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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
  
| My horse seems to be putting weight back on and settling into his new barn. My trainer has left for FL until April, and I do have exercises to practice that she gave me.
My horse is VERY looky..somewhat spooky..I know he's 15, and everyone keeps telling me I won't be able to change everything, and that's not what I'm looking to do.
I've taken a little less than a dozen lessons with my trainer, and haul to her facility. He's good at the trailer, stands there, etc. He doesn't love indoors, and takes quite a while to get used to them. The radio on a shelf still spooks him, he's gotten better, for sure, but not 100%. Someone opens the door, and he's very looky.
At the barn we are at now, they use overhead doors leading into he arena, and to go outside. He's gotten used to them for the most part, but the rope to pull it down slipped out of my hands, and came down faster than usual, and he had a moment..
He's not being bad, I just would like to know if there are some things we can do this winter to be more prepared to haul places in 2018. At the barn now, she has cavalettis, road cones, poles, things like that I can use if I want. We have used ground poles in a lesson, and he's good with those. He's not fearful of ground poles, road cones, etc, it's other things. A radio hanging up, a 4 wheeler in the corner of the arena, someone with a stroller, etc. I know in his past, 7-8 years ago he's been to rodeos, jackpots, etc, but I don't want to go to a rodeo next year, be running, and have him spook at someone standing close to the arena..
I don't think in his past, anyone has really worked on things with him. I know his last 5 years, he was ran once or twice a month, then put out to pasture. No slow work was done, put him in the trailer, run him, go back home.
If there are things I can do to help him be less fearful, that would be great. We have an indoor that we use.
Thanks!
Edited by emricmacy 2017-12-18 11:29 AM
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 Expert
Posts: 1857
| Are you sure it's not boredom? | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| FlyingJT - 2017-12-18 12:36 PM
Are you sure it's not boredom?
I don't think so..previous owner told me he was a bit looky when I bought him. It's just something that I thought I could work on this winter. | |
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 Serious Snap Trapper
Posts: 4275
Location: In The Snow, AZ | I have one like that right now. He’s 11. Born and raised on a ranch. He clearly had very little ground work done aside from walking on a lead. He is super looky and overreactive on the ground. Better in the saddle, but still has moments if he’s not worked consistently hard. If he’s not dog-tired, he’s sketchy. So I just try to keep him worked and exposed to as much as I can on a regular basis. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| ~BINGO~ - 2017-12-18 1:03 PM
I have one like that right now. He’s 11. Born and raised on a ranch. He clearly had very little ground work done aside from walking on a lead. He is super looky and overreactive on the ground. Better in the saddle, but still has moments if he’s not worked consistently hard. If he’s not dog-tired, he’s sketchy. So I just try to keep him worked and exposed to as much as I can on a regular basis.
My gelding came from Iowa originally on a ranch. After a tough hour lesson, he's pretty tired, drenched with sweat, but will still look/shy away from certain things. Maybe I'll have to go on youtube and take a look at some videos to find some things to do.
There aren't many arenas around where I am that I can haul him to, to ride in their indoor. | |
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 A Barrel Of Monkeys
Posts: 12972
Location: Texas | Try a calming supplement. I like 707 Calming. | |
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 A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | I would be putting him on a B-1 supplement, I have a gelding like yours and hes always looking for something to be a butt head about.. The B-1 seems to help him relax a bit and to focus..
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 Take a Picture
Posts: 12841
| Have you ever thought about just getting him out and brushing him for an hour or so at a time? works wonders for me. | |
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Elite Veteran
Posts: 897
| streakysox - 2017-12-18 1:27 PM
Have you ever thought about just getting him out and brushing him for an hour or so at a time? works wonders for me.
I do this all the time! I always spend at least 45 min before every ride grooming, and the days I don't ride I just go to the barn and groom. He's great on the cross ties, is well behaved. It's really just under saddle he's pretty looky. We rode in a cinic a few weekends ago, and there was about 12 other riders loping around, riding really close to him, and he was prefect. He didn't mind the other horses really close to him. | |
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 I hate cooking and cleaning
Posts: 3314
Location: Jersey Girl | Have you ruled out vision or soreness issues?
