RE: [RC] Erratic and abnormal spooking/bolting - Terry Banister
Ulcers can also make a horse spooky. I know someone whos horse was diagnosed with ulcers, and when that was fixed, surprisingly, the horse was no longer spooky and unpredictable. Think discomfort of any kind (health, cervical, poor saddle fit, psychological insecurity, etc.) and it would make sense that the horse does "not want to be there", working. Maybe they feel that if it is too unpleasant for the rider, they will return to the barn/comfort zone. My horse does not usually like going out alone, and can become very balky and spooky. Then if I annoy him by forcing him to work hard, his spooks become exaggerated, and he knows just how much energy it takes to "get me off his back."
If the horse is happy and/or focused (as on technical trail), they don't seem to spook without a very clear reason.
Terry "May the Horse be with You"
> Date: Wed, 2 Sep 2009 01:04:46 -0400 > To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx > From: marv@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx > Subject: [RC] Erratic and abnormal spooking/bolting > > At 12:27 AM 9/2/2009, Barbara McCrary wrote: > >What advice does anyone have regarding a 13 year old Arab gelding > >that spooks six feet sideways, suddenly, violently, so fast that I'm > >off before I realize it is happening? He's rock solid on > >treacherous trails, never spooks on endurance rides, but trot him on > >an open road or field, and I'm fair game to him. I'm fairly sure he > >is playing games with me, because he's had opportunity to blow up > >under some really unusual situations, but he doesn't. Only on open > >roads at a trot. Things like ferns and rocks and logs on the side > >of the road will precipitate this "pull the tablecloth out from > >under the silverware" technique. Then he stands and looks at me as > >if he wonders what I'm doing on the ground. Granted, this happened > >about 3 years ago, during the interim my young granddaughter rode > >him and completed on him. He finished Swanton Pacific 75 like a > >breeze. G'daughter is now a senior in HS and too busy with 4-H and > >a boyfriend to ride at all. I now have said horse back and I plan > >to ride him again...with a more secure saddle than a nice little > >English model. But life would be more fun if I could know why he is > >doing this and how to deal with it. > > Horses that are abnormally or erratically spooky very often have > cervical issues. The sides of your horse's neck must mirror each > other. Any bump or dip on one side must be on the other side. The > groove between the mandible and the axis/atlas must be the same > width on each side. The axis/atlas must be perpendicular to the > face and parallel with the eyes. > > If not, your horse has cervical issues. > > Chiropractic adjustment usually corrects the problem. If you > can't find an chiro in your area try http://AVCADoctors.com > > If the horse has cervical issues it is like having a sore stiff neck. > In order to look to either side the horse has to pivot its body > instead of just turning its head. A human has a centered pivot > point when they turn their body. Humans sit out on the lever of > a horse's turning point a little bit like an apple on a stick. If you > aren't glued on you fly off. > > When he's on the trail "spookers" are usually less visible. > > Marv "My stick horse spooked and sprained my nose." Walker > Horse Info & Training DVDs ~ http://MarvWalker.com > > > > =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-= > > 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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