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Re: [RC] My experience--Horses Spooking & Spinning - Barbara McCrary

Your technique makes a lot of sense, but in my case, it happened so fast that I didn't have time to think "do this, do that."  Banner has lightning quick reactions!  I kept thinking, afterward, that had I put my right leg on him (he jumped to the right), I might have been able to correct him, as he is very responsive to leg cues.  But I just couldn't react as fast as he does.
 
Barbara
----- Original Message -----
From: Adele H
Sent: Sunday, July 11, 2004 4:23 AM
Subject: Fw: [RC] My experience--Horses Spooking & Spinning

 

Hi Kim,
 
This is kind of hard to explain.  I am not a trainer but have many miles........ That said, we all become one at some time or another.  My quarter horse not only did that spin but reared first and did the spin on her rear legs...... Great rodeo horse if you wanted to keyhole race...never touch a line.....however, very dangerous.
 
Unfortunately, the only way I could fix this was to stay on (grin!)... but first and most important, strengthen her trust in my decisions which seems to come with miles as well as close work on the ground..  This alone may reduce the number of times the animal is spooking....I swear that if they don't feel confident in you and your decisions, they will baby sit you and get you the heck out of a place they just KNOW will eat you too (smile).  Your fear (albeit of what the horse might do and I don't blame you if you keep getting dumped) may translate to fear of those spookies to the horse, and they will be much better if you are a confident rider...............and my attitude had to always be "we are GOING this way, spook or not" and had to overcome the fear myself of her possibly doing it at any time and transfer that to her...... and I would with mind set, do training rides looking for spookies.  Next, was to KNOW the horse.....I found that she would indeed give a sign however subtle or quick, that this was going to take place..... Subtle gait hesitation, ear movement, head movement........ The fortunate thing for me was that Cody always wanted to do right, was very well trained (maybe too much), and really got upset if you punished her..
....sooo
I started riding with blunt english spurs, long legs and rommel reins.....  Although we rode with a long shank western snaffle, on these training rides looking for spookies and thereafter, whenever I saw a "sign", I would ride with a tighter rein and more leg on..... to remind her I was there...... When she did pull these rear and spin tricks, I would bring the inside (if left turn, left rein, etc.)pulled to my knee, continue her in circle a couple times, inside spur at the girth, outside spur behind properly placed in the direction of the spin and turn, rommels flapping, and telling her no,no,no...... I would then realign her to go forward the original way I was going.....because we WERE going....
 
Eventually, with the entire combination of strengthening the relationship and trust and the little routine I had if she DID rear and spin, she started to look to me....again the ever so slight hesitation, ear twitch, etc. and I would keep leg on, and just SHOW her the end of my rommel or say "heh"......and she would sigh and move on.........I no longer needed the spurs...we did very few circles at that point............
 
So, you can work it out.  This is just my experience......the only horse like this in 25 years.....but who knows...maybe I ride mentally positive and assertive since then and transfer that strength automatically as a result of that......
 
Don't know if this will help you...... but so glad it worked for me..   BTW, Cody is retired, never was too good at distance riding...too bulky and .... but loved trying.....She is 32 now and I have had her for 24 years......Taught me a lot she did....!!!
Adele
CTR-1980's  (and thinking about it again!!)
 
 
 

Replies
Fw: [RC] My experience--Horses Spooking & Spinning, Adele H