While instinct, bloodlines and breed will cause some horses to be naturally spookier than others, most of the horses that come into Halcyon Acres are jumpy and jittery due to angst. They’ve been asked for too much too soon, handled with impatience and intolerance, not encouraged to develop self-confidence or handled by a frightened person. Usually, the younger the horse is, the easier it is to reduce or eliminate spooky behavior, but horses of all ages can be calmed and encouraged to enjoy new experiences.

Try listening instead of training

There’s a whole lot of literature being put out there now (and even more DVDs –much higher profit margin) that asserts all you need to do to stop a horse from being concerned it to inundate him objects, noises, contact and lessons, and thus, by rendering him ‘desensitized,’ you’ll have a ‘bomb-proof’ horse. It usually doesn’t work that way, but if you do manage to create a steed that is unflappable as a result, he’s probably also now devoid of spirit, having been taught to quell his mind.

Instead, if you learn to read your horse, he’ll tell you all you need to know to help him resolve his concerns. It’s not about force, repetition, one-way respect, quick tricks or formula systems – it’s about understanding. Each horse is different. You need to allow yourself the liberty of learning vicariously. Let your horse be a participant in the decisions you make about activities and limits by letting go enough to ‘get into his head’. Most spooky horses have little confidence in themselves and no confidence in their rider/handler. Give them the opportunity to shine with unwavering confidence and support from you and you might be surprised at how courageous your heartless horse becomes.

Get on the ground

Most fearful horses (and that’s really at the core of a spooky horse’s behavior) learned to distrust humans to keep them out of harm’s way at an early age. While it’s not always necessary, there are distinct advantages to going back to ground work as you begin to strive to undo the damage. Body language is huge with horses (both ways) and it’s a lot tougher to ‘talk’ to your horse when on their backs if you haven’t established good communications out of the saddle.  The same holds true for what you say to the horse – if he can see your entire body, he can gather information about what you want much more easily. Just be sure you get good about picking up what he’s trying to tell you and being clear about what you’re asking.

The roundpen isn’t the best place for this long-term. It’s a good tool for early lessons (for you, mostly) if you are looking for a place to keep the horse in close proximity and note how your body movements, positions, eye contact, behavior and requests affect the horse. It’s also a decent way to get a good read on what may be troubling your horse and take small steps to alleviate his concern.  Resist the temptation, though, to use this area for drill sessions or intensive training. Keep it short, light, fun, informative and a stepping stone to really engaging in meaningful connections.

Spending time with your horse in the stall, the pasture, on long lines, exploring areas around the property and beyond with a halter and lead rope and watching your horse without bothering him are more productive ways to build rapport and gain insight than forcing him around a 60 meter circle. Get creative and listen to your horse to find ways to get him eager, excited and confident about your activities together. This is foundation that starts rebuilding the trust and security of a spooky horse.

Oh, and if you’re horse is terrified about an obstacle you face while riding, consider hopping off his back to be the first to show no fear or harm in passing. There’s no shame in providing a more comfortable experience to a new experience.

Be the rock

If you’re nervous, tense or unnerved, you can’t help a spooky horse. Either learn to get rid of these feelings when you’re around this horse or get someone else to help (and stay out of it until the horse is progressing). Sure, it’s tough to sit aboard a horse that is a notorious wheeler without tensing up, shortening your reins, tipping forward and transmitting concern. The fact is, though, the added tension is going to create more concern for your horse and be sure to spur a spook he may not have considered; no matter how close your hands are to his ears he’s going to do it anyway; and leaning forward and tensing up will increase the likelihood you’ll be dumped. If you give the horse his head to explore; relax; sit back; and calm down, he’s less likely to react and you’re in a better position to over his center of balance (and comfortable in yours) to stay with him if he does.

The same holds true for groundwork. If you can’t be confident, calm, consistent and trustworthy when handling or working around your horse, he’s not going to learn to trust you to keep him safe.

