when i first started working jarred in the arena at the pony club he was great. then about two weeks ago he was walking along beside the arena (on the outside) and spooked pretty bad at something in the bush. ever since then he was been freaking out in the arena when he is near the spot where the spook happened.
ive tried heaps of stuff. at first i tried hopping off and calming him down then tried to walk him past it. usually if he is apprehensive he will do it if i lead him. but not this time. so i rode a little more down the non scary end then unsaddled and took him for a walk. when we got to the spot where the scariness started we would retreat and start again. i couldnt get any closer at any point.
the next time i rode him i tried circling that slowly got bigger and closer to that spot. i started off at the opposite end doing 20m circles, then 25, then 30 and so on. at first when he has his head down and is relaxed he doesnt notice where he is and then he will look up see where he is, plant his front feet and spin around and try and take off to the safe end of the arena.
if im working him up the safe end his is fine. well on the lunge he is fine but when im riding as soon as we come around the corner to go up the side that has the scariness he stops dead and wont go any further grrrr so frustrating lol he works fine along the other side of the arena to until you turn the corner and it all gets too scary lol
is there anything else i can do to try and get him out of this? i really need him to be able to stay on track around the whole arena and we are having a dressage day at there in a few months and i was hoping to do some beginner dressage tests with him but that wont happen if hes doing this lol
ive tried heaps of stuff. at first i tried hopping off and calming him down then tried to walk him past it. usually if he is apprehensive he will do it if i lead him. but not this time. so i rode a little more down the non scary end then unsaddled and took him for a walk. when we got to the spot where the scariness started we would retreat and start again. i couldnt get any closer at any point.
the next time i rode him i tried circling that slowly got bigger and closer to that spot. i started off at the opposite end doing 20m circles, then 25, then 30 and so on. at first when he has his head down and is relaxed he doesnt notice where he is and then he will look up see where he is, plant his front feet and spin around and try and take off to the safe end of the arena.
if im working him up the safe end his is fine. well on the lunge he is fine but when im riding as soon as we come around the corner to go up the side that has the scariness he stops dead and wont go any further grrrr so frustrating lol he works fine along the other side of the arena to until you turn the corner and it all gets too scary lol
is there anything else i can do to try and get him out of this? i really need him to be able to stay on track around the whole arena and we are having a dressage day at there in a few months and i was hoping to do some beginner dressage tests with him but that wont happen if hes doing this lol