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RE: [RC] [RC] The old "drop and spin" arrghhh! - L gin

Must have that, drop and spin gene ;0)-- mine did. I started turning him right back to what spooked him as soon as I could. That seemed to help --- Along with teching him on the ground to spook in place. You can do it with a round pen or a lead. i used a leadline . I would get something sort of scary or new and approach them (holding the longe line) or wave it till they started to spook and spin, Then I would pull them back as soon as I could to look at me, then I backed the object off. (not terrifying or overwhelming them, but timing it so they made the decision to 'leave' and quick.) Then when they faced it , I dropped it or stopped moving it , I went up to pet them. We repeated it. I used plastic bags, tarps, umbrella, stuffed animal whatever I could think of. I never hit them with it or shoved it in their faces. Just told him it was a rock and it was ok--- Now if he starts at something I just tell him it 's a rock.... The only spin I had after that was a pine tree dropping a 8 foot branch next to the trail,my saddle and seat saved me on that one, as I was breathing, we were in the opposite direction. But I had already grabbed the oppisite rein to turn him back.
He thinks that is how to spook, you just need to show him to 'spook in place'--ie. tiny reaction, not a big one. He also thinks you don't understand the dangers out there >g<.................


From: Jennifer Fleet <jlthompson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
Reply-To: Jennifer Fleet <jlthompson@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: ridecamp@xxxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: [RC]   The old "drop and spin"  arrghhh!
Date: Tue, 31 May 2005 11:14:00 -0700 (GMT-07:00)

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



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