Hi there my 13 year old TB mare who I have had since march has started being quite naughty out hacking the only thing I can relate it to is windy weather ??? She had only ever raced before I took her on and had 3 years off due to tendon injury before she came to me. She is a bit spooky but after a few teething problems I started riding her out with a crop which I've never had to use but certainly curbed the shying and made her more positively forward going. She is a lovely mare I absolutely adore her but this shying is quite severe to the point she then slips and slides quite badly loseing her balence and shoots forward I have always felt very safe on her and am having weekly lessons as I hope to re-train her for dressage (you may have seen he in my other links) I really don't want this to get out of hand and affect my confidence and enjoyment of her.
Today she was extremly bad and we rode out alone when we got home I put her on the lunge in our training paddock and she settled immediately no shying or signs even of high spirits. I must admit she is carrying a little bit of weight and I think feeling well in herself and im hardly feeding her and keeping her on a very low protein and energy diet. I know the obvious answer is don't ride her in the wind but that is not always practical living in Cornwall in the UK 3 miles from the coast. Also with the aim of competition ahead this could get in the way!!! By the way all teeth, tack, back etc checked and ok. Any ideas suggestions etc welcome :) she is fresh to ride but a really lovely girl normally and I've always felt so safe on her before :) so must sort this !!!
Pics as soon as we were back and lunged for 5 mins I don't see any signs of stress???
Scare her, keep scaring her, eventually she'll get tired of it, Is she spooking at anything in particular? Like trash blowing across the trails? Leaves? Shaking bushes,?
What I do is if horse spooks at soemthing I make him go back and then do circles round and round whatever it was, horses hate circles, eventually they will connect the spook with having to walk in circles. Just going to take time,
I have no proof, but I see alot of horse really liven up in the fall and do alot more running around. My theory is horses evolved from herd animals, herd animals all migrate south in the fall. Something in a horses brain is telling him to head south, but he is stuck in a pasture, so he gets stressed.
Well its definitely weather related rode out today with friend on a steady horse and it was sunny warm and no breeze she was an absolute dream :) which is normal for her :) walked trotted cantered and no problems at all :) so guys its defo the wind!!!!!!!!!!! Thanks for advice so far :) x
Oh sorry joe4d could be something there, sometimes nothing that I can see, but will always spook if there is something abnormal on our more regular routes but normally steady enough inbetween and not normally as severe spook as in the windy weather :) thanks x
