How to Stop the Spooking?

[HunterJumper778]

The horse I ride, Rio, is spooking at this one thing (the gate) any time we pass it. I keep on trying to walk him to it, or follow another horse, but unless he is less then 2 feet away from the other horse, he will spook! :confused: :eek: what can i do?????

[What'szat]

Try having someone stand near the spooky spot with a bucket full of grain and every time you pass by let your horse have a treat there. Very soon he will associate this spot as the new friendly spot instead of the spooky spot. I have found this trick to work very well and it is a lot less frustrating for you and your horse, it is a win win solution!

[JustaCowgurl]

may I ask, what is that going to do if you are out on a trail or something and the horse spooks? keep a bucket of feed in your pocket? you need to teach the horse to trust you, that you will kepp him safe from harm. that way, if you show no fear, the horse shouldnt. you are probable tensing up whenever you go past that particular spot, therefore causing him to tense up. try putting a rope halter on and a lead that has no stretch in it (yacht braid is good) and lunge him or walk him past it, if he spooks spin him in a small circle, keep him going for 3-4 circles with his head tilted in towards you [you need to teach him to lunge on a small circle with flexion towards you, he needs to do it willingly. to do this you need the rope halter and lead, have him about 2 metres away to begin with, start to lunge him, keeping the leading hand at you bellybutton, keep playing with it, every time he turns his head in and flexes his body (he needs to move away from you when you ask him to) let him come in and give him a pat and change directions, eventually ask him to do it for longer.]

after a couple of circles next to the object, walk him past again, if he spooks again, repeat. if he keeps spooking you can spin the tail of the rope and flick him on the rump as you circle him. as soon as he walks past without spooking, praise him and continue on your way. he will learn that habitual spooking is uncomfortable, and not spooking is comfortable.

there are lots of methods that work to help with spooking, John Chattertons "spooky stuff" is highly reccommended. what I just described to you is a method of Guy McLeans (both australian horsemen) the second works well for my horse who is a habitual spooker. it may not be the right thing for your horse, I dont know the horse, does he spook lot? the method i described wont really help with random spooking from genuine fright, only spooky stuff really starts to delve into that.
ok, now im rambling. hope this helped a bit. :)

[ProvidenceJRhtr]

may I ask, what is that going to do if you are out on a trail or something and the horse spooks? keep a bucket of feed in your pocket? you need to teach the horse to trust you, that you will kepp him safe from harm. that way, if you show no fear, the horse shouldnt. you are probable tensing up whenever you go past that particular spot, therefore causing him to tense up. try putting a rope halter on and a lead that has no stretch in it (yacht braid is good) and lunge him or walk him past it, if he spooks spin him in a small circle, keep him going for 3-4 circles with his head tilted in towards you [you need to teach him to lunge on a small circle with flexion towards you, he needs to do it willingly. to do this you need the rope halter and lead, have him about 2 metres away to begin with, start to lunge him, keeping the leading hand at you bellybutton, keep playing with it, every time he turns his head in and flexes his body (he needs to move away from you when you ask him to) let him come in and give him a pat and change directions, eventually ask him to do it for longer.]

after a couple of circles next to the object, walk him past again, if he spooks again, repeat. if he keeps spooking you can spin the tail of the rope and flick him on the rump as you circle him. as soon as he walks past without spooking, praise him and continue on your way. he will learn that habitual spooking is uncomfortable, and not spooking is comfortable.

there are lots of methods that work to help with spooking, John Chattertons "spooky stuff" is highly reccommended. what I just described to you is a method of Guy McLeans (both australian horsemen) the second works well for my horse who is a habitual spooker. it may not be the right thing for your horse, I dont know the horse, does he spook lot? the method i described wont really help with random spooking from genuine fright, only spooky stuff really starts to delve into that.
ok, now im rambling. hope this helped a bit. :)

I totally agree, her horse should not be rewarded for not spooking, trust should be what keeps the horse from spooking.
Have you even wondered if maybe your horse does it because he is happy?? I know one of my horses, he spooks at little things when he feels good and is just happy. :rolleyes: