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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| I posted about 2 months ago with having some issues with spookiness. It's really getting annoying. He is not in pain anywhere. I just had the chiro come out again and found nothing. Teeth have been a few months ago from an equine dentist, I had a full lameness exam with x rays done when I bought him. He's working good under saddle, I take two 30min lessons a week and also ride on my own. He's improved greatly in the 5 months I've owned him, but this spookiness is driving me nuts.
I rode in a clinic yesterday for the day at the barn I ride at, and it's three spots in the indoor that seem to be an issue every single day. The back corner where the 4 wheeler is always parked, a corner where the mounting block is, and a corner where the woodstove and chairs are. For the past two months every time I get on, I mount on the 4 wheeler and it doesn't phase him at all. I can stand on the 4 wheeler holding him on the lead, I can sit there for 30 min and he doesn't do anything, he will walk right up to it with me on the ground. And the corner where the mounting block is, there is also two of those parelli balls by it, I mount from there some days and he's find, stands there, and the balls I play around with him on the ground and I can roll the balls under him, I can kick them across the arena and he's good, put them on his back. Under saddle one day, we played soccer with them, and he had a good time. At the clinic yesterday, warming up in the indoor, I didn't even bother making a fool out of myself and trying to get him down there. It's beyond annoying me, and I would like to fix it.
He doesn't rear or buck. I stay relaxed and deep in my seat, and I'm light with my hands. I don't anticipate him spooking, I don't even think about it, but 12 ft from the 4 wheeler he lowers his head, snorts softly, and I pull up with my inside hand and use inside leg to get him over and he cocks his head and tries to get away from it. He doesn't take off or anything, it's just every single time we go around the arena it's an issue. Sometimes I will make a small circle near the corner he's spooking at but it really doesn't make a difference. Some days are better than others, but I thought we would be over this the amount I've been riding him. Under saddle I'm always moving his feet and making him do something. I have also had his eyes checked.
I know he's NOT bored, because I always ride with a purpose. Some days are more relaxed, but I always put out ground poles, upright poles, play with the ball, we always are doing some sort of exercise. I don't just plop around the arena doing nothing.
Advice?
Edited by emricmacy 2018-11-25 2:43 PM
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I just read the headlines
Posts: 4483
| I am sure you have already tried this, but have you tried just ignoring him and riding by as if he is not doing anything? | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| GLP - 2018-11-25 3:19 PM
I am sure you have already tried this, but have you tried just ignoring him and riding by as if he is not doing anything?
Yes, it’s like he’s anticipating what is in the corner and will side step away from it until we get past it. | |
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 Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| I own a very spooky horse too. Its very annoying, I've tried pretty much everything to get him out of it. I've just come to the conclusion that's just his personality... it's not all the time and when we are in the pen either doing barrels or roping, hes all business. So I just leave him alone and stay aware of my surroundings. I pretty much know when hes going to do it. It's annoying, yes, but it's just him! I know the man the raised him and trained him and he told me the horse has pretty much been like that his whole life.. hed been sacked out more than any horse on his place and he still sees the boogey man on occasion | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| want2chase3 - 2018-11-25 3:42 PM
I own a very spooky horse too. Its very annoying, I've tried pretty much everything to get him out of it. I've just come to the conclusion that's just his personality... it's not all the time and when we are in the pen either doing barrels or roping, hes all business. So I just leave him alone and stay aware of my surroundings. I pretty much know when hes going to do it. It's annoying, yes, but it's just him! I know the man the raised him and trained him and he told me the horse has pretty much been like that his whole life.. hed been sacked out more than any horse on his place and he still sees the boogey man on occasion
See the thing is the girl I bought him from said he was not spooky at all. And when I went to try him we went on an hour long trail ride and semi trucks passed us, a log truck passed us. I did reach out to her and she didn’t have any suggestions because he was never really spooky before. I just wish I could make it once around the arena with out an issue. | |
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Warrior Mom
Posts: 4400
| emricmacy - 2018-11-25 4:47 PM
want2chase3 - 2018-11-25 3:42 PM
I own a very spooky horse too. Its very annoying, I've tried pretty much everything to get him out of it. I've just come to the conclusion that's just his personality... it's not all the time and when we are in the pen either doing barrels or roping, hes all business. So I just leave him alone and stay aware of my surroundings. I pretty much know when hes going to do it. It's annoying, yes, but it's just him! I know the man the raised him and trained him and he told me the horse has pretty much been like that his whole life.. hed been sacked out more than any horse on his place and he still sees the boogey man on occasion
See the thing is the girl I bought him from said he was not spooky at all. And when I went to try him we went on an hour long trail ride and semi trucks passed us, a log truck passed us. I did reach out to her and she didn’t have any suggestions because he was never really spooky before. I just wish I could make it once around the arena with out an issue.
Did you change his diet? Just a shot in the dark... | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| want2chase3 - 2018-11-25 4:57 PM
emricmacy - 2018-11-25 4:47 PM
want2chase3 - 2018-11-25 3:42 PM
I own a very spooky horse too. Its very annoying, I've tried pretty much everything to get him out of it. I've just come to the conclusion that's just his personality... it's not all the time and when we are in the pen either doing barrels or roping, hes all business. So I just leave him alone and stay aware of my surroundings. I pretty much know when hes going to do it. It's annoying, yes, but it's just him! I know the man the raised him and trained him and he told me the horse has pretty much been like that his whole life.. hed been sacked out more than any horse on his place and he still sees the boogey man on occasion
See the thing is the girl I bought him from said he was not spooky at all. And when I went to try him we went on an hour long trail ride and semi trucks passed us, a log truck passed us. I did reach out to her and she didn’t have any suggestions because he was never really spooky before. I just wish I could make it once around the arena with out an issue.
