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RE: [RC] help with trail shy gelding - Smith, DaveSixteen months ago when I adopted my then-3yr-old mustang gelding, he was extremely spooky. Since I didn't ride him for the first five months (we completed the Level 1 Parelli ground-handling program first) his spooking was aimed mainly at man-made things (gates, tractors, trucks, mower, side of house, etc.) Once we got out on the trail, I learned he spooked at odd-shaped logs, boulders, brushy trails that look like tunnels, etc.) I handled the man-made things by resisting the impulse to avoid areas that might prove scary and walking him thru such areas -- using the approach and retreat, circling technique. I made a point of walking him (on the ground) by stepping boldly toward the object until he stopped, and then walk him around the object until he was willing to take another step toward it. So on until he passed it. Then turn around and do it from the other direction. Once we could walk by it without the spook, I got on and rode him past it -- often having to repeat the approach and retreat, circling game. It's a pain, but it eventually worked. He rarely spooks now at such things. Now I look for scary places and make a bee-line toward them. I'm amazed at how he is improving and learning to trust me. On the trail, I found that as long as he was in the middle of the group (my wife and I ride with another couple) he was quite confident. But, he wanted to lead, so he would step forward until he was the leader and that's when he would soon lose his confidence and begin eyeing logs, etc. So my solution was to ride in the middle for a while until he was in the rhythm of the ride and then step forward and lead for short periods, retreating back to the middle and his comfort zone just before he begins to spook. Each ride we'd lead just a bit longer. Now, we often step right out and off he goes. Also, I often stop and let the others get about a quarter mile ahead and then follow. At first, he wanted to trot or canter to catch up. But I insisted he walk. The urge to be with the others drove him past the spooky places. It also insured impulsion that you can then use to work on controlling his gait. Now, sometimes we walk to catch up, sometimes we run. Currently we're alternating a run, walk, run -- developing some finesse in my controls and his responses. The best thing is for you to cultivate patience. You have one of those horses that require special treatment. Don't look at it as a curse. It's a blessing. He will force you to be a better horseman (horsewoman) that you would be if you had the perfect mount. And when he begins to respond you'll feel so good about him and about yourself. Good luck. -----Original Message----- From: ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:ridecamp-owner@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Diane Trefethen Sent: Wednesday, September 06, 2006 1:30 PM To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx Subject: Re: [RC] help with trail shy gelding Hi Amy, You said you think the refusing and spooking might be a trick. That is where to start. Is he trying to intimidate you into avoiding work or is he really suffering from a lack of self-confidence? A lot of riders are not very good horsemen or horsewomen and run roughshod all over a pony's fears so your gelding's having been used "to do endurance" doesn't mean that he didn't go down the trail scared and uncertain. If he is truly worried about all the horse-eating boulders and logs, your easy going attitude, laughter and taking the time to stop, get off and introduce him to the monsters (I find a smart smack on the offending rock/log/gate/whatever is very effective in convincing a horse that *I* am Alpha and the rock/log/etc ISN'T) will help settle him down considerably. Once he knows YOU can handle anything, then HE won't need to worry so much :) And don't forget the laughter!!! Still, Barbara is right about some horses never getting over that push the panic button first response and if he is one of those... ah well. On the other hand, if his tactics are just avoidance, the focus changes from "poor baby; how can I help" to "not on MY watch, sucker". Until he gives up his avoidance tactics he never gets his way, EVER. It doesn't matter as much what you DO do with him as it matters that he DOESN'T do what he wants. In this regard, if you know he is going to be difficult, leave yourself 2-4 hours for his next "lesson". If he "gets it" right away, you can have a lovely trail ride. If not, you won't have to cut the lesson short because you ran out of time. Say YOUR objective is to go out on the trail and HIS objective is to stay home so he refuses to go through the gate to the trails, immediately change YOUR objective to a very boring going-through-a-gate lesson. Get off and lead him back and forth through that gate at least 25 times. Unlatch it, open it, close it, re-latch it and back again, over and over till the horse is ready to scream "ALL READY!! I GET IT!!" Then do the whole thing again from the saddle, side yield, unlatch and open gate, through, side yield, close gate and latch, then back again... and again... and again. Remember to praise every small thing he does well (with your voice not a treat) and growl at him every time he messes up. End the lesson on the TRAIL side of the gate and start to ride away from home. If he acts up, turn around and go back to have a SECOND incredibly boring gate lesson. While you might not get to go out on the trail THIS time, you have followed the #1 rule, HE doesn't get his way, EVER. If he's been pretty good, do not reward him with goodies when you get back to the barn. That, from his point of view, is a reward for getting back to the barn, NOT for the good work out on the trail. In fact, it is a good rule of thumb to never give a horse goodies upon RETURNING to the barn. If you do, that is the association he will make and be even more reluctant to leave, never mind wanting to get back as quickly as possible. Good luck and have fun! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=- Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net. Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp Ride Long and Ride Safe!! =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
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