of those spookies to the horse, and they will be much better if you
are a confident rider...............and my attitude had to always be "we are
GOING this way, spook or not" and had to overcome the fear myself of her
possibly doing it at any time and transfer that to her...... and I would
with mind set, do training rides looking for spookies. Next, was to KNOW
the horse.....I found that she would indeed give a sign however subtle or
quick, that this was going to take place..... Subtle gait hesitation, ear
movement, head movement........ The fortunate thing for me was that Cody
always wanted to do right, was very well trained (maybe too much), and really
got upset if you punished her..
....sooo
I started riding with blunt english spurs, long
legs and rommel reins..... Although we rode with a long shank
western snaffle, on these training rides looking for spookies and thereafter,
whenever I saw a "sign", I would ride with a tighter rein and more leg on.....
to remind her I was there...... When she did pull these rear and spin tricks,
I would bring the inside (if left turn, left rein, etc.)pulled to my knee,
continue her in circle a couple times, inside spur
at the girth, outside spur behind properly placed in the direction of the spin
and turn, rommels flapping, and telling her no,no,no...... I would then
realign her to go forward the original way I was going.....because we WERE
going....
Eventually, with the entire combination of
strengthening the relationship and trust and the little routine I had if she
DID rear and spin, she started to look to me....again the ever so slight
hesitation, ear twitch, etc. and I would keep leg on, and just SHOW her the
end of my rommel or say "heh"......and she would sigh and move on.........I no
longer needed the spurs...we did very few circles at that
point............
So, you can work it out. This is just my
experience......the only horse like this in 25 years.....but who knows...maybe
I ride mentally positive and assertive since then and transfer that strength
automatically as a result of that......
Don't know if this will help you...... but so glad it
worked for me.. BTW, Cody is retired, never was too good at
distance riding...too bulky and .... but loved trying.....She is 32 now
and I have had her for 24 years......Taught me a lot she
did....!!!