Did you change his diet? Just a shot in the dark...
Yes, when I bought him he got two flakes of hay a day, now he gets 24/7 hay. He was on Buckeye textured grain, a lot of it, now he’s on a handful twice a day of nutrena safe choice. | |
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 Elite Veteran
Posts: 695
Location: Missouri | We have a gelding that is spooky - we put him on Animal Element mare auclous supplement and that has helped a bunch. Also they say if one becomes spooky could be a sign of EPM
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 Expert
Posts: 1302
Location: California | Does he do it when working/competing or only when casually riding around/warming up? | |
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Defense Attorney for The Horse
Location: Claremore, OK | Agree, EPM is a possibility.
I always try to ignore a horse spooking. I’ll go to the center or a spot in the arena where the horse is comfortable and wear him down some, then I’ll range further out, keep his feet moving until I feel him start to relax. If it’s a horse that wants to fixate on certain objects I’ll roll backs on the fence or as close to the fence as he wants to get. I’ll continue to do the roll backs until we’re up close to the fence, then I’ll let them rest in that spot. These are not designed to be pretty roll backs, they’re designed to get them horse’s feet moving and take some of the freshness out of him. I’ll warn you in advance, you have to have more stamina than the horse ;-)
Edited by Liana D 2018-11-26 7:26 AM
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 Good Grief!
Posts: 6343
Location: Cap'n Joan Rotgut.....alberta | Have you had his eyes checked or checked for ulcers..those would be my 1st things to look in to....m | |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | Some are just that way. Mine will spook at stuff in the pasture he lives in, but only when I ride. If I am loping him, he is less bothered by it. Same thing in new arenas. If I take him in to let him see he will spook at everythign from the tractor to the dang barrel. If I just take him in for a run, he is a rockstar. | |
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Queen Bean of Ponyland
Posts: 24953
Location: WYOMING | Advice, yes.
I have a mare that is similar. I rode her in a fly mask. It blocked her vision just enough to make her not see all the sparklie wiggles in life that scared her. I also ran her in it a new pens. It made a huge difference in her ability to concentrate. I almost never use it now, but wouldn't hesitate if she were having a less than confident day.
Edited by geronabean 2018-11-26 11:38 AM
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Veteran
Posts: 277
| geronabean - 2018-11-26 11:18 AM
Advice, yes.
I have a mare that is similar. I rode her in a fly mask. It blocked her vision just enough to make her not see all the sparklie wiggles in life that scared her. I also ran her in it a new pens. It made a huge difference in her ability to concentrate. I almost never us it now, but wouldn't hesitate if she were having a less than confident day.
ooooo I've got one I am going to try this on! | |
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Location: on a hill | Pull blood and do a complete blood panel. I did it with mine and he had a vit e and selinum deficiency. | |
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  Damn Yankee
Posts: 12390
Location: Somewhere between raising hell and Amazing Grace | Some horses are just dorks. My 13 year old open horse is like this. He will spook at the same **** inanimate objects that haven't moved in 13 years. But he doesn't spook at anything with a heartbeat. Doesn't spook at bob cats, cows, tried to crawl in the pen with the bucking bulls more then once, turkey flying up under his belly don't phase him. But if it's a log, a rock, a pile or brush, forget it. I gave up a long time ago. He's an amazing horse and has won more then his fair share of money and races so I just deal with it. | |
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| Magnesium can sure help with this issue. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| Just a little update if anyone is following..
Decided to take a step back and had a long talk with my trainer. I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself, and my horse is doing really well for only being with me for 5 months. I went back to a snaffle and long split reins, and trying to relax more without tons of pressure. For the past coupe days I've only been working on the spookiness. If he looks at something and steps away I don't make a big deal about it, I circle a few times and when he starts to relax I move away, then the next thing he shys at I do the same thing. I don't want to jinx us, but it is getting better. I don't think he's being a brat, I think these things just make him nervous. I'm going to take a step back this month, and just take the pressure off us, and hang out in a snaffle and split reins, and just work on building both of our confidence. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 516
| emricmacy - 2018-12-02 10:04 AM
Just a little update if anyone is following..
Decided to take a step back and had a long talk with my trainer. I think I'm putting too much pressure on myself, and my horse is doing really well for only being with me for 5 months. I went back to a snaffle and long split reins, and trying to relax more without tons of pressure. For the past coupe days I've only been working on the spookiness. If he looks at something and steps away I don't make a big deal about it, I circle a few times and when he starts to relax I move away, then the next thing he shys at I do the same thing. I don't want to jinx us, but it is getting better. I don't think he's being a brat, I think these things just make him nervous. I'm going to take a step back this month, and just take the pressure off us, and hang out in a snaffle and split reins, and just work on building both of our confidence.
My horse is the same way - I've had him since he was 4 and he's coming 8 now. I thought he would get over it but he hasn't yet. I always joke with my friends about how many times he's going to dashboard me when we see a dark spot in the grass 
I've tried calming supplements, magnesium (which helped a bit), treating for ulcers, chiro, lameness exam, diet change, etc. but I think that's just how he's going to be. I have noticed that he rides better in split reins and a hack. Low pressure is better. My next step is allergy testing because he does tend to get ulcers quite a bit despite being on free choice alfalfa and a preventative. If that yields nothing, I'll just leave him be. It doesn't bother me nearly as much anymore. I always said I would never own an anxious horse like that but here I am and I wouldn't trade him for the world. He's taught me a lot of patience  | |
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