Don’t push your horse to ‘buck up’

Spooky horses are scared. Getting rough or demanding with them is only going to increase their concern. Give them the time and encouragement to carefully approach items that are frightening. Pulling out the whip, chain, spurs or temper is only going to create more fear and less trust in you. If you think beating a horse over water the first time you encounter a stream is going to make happy about crossing it the next time, think again.

Isn't he cute? Buster stood out as special early on.

Anyone who is looking for a teacher about the importance of patience and understanding should experience a horse like Buster. He was already an ‘old soul’ when we started him under saddle as a three-year-old. His wisdom shined through from day one. He was unflappable, but careful. The funny thing about Buster was, he’d do anything you asked, so long as you respected his need to be given the time (and head freedom) to survey the situation. One day (he had only had about eight days under saddle), we faced an obstacle course in front of the trail head that would have made a seasoned horse baulk. Contractors had strewn insulation, lumber, packaging, vehicles, tools, saw benches and all kinds of debris so that we had to pick through a narrow, winding path for about 20 feet. Holding the reins at the buckle and giving him the two minutes or so he wanted to survey the situation and choose a path, proved to be a sufficient response to his needs for him to proceed on his own, without prompting or direction. This thing with Buster was, if you pushed too hard for him to tackle a new sight or obstacle before he was ready, he’d stop. Keep it up and he’d go into backing mode. That was Buster’s kind way of saying ‘too much, too fast.’ What a wonderful teacher he was! He’s moved on (his career choice, not our imagined one for him) to an unexpected home that will probably keep him out of the limelight, but with a job that’s going to be very rewarding for him and an owner who will appreciate him more than most. Keep us posted, Sarah!

Help your horse get brave with a companion

The equine buddy system seems to be a standard today for most. It’s easier early, but can create problems later when the horse learns to draw his confidence and direction from another horse instead of the rider. We stumbled on a much better approach (animals can be so intuitive). Gatsby (our 90-pound mutt) provided an ideal solution. In the thirteen years he’s served as assistant trainer at the farm, no horse has ever become herd-bound over a dog. For the young ones just starting to learn how to handle a rider aboard, he tracks at their heels until we hit a spot that alarms the horse. Then, we ask him to take the lead and he escorts the horse through areas they see as trouble. All the horses here get to know him during ground work training (he’s an artful contributor here too), so they learn to trust him ti be safe before we hit the trails.

Gatsby greeting a newborn foal at Halcyon Acres

If you’re dealing with an older horse that’s spooky, you’re better off having an equine lead that’s seasoned and confident than going it alone to start. The more you can make riding experiences fun and non-threatening, the better. You can wean him off the company in time, but old habits die hard and you’ll be safer, and able to gain more confidence, if you let another horse blaze the trail as you start to work to calm your horse and yourself.

Forgo the formula equine approaches

Spooky horses are usually taught to be so. To undo the damage, you need to get personal. This can’t be done with rote lessons that are planned ahead and applied to all cases. If you’re not willing to customize an approach to meet your horse’s indicated needs, you’re not going to build a trusting, confident and mutually respectful relationship. You might be able to get him to tune out and mollify his brain into an absent state to escape the stress, but it won’t result in a happy partner you grow with. The rewards you get from being open to a communications process that includes the horse will be huge, if you have the desire and patience to go there. Here’s hoping you do!

Do you have a story to tell about a spooky horse? A problem you’re currently facing that you’d like some guidance on? Have a question about how to work with your horse? Please comment below.

Want to bring along a young horse that loves to train so much he nickers when he sees you coming? It’s not that hard if you’re willing to hear the horse. Below are some easy ways to ensure your horse is excited about performing the jobs you request.

