Hi everyone,
I have a 13 y/o TB/QTR horse. He is 16.1 and I am 50 y/o intermediate rider. When I inherited Indy from my son, he was dangerous, disrespectful, and spooky about everything. I bought Clinton Anderson videos and worked through all the groundwork and riding exercises. Indy is a new horse now. He is sweet as sugar and respectful and I love him. The problem is that he is still spooky about stupid stuff. He won't bolt for the barn or spook at a mailbox. But he will jump out of his skin at something that pops up. I just can't seem to control his reaction when it comes unexpectedly. I have fixed countless static fears that he had. Like fear of the hedge and fear of cross ties. For example, he stepped on a stick that made a snap sound and jumped vertically. I flew out of the saddle. My daughter and I were riding in our arena when my daughter (who was lying against her horse's neck) suddenly sat upright. Indy took about 4 steps sideways like he was cutting cattle. I fell off him. I am afraid that I will get hurt one of these days. I bought the book "Bombproof Your Horse" and I have been working through the excercises but I don't know that it will do any good. My wife wants him off the farm and he is for sale on Dreamhorse.com for a $1000. I can't help but think I am making a big mistake selling him (especially for such a low price). Can he get so that he is really bombproof or will he forever spook at unexpected things that pop up? Thanks for reading my long post.
I have a 13 y/o TB/QTR horse. He is 16.1 and I am 50 y/o intermediate rider. When I inherited Indy from my son, he was dangerous, disrespectful, and spooky about everything. I bought Clinton Anderson videos and worked through all the groundwork and riding exercises. Indy is a new horse now. He is sweet as sugar and respectful and I love him. The problem is that he is still spooky about stupid stuff. He won't bolt for the barn or spook at a mailbox. But he will jump out of his skin at something that pops up. I just can't seem to control his reaction when it comes unexpectedly. I have fixed countless static fears that he had. Like fear of the hedge and fear of cross ties. For example, he stepped on a stick that made a snap sound and jumped vertically. I flew out of the saddle. My daughter and I were riding in our arena when my daughter (who was lying against her horse's neck) suddenly sat upright. Indy took about 4 steps sideways like he was cutting cattle. I fell off him. I am afraid that I will get hurt one of these days. I bought the book "Bombproof Your Horse" and I have been working through the excercises but I don't know that it will do any good. My wife wants him off the farm and he is for sale on Dreamhorse.com for a $1000. I can't help but think I am making a big mistake selling him (especially for such a low price). Can he get so that he is really bombproof or will he forever spook at unexpected things that pop up? Thanks for reading my long post.