Newbie trail horse - spooking drama!

[lisae]

I need some suggestions to make my Haflinger mare a better trail horse. She’s 7 and over several years (age 4, 5, 6) has had probably 60 days total professional riding training, 90% of which was in the indoor or ring. The last year included several trail rides which she handled well although she is quite reactive.

In January I was able to re-purchase her younger full brother age 5. He had essentially been ignored by a teenage owner who had used him for “vaulting” but little else. I sent him for 6 wks of driving and riding training this March-April and the trainer did all the ridden work out on the trail, bridges, creeks, and woods.

I recently put an ad on craigslist to find some riding buddies and two nice gals are coming out (at different times) to ride with me. They both are experienced riders (better seats than me, and @ 25 years younger :winkgrin: .

Last weekend, Mara (the horse) was being ridden by one and after about one hour of riding around our 6 pasture/hayfield acres, mostly at the walk, Mara decided to lay down and eat grass. I looked back and rider was standing looking at the horse, after a very controlled drop by said mare. (Neither craigslist buddy (“CLB”) weighs more than 100 lbs, BTW.) She got back on and we finished the ride. Later that day, we went out around the property again with CLB #2 riding Finn and me on Mara in case Mara decided to call it a day early again.

We were riding through tall grass at a walk when my horse startled a turkey hen off her nest to the left of us. All four of us were scared! But Mara was the only one who splatted down and shot to the right, leaving me in mid-air wondering where my horse went. I hit the dirt but am well padded, helmeted, and suffered only embarrassment at my poor seat.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to how to help the mare acclimate to the great outdoors? I can’t afford to send her to the trailriding trainer. Finn was on the side away from the turkey and only froze in place, no subsequent bolt. I would love to ride Finn and put the long-legged CLB’s on the mare, but really she’s my responsibility. BUT, I don't want to come off again either, the next fall could be worse.

Although the horses are out of shape and we did ride twice in one day, we didn’t exceed an hour and 20 minutes either time and no one broke a sweat. I did consider whether we were over-doing it - perhaps mare was overfaced.

Thanks, Lisa

[Arabian Knights]

I am no expert, but my husband and I are also trying to get our 9 yr old used to the trail. She has had lots of training in the ring, but nothing in the ring prepares them for wild turkeys flying away. :eek: On our recent ride, our mare spooked at a blue heron that flew away. Luckily everyone stayed aboard their mounts, but I think it really help that there were some other experienced horses with us. She was not willing to go through puddles until she saw a 20 year old, what I like to call a "trail schoolmaster" plod straight through it.

If you can have her hack out with and older, been-there-done-that type, it may help her calm down.

Good Luck and See ya on the Trail :)

AK and Super Horse Hubby

[Simbalism]

Sorry to hear you hit the dirt. There are several posts going right now in this forum re: trail riding spooky or green horses. There are some great suggestions in those: from trail walking the horse(leading), ear pompoms, etc. Hope you get your horse trail worthy.

[spurgirl]

Sorry about your fall, glad you're OK! Well, your mare is certainly a trail greenie, the best advice is to go out with one or more experienced trail horses/riders. You can also hand walk her on your trails, but DON'T let her eat. Make the walk brisk, and all business. Another thing is to sort of get to know your property...Here on all of our trails, I know where the turkeys roost, where we are most likely to see deer, etc., etc. Obviously wild things are everywhere, and anywhere, so it's up you to almost look and think ahead-without getting nervous. Keep those heels down, back straight, focused, etc. I also have lots of bells attached to the saddles, to warn the animals we're coming. It also does not hurt to call out "Hey deer-deer", or " Hey turkey-lurkies" at the top of your lungs-sometimes several animals start peeking up from all that tall grass. This is the nesting/baby time of year. Animals are not as likely to go bounding/flying away in a panic, if they see and hear you from rather far off. And YOU are not as likely to come off;), if you don't have a spook! Good Luck!!

[Tamara in TN]

[QUOTE=lisae;4158484].

We were riding through tall grass at a walk when my horse startled a turkey hen off her nest to the left of us. All four of us were scared! But Mara was the only one who splatted down and shot to the right, leaving me in mid-air wondering where my horse went. I hit the dirt but am well padded, helmeted, and suffered only embarrassment at my poor seat.

Can anyone make any suggestions as to how to help the mare acclimate to the great outdoors?

Although the horses are out of shape and we did ride twice in one day, we didn’t exceed an hour and 20 minutes either time and no one broke a sweat. I did consider whether we were over-doing it - perhaps mare was overfaced.