1. Keep the sessions short. When starting young horses, 10-15 minutes is plenty. Five minutes is fine too. Pick a lesson they can easily understand, enjoy and accomplish quickly.
2. Hear your horse. Sometimes they don’t want to train. With a young horse, it’s better to recognize this and offer a day off rather than forcing a session when they’re not receptive. Other days, it might be best to choose a simple (or complicated) request as a goal. The more you get to know what your horse is trying tell you and the better you are at reading such cues, the easier it will be to end each day with an accomplishment that makes you both proud.
3. Customize lessons. No two horses are identical (contrary to some of the popular ‘horsemanship methods’ of the day) and offering flexible training approaches that incorporate his proclivities will help your horse appreciate and respect you and his job immensely.
4. Include the horse in the conversation. Too often, trainers (professionals as well as novice experimenters) craft a lesson plan that’s all about them and then wonder why the horse objects. If you let your horse participate in the learning strategy instead of trying to apply formula approaches, you’ll be amazed at how quickly the horse gathers, retains and applies what you’ve requested. Plus, you’ll find you’ve helped create a partnership that’s richer, safer, more rewarding and more fulfilling than you might imagine.
5. Always be confident and clear while recognizing the horse with kindness and understanding. Horses melt when they find a leader and a teacher who sees respect as a two-way street. Sadly, some have interpreted the herd mentality using bossy, aggressive and demanding Alphas as the behavior model. Watch and you’ll see these horses aren’t the leaders – they’re avoided. Leaders of the herd are followed by choice, not according to water and feed pecking order. These are the heralded Alphas.
6. Stand your ground. While combative or aggressive behaviour doesn’t usually encourage a horse to enjoy training, backing down once you encounter an issue often leads to a difficult and obstinate horse that views you as a pushover and/or inappropriate guide. There’s a big difference between unflappable insistence and ‘teaching a horse a lesson.’ If a horse turns into a drama queen over a simple request, keep your cool but make it known that in a battle of wills, you have the staying power to quietly continue asking for cooperation until it happens. Some young horses (particularly strong-willed fillies) will test your mettle to see if they can intimidate you (and if they are successful, your productive training days are probably over).
7. Ask your horse what he likes to do and reward him at the end of the training session with a task he relishes. You might be amazed at what you discover. There’s no right answer to this one as it depends on the horse. Some view the trails with joy; others want to jump; maybe there’s an area they love to be rubbed; it could be time with a special companion; or a grazing place that’s not usually available. Funny thing is, most horses who love to train want to do something they find fun under saddle. Figure out what that is and you’ll have a horse that gets excited about doing right so they can continue the riding time.
8. Be patient. When young horses act out, it’s usually because they don’t understand. If you react to this with escalating pressure or demands, they’ll learn to resent you. Give them the time they need to figure out what you are asking before you punish them for confusion or move on to another lesson.
9. Appreciate the smallest attempts to respond to your requests. Don’t expect the horse to be perfect the first time. If you’re asking him to move forward and he takes a step, recognize and praise the effort. If you’re working on steering and he turns his head or moves off your leg for a moment, stop pushing and give him a reward and a break.
10. Strive for fun. If you make training something your horse anticipates with joy, you’ll have a ball. As you work with your young horse each day, remember that anything you do to make his job interesting, engaging and enjoyable will encourage him to want to please you and come running when you call. Include him in the process and you’ll be awestruck by his eagerness to learn and perform.

Do you cringe when you see what some people do to young equine minds? You will. Common sense should prevail when a horse starts acting out to be heard so dramatically he becomes dangerous, but sadly, it doesn’t in many cases. Usually it’s ego or ignorance that that leads to such stupidity, and unfortunately, it’s the horse that suffers (and future owners who must undo the damage).

Horse training done wrong

Recently a gal was staying at Halcyon Acres (when Hyde showed up in this Jeckle it was clear goodbye was the best response) who ultimately revealed she viewed animals as possessions to be neglected and then punished when they became confused about intense intermittent demands. The occasional time she was able to wrestle away from her self-proclaimed busy life to devote to ‘training’ was fleeting, cruel and unappreciative. Regrettably, her self-centered perspective seems to be more the norm in our youth today than the exception. If this is representative of the new generation of ‘adults’ we’ll be seeing coming into this world, we’re in trouble – and so are the horses.