I had a super reactive gelding. I put him on Smartpak Ultra Calm and it really helped him. It didn't take it away completely but he was SO much better when on it.
I also did a ton of ground work and exposing him to things. That helped some also but I think its just his nature to be that way. | |
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  Ms. Marine
Posts: 4641
Location: Texas | My vote is many, many hours in the saddle and a whole bunch of wet saddle pads. | |
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Extreme Veteran
Posts: 489
| You can find lots of videos about desensitation and ground work. I personally like buck brannamon's. The things he does are very practical and quietly deliberate. They helped my spooky guy. You may not be able to change how your horse initially responds to something, but you can control how you respond. As long as he is not dangerous, don't even acknowledge the spook. Act like it isn't happening and he may come to realize that there isn't anything to spook at. I personally don't try to make my spooky horses directly approach something. I find the distance away from something that they aren't bothered by the object and work them there. Gradually I'll get closer- riding like its not even there. I'm giving a "move along - nothing to see here" kinda vibe versus "lets ride up and focus on the scary thing"
Another thing to consider is that many things you mentioned him being bothered by are noise. He may have sensitive ears. My spooky guy does. I use POMMs ear plugs on him and the difference at shows is quite apparent. My friends think its fascinating to see the change in his eye and mindset with and without the earplugs. | |
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| fulltiltfilly - 2017-12-18 1:16 PM
Have you ruled out vision or soreness issues?
I had a super reactive gelding. I put him on Smartpak Ultra Calm and it really helped him. It didn't take it away completely but he was SO much better when on it.
I also did a ton of ground work and exposing him to things. That helped some also but I think its just his nature to be that way.Â
Getting his eyes looked at was my first thought. He could be having vision issues that hinder him from seeing certain things, like you said the radio hanging up, or a 4wheeler in a corner. That would certainly make sense if he's going from natural daylight to an indoor or a barn where the lighting is different, and new shadows are cast.
I grew up on a ranch, so we didn't do much other than lots of miles, wet saddle blankets, letting our horses just see and be around everything, and natural horsemanship before I knew that's what it was called. I am a big fan of the Parelli games because spending that time "playing" with your horse allows them to experience without fear, and molding your actions around their horsenality really makes it fun for all. It also gives me something to do now that my TB mare is heavily prego and I can't ride her. She is a RBI, which means she needs to build confidence, and changing the way I approach certain aspects of riding has been really great for her. My other mare is a LBI, which means she is very food motivated, and she has the "what's in it for me?" mentality, so I do things differently with her, making her think things are her idea, and it ends up being a fun, low stress time. Lots of licking and chewing, plus it keeps me moving around with them, and strengthens our bond.
Edited by madredepeanut 2017-12-20 9:29 AM
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 Off the Wall Wacky
Posts: 2981
Location: Louisiana | ~BINGO~ - 2017-12-18 1:03 PM
I have one like that right now. He’s 11. Born and raised on a ranch. He clearly had very little ground work done aside from walking on a lead. He is super looky and overreactive on the ground. Better in the saddle, but still has moments if he’s not worked consistently hard. If he’s not dog-tired, he’s sketchy. So I just try to keep him worked and exposed to as much as I can on a regular basis.
Sketchy...that's a good word for one of mine. 
Coming 16 this year and will forever be "looky" and "spooky" LOL.
At some point it's just who they are...I also know a bit of my guy's life before me and I try to just be happy he's only half crazy.
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A Somebody to Everybody
Posts: 41354
Location: Under The Big Sky Of Texas | dashnlotti - 2017-12-20 11:33 AM ~BINGO~ - 2017-12-18 1:03 PM I have one like that right now. He’s 11. Born and raised on a ranch. He clearly had very little ground work done aside from walking on a lead. He is super looky and overreactive on the ground. Better in the saddle, but still has moments if he’s not worked consistently hard. If he’s not dog-tired, he’s sketchy. So I just try to keep him worked and exposed to as much as I can on a regular basis. Sketchy...that's a good word for one of mine. Coming 16 this year and will forever be "looky" and "spooky" LOL. At some point it's just who they are...I also know a bit of my guy's life before me and I try to just be happy he's only half crazy.
