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[RC] train your horse to like bikes (and other spooks) - Dawn Simas
I've found that if Amigo is scared of something, I can help him get over it by chasing it. There's an access road from Drivers Flat to Francisco's on the Tevis trail and it takes about a 2 mile ride on the dirt road to get to the river. River Rafting companies use it and their vans with loud clangy racks and rafts on top are terrifying. Until the day that as soon as it passed, I spurred Amigo to chase it at a safe distance, like a cow. Now he doesn't mind at all. Same went for when a mountain bike passed, I dropped in and sped up and chased it a bit. Dirt bike, jogger with rattling ice in his bottle, even deer that go down the trail a bit. Worked like a charm for him. I was taught this by a cowboy. Amigo was afraid of cows. Until he went into a herd and they moved away from him. Psychologically, he sees that they aren't predators, but can be pushed around like other horses in a herd. He always strives to be dominant, so this pleases him immensely. :) Dawn
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