So, if you want to know what creates a fearful, miserable, uncooperative and leery horse, let her behavior be a lesson for you.

Teaching a young horse to misbehave

Watching this ‘horse breaker’ in the round pen one day with a two-year-old Thoroughbred that was starting under saddle was frightening. The trench that recently appeared around the perimeter should have been a signal that one of her ‘methods’ included chasing the horse to exhaustion.  Join-up precepts aside (and there’s a lot about embracing a process to create a submissive horse that should be questioned by those who want a horse that’s engaged and enthused), it’s hard to see how ‘sending’ a horse until he’s wobbly-legged helps create a solid and safe steed. This little gelding already had some trust issues and while making him too tired to react might seem like an effective approach – it wasn’t.

The moment of truth occurred after she hopped aboard. It wasn’t enough to go for a quick win when the horse complied with her demands and gave the wanted response ten minutes into the lesson. She had to extend it for another hour or so and end on a ‘lose’ (it was the horse’s fault, of course) because she had family watching and waiting for dinner.

By the time the ‘lesson’ was over, the confused and unappreciated equine (he tried, but his efforts were met with escalating demands instead of recognition for his kindness – funny how that seems to extend to people interactions with this youth too) was so frustrated, bewildered and fearful, his instincts told him to react with avoidance tactics.

During the combat hour, the horse reared, tried to flip, attempted to rub her off on the fence boards and crashed through the round pen after she hopped off and continued to punish him for ‘misbehaving.’ She escalated the conflict by failing to recognize and reward correct responses, ratcheting up the punishment with hands, legs and then a stick with no praise for his efforts while pushing this young mind way too far to be able to process or comprehend what he was being asked to do.

Horse head cases are usually created

He’ll be a head case for the rest of his life if this approach continues. Of course, he’ll be blamed for bad behavior even though the early under saddle conditioning taught him to distrust and dislike humans.  It’s funny how quickly horses who aren’t given a chance to be heard get labelled ‘bad actors’ when they apply and act on what they’ve been taught.

Great equine performers contribute to the conversation

Some horses will shut down and comply with such methods once tortured enough to decide it’s easier to simply tune out and acquiesce.  Rarely will such tactics encourage a horse to excel in people requested disciplines. Others become dangerous in their effort to avoid pain, misery and a human species they have been conditioned to hate. Sure, usually with the right breed (TBs are tougher), you can intimidate and force a horse to comply with your demands by teaching him to be submissive and compliant, but don’t expect him to like it – or give you the extra effort to make your relationship and performance achievements special.

Young minds (and older ones too – even the bipeds) need to be given the chance to be heard, recognized, appreciated and understood. Make it all about you and you may get a compliant horse – but not a happy one. Partnerships need give and take. Few thrive with dominance. Think about how you respond to a person who keeps demanding more without appreciating what you’ve already given. Imagine how the young horse might interpret such actions. The next time you decide you’re going to ‘teach your horse a lesson,’ think about how he may perceive your actions. Is that going to help you get to where you want to go?

Please share you stories and comments below. Thanks.

Today, we feature three horse-related sites that focus on training and equine issues. All are professionally designed, include photos and/or video and offer timely information. Two are free blogs and one is a fee-baseed membership site, but it offers enough sample video and article fodder to visitors to make the trip worth the time. These are three very different approaches to the adressing issues in the horse world, but I hope you’ll find each equally interesting and engaging.

www.katelynkent.net

Through the Eyes of Equus is Katelyn Kent’s blog and website featuring training tips and ideas from riding through liberty work. She’s in the process of revamping the site and has culled down the blog to now include only training related posts, but has committed to new posts twice a week. Past posts included a lot interesting and sometimes controversial perspectives, and hopefully, as she refocuses this content, the former candid style will emerge again. This Colorado-based clinician has a fairly vast equine understanding to draw from with a focus on solutions guided by her concern to consider the horse’s perspective.  Photos and/or videos are included to help illustrate each blog post.