I think you are over-thinking it all and scaring yourself.....big whirly birds shooting skywards makes the best horses look hard and sometimes bugger:lol:

it happens....your mare is a baby in her mind if not her body...like I told another poster....you gotta make her brave....with you body and your seat and your hands and well....just everything

she's never seen the world, so show it to her...she is now desperately behind in her education with her current age group....you are riding a 3 yo....let her win rewards,give her courage,make her bold....you can do it...

besides,if that was the only drama in the whole afternoon some of my riding friends would not have even signed up to ride with you ;):lol: too boring...

best

[lisae]

In answer to spurgirl, most of my riding has been alone and when alone I am not embarrassed to holler out, sing and generally let the fauna know we are coming. It worked well with a doe and fawn last year because they ran away, and Mara was pretty bold about that! And, when riding alone, my seat and concentration are better because I'm concentrating on 'riding every step', since there's no one to gab with. ;) In this case, I was obviously not particularly well centered as I was turning to the right to talk and went off on the left side.

Tamara, it is ironic to see the "younger brother" so much braver than the mare.... guess he should be out front in the future.

At some point we want to trailer them to the closest nice park with excellent wide trails, there it will be less wildlife and more motorized scary things!

[Golden Pony]

I, too, have 2 Haflingers that I trail ride. The better of the two is the 4 year old mare. She had more exposure as a foal, and I have also trained her with some NHS methods. When you are on your horse - nothing exists but you and your horse. The "spookier" of the two is the 10 year old gelding who can be a 10 year old girls packer at a horse show all day, but wants to run like the wind on a trail (not so great when the trees are close!). I think a lot of it is their personalities and upbringing. I highly recommend reading up on Kenny Harlow, John Lyons, and Clinton Anderson - take it all in with a grain of salt and then apply where needed! GOOD LUCK - and if you're ever in VA you'll have to look us up.

[cloudy18]

Yeah, I think some horses may never get used to turkeys bursting out of the bushes. It scares the hell out of me. Happened to me last week too, and the horse was already nervous from being w/out her buddy. We took off, but not too bad and I stayed on. Stupid turkeys. Ruffed grouse are also evil.

Did I miss what kind of saddle you use? Would you feel more secure in something else until the horse gets a little more despooked?

[matryoshka]

I used to hate it when a pheasant would burst out of the brush and spook my horse. My dishonest mare would use it as an excuse to run away with me, dumping me if possible. I still don't like to ride near the edge of woods, though I'd love to see a pheasant.

I don't think you can prevent spooks. There's always something that might spook your horse. What you need to do is figure out how to ride her through it.

One idea is to attend a bombproofing clinic. It's not so much that your horse becomes bombproof--what you learn is how to negotiate scary obstacles together. You'll get a better feel for how she reacts under stress, and she'll hopefully learn to trust you more as you successfully negotiate obstacles. When she learns to trust you in that environment, she won't be quite so quick to jump out from under you out on the trail. That's the theory, anyway.

There are some dishonest horses who will use any excuse to dump the rider. I've had those (the mare described above was my first pony), and they taught me to sit deep and stay calm. But they never quite stopped trying me if I appeared not to be paying attention. Hopefully your mare isn't like that. Your job is to help her not become that way.

If you can't find a bombproofing clinic to attend, school more obstacles at home. Pool noodles, umbrellas, mylar balloons, tarp, mattresses, all make decent obstacles. Again, the idea isn't to try to get her to never spook but to learn how to deal with scary objects without running away or teleporting out from under you. In the process, she'll find fewer things to spook at. That's a side benefit. ;)

[lisae]

Hi all, two months later and we've continued to ride out every weekend. The two Haffies are getting better and more confident. I found a nice horned older Big Horn that fits the mare and haven't come off since, she's also getting better at 'spooking in place' since I've been more secure in my seat.

Last time we rode around our six acres we had a problem with Finn, the 5 yr old gelding. The ride before, he had tried to kick off a horsefly and threw in a little buck, and managed to unseat his rider, who rides in a very slick English saddle. No harm done and we kept riding. This week we rode on a Thursday evening instead of a weekend day. Horse was awful!! Almost immediately started throwing in bucks and stopping. He was also very different according to his rider. We realized we had swapped bridles and I thought maybe he missed his French Link snaffle. (The 2nd bridle has a standard D-ring jointed snaffle.) So we went back to the barn and changed back. He was fine for another 20 minutes but then started the misbehavior again, stopping and adding little rears!! I absolutely despise a rearer and if I had been aboard I would have pushed him into a trot and circle work immediately, but my riding buddy chose to stop him and try and see what was wrong.... we couldn't find anything visible.

