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How do I re-teach my horse to spook in place?

2420 Views 11 Replies 7 Participants Last post by  Foxhunter, 
H
My mare seems to know how to spook in place. She will do it when it's too hot to move much or when she's tired. Lately she started spooking by cantering away. Ok, it did get very cold suddenly and she's been stall-bound because the fields are completely flooded but still.

I'm most probably doing something wrong. Should I shut her down harshly and immediately? I've been trying to stay out of her face generally, so when she spooks I try to stop her gently, with my seat and a little bit of hand. It's now starting to get on my nerves and I don't think it's good for her training to be allowed to just do whatever she pleases, even if I do get harsh with her.
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Golden Horse
It’s got cold and she’s stall bound, there’s your answer as to why....mine is out 24/7 but it was cold the other day when I rode her, and she felt like a bomb ready to go off.

I do not play nice or baby her at all when she is like that, when I can feel her building to one, I make sure to have a short connected rein on the dangerous side, while flexing her gently to the safe side, leg hard in to keep her going into the connected rein. When you get the sudden unexpected ones, shut her down hard and fast, one rein stop, or use both reins....it is unacceptable behaviour and it is fine for you to, in that second, be over hard.
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Golden Horse
@;
mmshiro said:
Take their mind off the monsters by giving them something to do...side passes, transitions, circles of figure-8s if you're in a field. It's not supposed to be punitive, just occupational therapy so their mind turns back to you and your aids.
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This....not punitive, occupational therapy...love it.

Letting them stand just allows them to conjure up more dragons to potentially spook at, get the mind and body engaged on something productive.
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