When a horse spooks from an object, let's say a wild plastic bag, I don't allow them to turn from the object. If the horse turns away, whether I'm on their back or on the ground, the first thing they'll tend to do is to run. As long as the horse is straight toward the object, they can back up as much as they want to. (Keep an eye out where their back end is going!) Once they stop and stand for 10 seconds, I'll turn them and walk away from the object. It can be hard for us as riders to slow down to the animal's learning time but we can't get ahead of our horse if we want a partnership that is calm, willing and respectful. I start all my training from the ground first. I teach the basics of walking over, under and through objects and since I'm not on their back, I have a lot more control to direct their behavior. By taking the time the horse needs will not only increase their confidence in me as their leader, but will reprogram their impulsiveness.
More to come tomorrow. Think Spring and happy trails from Rock Solid Arena, LLC
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