www.DressageTrainingOnline.com

Reisa Bonetti has developed an equine member-based site that provides primarily video tutorials related to dressage techniques, judging, training and riding. Visitors can view sample films (that are primarily snipets of what is provided to paid members), learn a bit about some of the standout players she’s indentified in the industry (world-wide) and gain access to the articles in the Community Connection. This isn’t a blog per-se, but some of the sample videos are useful tutorials.

www.theequinereader.com

This is a pretty good summary of equine news of note with a good deal of opinion included by Corinne Mehas. Posts are generally brief, pointed and timely. In addition to calling out issues regarding horse politics and initiatives, Corinne also sports some excellent links on the blog sidebar for useful horse blogs and equine industry organizations.

So often, you hear instructors harping on things like “heels down,” “look up,” “sit back,” “hands still” and a whole range of corrections that focus on how the rider looks. Sadly, most students don’t understand that there’s a much bigger picture to effective riding and these type of directions tend to move a rider further away from a relaxed, balanced and conscious presence on and with the horse.

Give (and get) some real value from riding lessons

When should a rider learn that stiffness is an impediment to good communication with a horse? That balance is critical to everything you ask of a horse (both yours and theirs)? What about the importance of learning to work the hands, seat, legs and weight independently?

From day one.

Sure, it’s easy to get bored standing in the center of an arena watching the same beginner mistakes (or those of more seasoned riders) and fall into a dull and distant routine of focusing on equitation issues that won’t help the rider learn solid techniques. You could do this with your eyes closed (and probably are tempted to do so on some days). It’s also frustrating for novice’s to try to digest big concepts while their still trying to master a correct canter transition. No proper gait changes will occur, though, without this knowledge.

Can green riders use their seat?

Sure. Even the youngest (or oldest) novice riders can learn how wonderful it is to connect with a horse through the seat. Clearly not as an FEI dressage competitor would, but certainly at a basic level.  Of course, this requires some one-on-one attention, but this can be done even in large group lessons. Instead of doing the easy rote drill on rider position issues, consider talking about concepts and showing the rider (you’ll need to use your hands for this to touch the rider) how their seat works with (or against) the horse. Teach riders early to open their thighs and knees and let the horse help make riding a whole lot less work. Help them understand how the seat is the key to balance and show them how (this could certainly relate to your “shoulder’s back” bark and be illustrated very easily with a “whoa” to a good lesson horse).

If you’re a rider who hasn’t learned how to enjoy a deep and effective seat on a horse, think of opening your hips, relaxing and letting your leg be loose (the only area your leg should be in contact with the horse is the inside of your thigh and the back of your calf). It doesn’t matter if you drop your stirrups and let your toes point to the ground. In fact, this can make it easier to feel. It might be best to try this first at a walk. It’s important that your shoulders are over your hips (otherwise you won’t be able to sink deep into the saddle) and your head isn’t dropped forward. Breathe deep and let yourself go a bit limp. Feel how connected you are with the horse’s motion now? That’s where the rest of good riding comes from.  Don’t choke up on the reins when you do this as you will stiffen, pitch forward and bother the horse.

Good teachers create intuitive riders

Horsemanship covers a huge array of equine issues, but most get their first exposure to horses riding. Wouldn’t it be great if those putting a shingle out as beginner instructors committed to a process that focused on the harder big picture understanding from the onset vs. the easy rider form issues? Of course, some may need to educate themselves in such matters, but presumably, most calling themselves professionals have mastered basic riding precepts. Sometimes, it requires a bit of creativity to figure out how to best express this to students (like horses, they’re all different and no pat answer will work for all), but it can be done.

And for the novice riders – stretch yourselves. Learn to make your seat, balance and learning to keep hands, legs and seat operating independently your goal and you will experience a joy riding you never imagined. If your current instructor can’t help you here, find another. You’ll never truly be connected to a horse until you figure out how to connect with them. It’s not that hard, but it’s different from what most teach. And that’s sad for both our future riders and horses.