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Fixing a "bad spot" problem

845 views 6 replies 4 participants last post by  jmc 
#1 ·
Yankee is about as bombproof as a 4-year-old can be, but we've run into a problem.

There's a big field we ride in on the weekends, it is a nice big hill, great for strengthening stifles, which is something we're working on. In order to ride in the shade on these hot summer days, we work along the part of the fenceline that goes along the popular scenic back road we live on. That has never been a problem -cars, motorcycles, trucks: We can ride along the road and he ignores them all.

However, bicycles snuck up the road two weekends ago, surprising him (and me) as we were trotting up the hill. Now, that spot (which happens to be where the brush between the fence and the road opens up a bit) is a problem. Going downhill, he's fine.

Going uphill, at a walk he's generally OK, but quite tense, and he'll sometimes decide something's there, and jump sideways. I'm not quite sure what he's seeing, but it's more than just the bikes now.

When we try to trot up the hill, he heads at a 45 degree or greater angle away from the fence, through my leg. If I try to turn him with direct rein, he just bends and continues up at the angle. No matter what I do, he just bends and heads at that angle.

In the end, today, I just made him stand at The Spot. He stared at something, I know not what, but he stood fine. Hopefully he'll think about how he wasn't eaten by bicycles and be fine next time.

If he's not, though, I need suggestions. Apparently I've made that spot a Big Deal and I'm not sure the best way to proceed, to fix the problem.
 
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#3 ·
Yup, make him work hard up the hill then let him rest in that spot. I would also suggest you fix him running through your leg, sorry it a pet peeve of mine:evil:
 
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#4 ·
Well, it's a pet peeve of mine too, more annoying in that this is the first time he's done that - he's usually very sensitive to my leg.

In answer to the other poster, it's only moderately steep.
 
#5 ·
Would it be safe to do circles?

I'm thinking if he tries to ignore your rein aid and travel away from the fence, make a large circle (which is tricky) and then try going straight again. Everytime he veers, circle.

I'd done this on hills (not incredibly steep) and it worked for me.

But just make sure it's a safe exercise to try.
 
#6 ·
at the place where he is bowing out and running through your outside leg, take up the inside rein so much that you disengage him, so now he's facing the ST (the Scary Thing). you now walk him downhill past it. If he bows out trying to avoid it, you take up the inside rein, disenage him so he's facing it, walk past.

When he walks by without issue, go home.
 
#7 ·
Doesn't work. When I pick up the rein to point him towards the ST, he just bends his neck, and keeps going in the wrong direction; I've been unable to disengage him there - though I can do it everywhere else.

Due to his young age and stifle issues (a growth plate is closing slower than normal), I've been instructed by my vet not to do a lot of circles, and no lateral movements, but in this instance, because he was running through my leg, we did have a discussion on it - and eventually was able to get him to sidepass towards the ST... but right now I can't do that each time he runs through my leg, or I may undo some of the progress we've made in fixing his stifle issues.

And, downhill isn't the problem. He's fine with that spot with his left eye. It's seeing it with his right eye that's the problem.
 
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