Home Current News News Archive Shop/Advertise Ridecamp Classified Events Learn/AERC
Endurance.Net Home Ridecamp Archives
ridecamp@endurance.net
[Archives Index]   [Date Index]   [Thread Index]   [Author Index]   [Subject Index]

[RC] The old "drop and spin" arrghhh! - Jennifer Fleet

Okay....my gelding Shahtahr is on the road to recovery from last year's injury 
and we are back in conditioning mode.  Everything is going quite well and is he 
feeling quite full of himself, except for one very irritating habit he's 
developing - or actually, one he's always had from time to time, but he's doing 
it more and more recently.... the infamous "drop and spin" move whenever he 
spooks.

I'm actually beginning to believe he thinks it's quite fun.  It used to be only 
big scary things that would make him drop his shoulder and do a 
lightening-quick 180, but now it's small stuff - a dog barking behind a fence, 
a squirrel running out from a bush...even riding by a horse tethered to a tree 
behind some bushes near the trail.  All three of these took place yesterday.  
The dog barking one almost unseated me.  I was hanging off his side with mane 
in my left hand and a rein in my right, when thank God he stopped spinning and 
stood still.

I want to smack him hard (not really) when he does this.  It's getting more and 
more often and I'm wondering what I should do to get a handle on it.  I don't 
mind if he spooks, but he is over-reacting to everything now.  A squirrel does 
not call for a 180 spin and a bolt for cryin out loud!

I have tried just staying calm and talking to him very matter of factly, 
telling him he's silly, let's keep going, etc.  I've never done the crooning, 
soothing stuff...I think that may teach them to spook more.

Should I start punishing him for this or what?  I don't want to punish him if 
he is truly scared, but this is getting dangerous.  I don't mind a startle, a 
little jump to the side, but that's not what I'm getting lately.  :(

Nothing has changed as far as tack.   Feed has only changed in that I've 
started adding a tiny bit (one 8 oz cup) of dry COB to his beet pulp because he 
started turning his nose up at it.   I can't believe 1 cup of COB would make a 
difference, but maybe..?   Or maybe he's just feeling good (or nervous?) 
because he's finally back out on the trail after a year of rest and slow rehab?

Any suggestions from those of you that have dealt with these kind of spooks 
would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks,
Jennifer



=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=

Ridecamp is a service of Endurance Net, http://www.endurance.net.
Information, Policy, Disclaimer: http://www.endurance.net/Ridecamp
Subscribe/Unsubscribe http://www.endurance.net/ridecamp/logon.asp

Ride Long and Ride Safe!!

=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=