Herd Bound/Spooky Horse?

Question

There is a horse, I'm looking into buying and am working with at the moment...he is a sweet heart..very gentle and cute. But he is young and green and very spooky especially around deer, he also is very herd bound to the mare he is with at the moment...what are some possible ways for him to get over this?

Answer 1

approach and retreat

a horse is a prey animal, and is acutely aware of the fact that there is safety in numbers - and by the way, in a herd-bound horse, people dont count in those numbers.

when you move the herd bound horse away from his herd, he isn't afraid of being left behind, he's afraid of being EATEN.  That is why some of them get so emotional.  You just can't tell them they aren't going to DIE!

So, you have to progress slowly, so that you keep the horse's confidence level up and develop his respect without getting yourself hurt in the process.

I would first work from the ground.  its safer there.

Take the horse out of the pen, and work him next to it.  Lunge him, back him, get some sidepassing going.  Walk him over a log, sack him out, brush him, and take him 15-20 feet away and do the same.  If he is still relaxed, take him 15-20 more feet and repeat.  repeat again.  When you find the point that the horse is no longer responding to you, he acts excited, his head comes up, and/or he starts getting vocal, you have found the threshhold.

This is the point of no return for him.  Just ask him.  One more step, and he might DIE!

so, bring him back toward his buddy and work him.  bring him back to just AT OR BEFORE the threshhold and let him chill out.  let him graze.  brush him.  let him know its OK.  repeat.  a lot.

When you hang out just AT OR BEFORE the threshhold, he doesn't have the opportunity to get too scared.  he can still learn.  It's OK if he is a little nervous, its even good.  you just have to stay there until he is calm and relaxed - as long as it takes.  make this part of the new "safe" zone.

the threshhold will gradually move farther and farther away.  his confidence will come up.  he will start to trust you, and gradually, you will be a part of the safety in numbers group.

This can take a lot of time depending on the severity of the horse.  

There are a few keys to success.

Allways work the horse when you bring him back into the "safe" zone.  It teaches him that he has to work if he goes home  - and most horses are fairly lazy.

Always let the horse relax a little when you are at the threshhold.  It teaches him its not a bad place to be.  Grazing gives him incentive.

If the horse is out-of-control at this point, you have to interrupt the behavior.  Don't let him crowd you.  MOVE HIS FEET (preferably AWAY from you)  you  have to match his energy and take it up a notch before you will get his attention.  Do what it takes to stay safe.  If it means letting go, then for God's sake, let him go - don't get yourself run over.  YOUR SAFETY HAS TO BE #1!!!!

A herdbound horse is a frightened horse.  Frightened horses don't think clearly.  They learn quickly.  if a scared horse rips free of your grasp and runs to freedom, he learns a valuable lesson.  To him, it is a SURVIVAL lesson, so it is quite strong.  He learns that - he can rip away from you and run back to safety.  get ready to start over!  Frightened and herdbound horses are not for beginners.  They can get you hurt or maimed or killed.  

If at any point, his behavior is more than you can handle, turn him over to a trainer.

Think of your safety above all.

Check out some of Pat Parelli's stuff.  Level 1 and 2 are excellent and will teach you the horsemanship skills you need to be able to handle and work past this kind of situation.  The Liberty and HorseBahavior course, while expensive, is also excellent.  So is the DVD on Horsenality.  (its the only DVD in the Success Series that is worth the money)

go to www.parelli.com and check out the site.  there is a free DVD that they will send you that explains the programs and the kinds of results you can expect if you follow it!

Good luck, and stay safe!

Answer 2

is the mare he is with his mother? How old is he? if he is that spooky with deer beware of donkeys too. We had a mare the same way and if she caught sight of a donkey she would literally jump out from under you without warning.

The best thing to do is start de-sensitizing him to things because he (as you will find out) will probably have a laundry list of boo-things that make him spook so it is best to head them off before they catch you blind sided.

Answer 3

good luck! its no fun riding a spooky horse!

Answer 4

You should gradually try putting him with other farm animals, like maybe goats or anything that is around deer sized, if you don't have any, try asking your neighbors to bring their dog over. You could put him in a pen and just have the dog sit outside of it. For the green part, just keep training him and he'll eventually become a great horse if you train him properly.

Answer 5

First he needs to trust you and pay attention to you. You are the boss. I am glad he has a good dispositon.  A plus in his favor.  I would do ground work and have him not look off during it. When lounging him make sure his head is turing slightly inwards towards you at all times.  Desensitize him by introducing him to "scary" objects.  Do this in a non-aggressive way. Could be a whip and string - slapping it on the ground to waving a plastic bag on the end of the whip.  When he moves away from the object of your choice, follow him with it until his legs stop moving. The instant he stops, withdraw the object. Do this over and over until he stands still and seems bored with it.  Try many things, put things in the round pen for him to step over.  Always rub him especially when he does the right thing.  When he seems to trust you as his "leader" have someone help you with some other desensatizing work. A horse seems to not be as afraid of an object when he is following it, as if he is making it "go away". Have someone wave a sack, towel, tarp, etc. while riding on the back of a John Deere gator  for instance.  You will be surprised how he will follow it while you are walking along by him on a lead rope.  You can also get someone to hide in the woods when you go by with him. (you may not want to be on him while doing this) Have them rustle branches and maybe move out of the woods towards you and your horse. Your horse will jump away from it. So, make sure you are on the side your helper will be coming from. When the horse moves, it will not be towards you. Then show him your are not afraid and  are in control of the situation. If you do all these different things he will really trust you and pretty much act like he doesn't care. I have heard that it takes miles under the saddle to "despook" a horse, but lets make sure you don't get hurt during those miles. ..... Now for his buddy... Also, get a friend to ride the mare and work your horse in circles around her. Then try to ride away from her. If he protests then ride him to her and work him some more. He will get the message that every time he is around the mare it means work.  Good Luck.