Re: Is spook proofing possible?

[jmutchler@juno.com (Jan A Mutchler)]

Hi Nina:  My Willow spooks just like your horse, however, Willow has a
vision problem.  I have had Willow almost two years.  I recently
discovered she has a pigmented fluid filled cyst in her right eye.  She
has about 40% diminished vision, mostly to the side and back.  She has
always been very spooky.  Like your horse, the little things get her -
shady spot under a small tree, old dead logs along side the road, twigs
that look like snakes.  When I bought her, I started almost right away
with round pen work.  Over the last year and a half, she has improved
tremendously.  One thing I did for myself was to get a secure feeling
saddle for the times when she catches me off guard.  It is the
Sportsaddle, training and schooling model with high pommel and cantle. 
Fortunately, she has improved to the point where she spooks in place, and
like your horse, goes on immediately.  With this saddle, I can often feel
her tense.  It gives me just enough time to get my hand on the side of
her neck and I talk to her.  She trusts me enough that by using that
method we have eliminated or stopped a lot of spooks.  I will always
continue the desensitizing work and I certainly watch our right side more
closely than I used to.  The person who helped me in the beginning with
Willow's problems, was Frank Bell from Larkspur, CO.  I also read John
Lyons magazine, which has given me lots of ideas.  I feel there are lots
of things you can do to help your horse and would encourage you to
continue figuring out your problems.  I know I have certainly reaped a
lot of rewards by helping Willow.  She's my buddy and I'm looking forward
to going down lots of trails with her.
Jan Mutchler
Littleton, CO
jmutchler@juno.com


On Sat, 15 Aug 1998 17:18:43 -0700 (PDT) guest@endurance.net writes:
>
>
>PLEASE DO NOT REPLY TO GUEST@ENDURANCE.NET!!!
>You must post replies to the actual sender listed below.
>
>From: Nina Vasiliev 
>Email: rmack@inreach.com
>
>Hi there,
>
>I'm the one who fell off during a So, I'm out for the rest of the year 
>at least.  
>
>I'm looking for ground exercises to keep my horseand me from going 
>crazy. 
>A friend suggested to teach Ramere to spook in place rather than 
>jumping to the side. 
>(Too good to be true?)
>Now Ramere is usually great.  
>No reaction to flapping tarps, trucks (and I mean TRUCKS) flying by, 
>or dogs barking while charging us.
>Nope, he  spooks at ...rocks?...logs?  
>We were walking a flat walk, nothing to get excited about.  
>The horse in front of us was calm. 
>We had trotted for about 3 miles prior so he wasn't "hot to go."  
>The trail was flat and boring.  He jumped to the side without a 
>warning.  
>Then he was fine.  His spooks are always over quickly. 
>He will even spook while we're going at speed.  
>Then as suddenly, he'll continue to trot along.  
>
>My friend said I should teach him to spook in place but I'm not sure 
>how, or if that's possible.
>
>Any thoughts, suggestions?
>
>Nina Vasiliev 
>
>

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