Agree with these two ladys some horses are just wired this way.. I have one and thats why he stays on his B-1 crumble's.. | |
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 The Worst Seller Ever
Posts: 4138
Location: Oklahoma | If this horse has been to rodeos and barrel races, I seriously doubt he will do anything once he is in run mode. I have an old horse that has been millions of miles and still spooks at the stupidest things. Once he is headed down the alley all he sees are the barrels.
The horse I rodeo on is scared of anything that he thinks is moving too fast, but he will not spook when he's running barrels. He will spook when he is left alone to "work the rope" after the SO leaves to tie his calf. So as long as there is a person in control, he doesn't let the ADD kick in.
My 4yo has the same bloodlines as the rodeo horse and is super reactive. He will not spook when he is running, but he will check up at 3rd if the barrel is close to the fence. I figure he will get better with age.
Some are just more flight than fight, and boredom highlights that flight reaction.
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 Straight Shooter
Posts: 5725
Location: SW North Dakota | Get him a goat. Those little buggers pop in an out all over the place, but are still friends. | |
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 Born not Made
Posts: 2937
Location: North Dakota | emricmacy - 2017-12-18 11:25 AM My horse seems to be putting weight back on and settling into his new barn. My trainer has left for FL until April, and I do have exercises to practice that she gave me. My horse is VERY looky..somewhat spooky..I know he's 15, and everyone keeps telling me I won't be able to change everything, and that's not what I'm looking to do. I've taken a little less than a dozen lessons with my trainer, and haul to her facility. He's good at the trailer, stands there, etc. He doesn't love indoors, and takes quite a while to get used to them. The radio on a shelf still spooks him, he's gotten better, for sure, but not 100%. Someone opens the door, and he's very looky. At the barn we are at now, they use overhead doors leading into he arena, and to go outside. He's gotten used to them for the most part, but the rope to pull it down slipped out of my hands, and came down faster than usual, and he had a moment.. He's not being bad, I just would like to know if there are some things we can do this winter to be more prepared to haul places in 2018. At the barn now, she has cavalettis, road cones, poles, things like that I can use if I want. We have used ground poles in a lesson, and he's good with those. He's not fearful of ground poles, road cones, etc, it's other things. A radio hanging up, a 4 wheeler in the corner of the arena, someone with a stroller, etc. I know in his past, 7-8 years ago he's been to rodeos, jackpots, etc, but I don't want to go to a rodeo next year, be running, and have him spook at someone standing close to the arena.. I don't think in his past, anyone has really worked on things with him. I know his last 5 years, he was ran once or twice a month, then put out to pasture. No slow work was done, put him in the trailer, run him, go back home. If there are things I can do to help him be less fearful, that would be great. We have an indoor that we use. Thanks!
I have a young horse right now who is also looky ... but not spooky. He is also especially looky in indoor arenas.
Best thing is to KEEP THEM BUSY. They can't look around if they are busy. Sidepassing, spins, leg yields, rollbacks, etc. Just keep those feet moving and keep their mind on you.
I guarantee he won't spook on you when you go to run him. Because he's going to be BUSY! If he's actually running the pattern, he's not going to have time to look around. I hauled my young one to our state show. I made a mistake with our exhibitions (which turned out to be a good thing) where I only got ONE practice run. I normally take him through slow first but since I only had one shot, I chose to take him fast. He did great. The next day I bought an extra exhibition so I could do one slow and one fast. It was wrong to do it slow. He was so looky because he had the time to be looky. Then I sent him through at speed and he didn't look at a thing -- didn't have time.
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 Regular
Posts: 62
Location: Oklahoma | BarrelRacing4Christ - 2017-12-19 9:43 PM
My vote is many, many hours in the saddle and a whole bunch of wet saddle pads.
This!!! YES!!!!!!!  | |
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Married to a Louie Lover
Posts: 3303
| Hours, wet saddle pads, and confidence on your part - if you’re looking for stuff he might look at, he’ll probably look at it.
I would also ask what you’re feeding him? We’ve seen a couple of our more “spirited” ones really level out by going to a low NSC feed. They focus better and aren’t as looky. Some don’t handle the sugars well, much like little kids. | |
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