Spooking.
Anyone on my flist knows where this story comes from... i am interested in any anecdotes/tips/stories/advice on how to desensitise a Very Spooky Horse.
my chestnut responds mostly to SOUND spooks more than stuff that he sees. this can include: trees rustling, clacking hooves on pavement or asphalt, people talking/laughing in the distance, banging feedbins, gusts of wind etc.
he doesn't worry too much about flapping tarpaulins or colourful jump fill or whatever, at least, not more than i'd expect a sensitive redhead to worry about.
there are some noises (like mini explosions from aerosol cans thrown into bonfires) that he doesn't even batt an eye at. there is no real discernible pattern to it, except that it causes me untold distress & frustration.
he spooks like this in the paddock/on the lead/under saddle. last week my barn owner was pushing trees over with a mini bobcat (small trees) and my horse SCREAMED in terror at the sound of the "cracking" from the tree falling over, then pissbolted around his paddock. i suppose i can understand this, however the BO had been using the bobcat for a while AND had pushed over other trees.
when riding, he is a VERY fast shyer & reacts sideways (often to the right... huh), enough to unbalance me, and then his usual reaction is to FLEE at tremendous speed in a blind panic.
he takes some time to recover as well & is jittery & worried about other things for a while.
so, any stories or strategies?
Thanks in advance.
my chestnut responds mostly to SOUND spooks more than stuff that he sees. this can include: trees rustling, clacking hooves on pavement or asphalt, people talking/laughing in the distance, banging feedbins, gusts of wind etc.
he doesn't worry too much about flapping tarpaulins or colourful jump fill or whatever, at least, not more than i'd expect a sensitive redhead to worry about.
there are some noises (like mini explosions from aerosol cans thrown into bonfires) that he doesn't even batt an eye at. there is no real discernible pattern to it, except that it causes me untold distress & frustration.
he spooks like this in the paddock/on the lead/under saddle. last week my barn owner was pushing trees over with a mini bobcat (small trees) and my horse SCREAMED in terror at the sound of the "cracking" from the tree falling over, then pissbolted around his paddock. i suppose i can understand this, however the BO had been using the bobcat for a while AND had pushed over other trees.
when riding, he is a VERY fast shyer & reacts sideways (often to the right... huh), enough to unbalance me, and then his usual reaction is to FLEE at tremendous speed in a blind panic.
he takes some time to recover as well & is jittery & worried about other things for a while.
so, any stories or strategies?
Thanks in advance.