We rode a little more, all the while with him acting up and calling to his favorite mare back at the barn, who could have cared less. We then returned to the barn and untacked, I put my Western saddle on him and did some ring work. He was fine, willing to work. He did seem a little stiff or choppy in the hind end. He has also been suffering from some loose stool from a lot of pasture recently, we ran out of hay and just got new bales in today.

Would more experienced trail riders tend to think any of the following:

1) he had something wrong physically
2) he has become bored with our same six acres around the house
3) he was being a PITA because it was dinnertime, not Sat. morning as usual
4) he tossed Sam on the prior ride and figured hey that worked! (I note he was not trying seriously to unhorse her.)

I haven't ridden since as our weather turned stormy and the fotting is too muddy.

Thanks for any input!

[analise]

I don't know, my first thought was: "he's thinking, "hey, acting up got me out of work! Let me keep doing it!"

But, sensibly, it's probably something physical.

Or a combination.

[cloudy18]

Sounds like maybe he was being buddy sour, and was ok with ring work closer to home. But the choppy gait is odd, so that makes me think physical. Does the saddle fit okay? Any mishaps that you know of recently, something where he may have gotten hurt? Maybe you should longe him before the next ride, check out his gait from the ground, warm him up, and gain a little respect all at the same time. Then I would ride him in the arena and if he seems fine, take him to the trail. If he acts up there it is likely behavioral.

[Char]

Kinda sounds like he was having a bad day all around....

1. WTH?? It's supper time....why are we going out?
2. HEY!! You put the WRONG BRIDLE on me! THIS isn't MY bit! I don't like it AT ALL!
3. Sweetums and I were having a GREAT conversation before you decided that we needed to go out. SWEEEEETUMS!!!!!!! I LOVE YOU!!!!!!!! I'LL COME BACK FOR YOU!!!!!!
4. Now that we're out here, my tummy feels ucky and my back it a little stiff and I just want to go home. No?
5. Well, you asked for it! If you won't take me home right now, I'll MAKE you take me home!

NOTE: This is not an excuse for the dangerous behaviors that he was trying out on you two. Just a parallel scenario to the whole thing, that I thought was kind of humerous in my own, sick and slightly twisted way. :D

Just my way of saying, I don't think it was any one of the things that you mentioned, but possibly all of them. Hope the next ride is better!

[wateryglen]

He's not being bad....he's just being a horse.

When you said he layed down; my first thought is that the saddle hurts. I just don't think horses go down with riders unless something hurts.

Horse needs repeated exposure to spookie things to learn to "spook in place". ALL horses will spook to things flying up in front of them....he's not being bad...he's just being a horse!!!

We have to be patient with occasional bucks, hops, spins, bolts, "rears" in young/green horses and ride them out. They will all decrease with time. Your fear of falling is unrealistic if you think you're gonna ride and never fall. It goes with the territory imho. You gotta get brave!!!

[lisae]

Char, you gave me my first laugh of the day! And the more I think about it, the more I think you're right - neither horse has any trouble leaving the barn on a long boring morning after their grazing/hay is done, there's nothing better to do :D

But interrupt a Haflinger at dinner time - that is another story. :eek:

wateryglen, I'm thinking our cheap English saddle needs inspection/replacement. It was actually the mare that laid down, but she did it with that saddle on! And that is more her style, she's pretty considerate of her rider (except when fowl are underfoot).

Two greenies at once does present a bit of an extra challenge. Sam's off on vacation through Labor day so I'll be working them alone, it'll be a good chance to work on barn sour if that's the case, and the bad saddle will not be used.

[PRS]

Time and miles and lots of exposure is the only cure for green spooky horse. Taking the green horse out with older, calmer, more experienced horses is a smart move. Horses, being herd animals, won't be so afraid if the "leader" is calm. In some cases that is you. You should make sure you are calm too. It can be hard to not be tense when you are expecting a spook any second but it could be your nervousnes that is causeing your horse to be hyper aware and looking for boogers too.

I can't think that either of my 20+ year old seniors would have reacted any better to the turkey in the grass though.

Dori

[katyb]

Horse needs repeated exposure to spookie things to learn to "spook in place". ALL horses will spook to things flying up in front of them....he's not being bad...he's just being a horse!!!


Good point. I like riding w/ my dog - the horses get used to "things" jumping out of the woods, making noise, crashing about, so they just don't have an immediate fear reaction. Of course, the first few rides might be interesting, but at least you know where the dog is and can anticipate a bit better. I also think spookiness is a personality/early experience type of thing. My four-year-old hasn't really had a spook under saddle yet, and we've had flying turkeys, deer jumping out, and even a flying squirrel (and that spooked me!) once when I was out on the trail with her alone. She's not perfect by any means, but spooky isn't her problem.