Working Through the Spook on the trail (continued) ?

Question

I have gotten a lot of great advice to use for this weekend when I approach that scary sign (Previously asked question).

this will be my plan of action for this very narrow trail if my friend and her seasoned horse cannot come with me:

1. Walk straight down the path with no hesitation. (humming, talking to my son on his horse, whistling)

2. Keep legs soft, don't tighten butt either :)

3. Deep breath

4. If I feel her tense then I stop her til she's ready to go again.

5. If she is still tense just spin her around calmly and walk away, spin back and approach sign again head on. Repeat as needed

6. Use my one rein stop if need be (She's got great one rein stops)

7. If she really will not go past that one spot without threatening to bolt then I will..if need be, dismount and lead her. I really don't want to dismount as she is pretty smart and will put two and two together and start 'pretending' to be scared just to get me off.

Answer 1

Hi, just got on....I think Its at least a plan....LOL I am of the thinking that stopping and looking at it serves no purpose. I just like to get them past it with as little DRAMA as possible. Your goal is not to convince her that its not going to eat her...its to get past it without the fear response of flight........... Good luck

Answer 2

I don't really like your #5 - seems like you'd be training her to spin away from something scary, which is exactly what you're trying to avoid!  Otherwise, looks like a good plan but be ready to make changes on the fly.

As far as your new question goes, I think I would just walk her past the sign as if it was nothing to take note of at all.  If she reaches out to check it out anyway, as she's walking, go ahead and let her, but don't make a big show of showing it to her.  Ultimately, I don't think it really matters too much which one you pick, but that's what I'd do.

Answer 3

So, I guess stealing the sign IS out of the question. Well, I should get best answer anyway, since if you stole it, the problem would go away.

Okay, I guess you don't think I'm funny.  My only thought on your plan concerns the dismount....if you're thinking of doing it at all, then why not just plan from the start to dismount before you get to that spot so she doesn't associate the dismount with the sign?  Make that the first step in training her to go past it, and try it mounted on the way back home where success is more likely.

Answer 4

Personally, I don't like letting horses stop and stare at something.  They have too much time to think about how scary it could be, and the more they think about it, the bigger they react.  I like to give them something else to think about.  You said you usually keep their feet moving but there isn't enough width on this trail to do that side-to-side.  So I'd do it in small circles if I could.  Not just turn her around and let her face it again, but actually work her in a small circle, getting her closer every time.  If you can't do circles, I'd work away from the sign, then toward it, trying to get her closer every time but keeping her feet (and brain) moving.  I've found that keeping moving is much better than stopping and staring.

Good luck, let us know how it goes!

Answer 5

I saw your other question...but you already had LOTS of good advice!

I hesitate to let a horse 'stop and smell' everything that might be a booger monster.  They tend to think they have to do it with EVERYTHING and can't go forward until they get to do it...experience with chicken hearted gelding of ours...

I have also just stopped and held the horse in forward position...not allowing 'escape' movements.  Just looking at the 'demon'.  But I wouldn't do that for long, before we had to start moving.

I would try different things...yes, I would let them smell it ONCE...and that's it.  If I got them rode up to it.

I might get off BEFORE the sign appeared and spend the time walking them forward until the sign appeared and continue to lead them up to it.  

I might just decide to get off and have a snack or a drink near the sign without getting off...or not get off and just hang out near the sign...

Concentrate on not getting tense myself...because I knew there was a problem coming.  Your anticipation of problem sometimes transfers right through the saddle and reins...the humming or singing and talking thing...

I would most likely take the horse out more and more by itself so it became desensitized to 'strange' things.

I also use the word 'easy' when something is making them nervous.  It's the same command I use in ground manners.  It means slow down and listen to me.  I've always used it to get them to pay attention to me.  It transferred well to things that were making them nervous.

I personally don't like to get off if the horse is being silly.  But then again...if I feel I can't keep my seat or control of the horse...dern tootin' I'm gonna get on the ground where I have some control.  But if I had to do that...I will go up to 'monster' and remount next to it...then stand there for a bit.  Goes along with moster being different from when you are on the ground, or in the saddle.