Running into Confidence Issues with Your Horse or Rider Fears?

Join horseman, Ken McNabb and guest rider Janie and her barrel/pole bending horse as they overcome horse & rider fears.

WHAT PROBLEMS HAS JANIE BEEN HAVING WITH HER HORSE? When her horse is tied up, he likes to pull back and he is especially spooky at unfamiliar obstacles.

KENS NOTES: This horses problem leads back to a confidence issue in general. The horse doesn’t understand he can trust Janie, that she is the leader. The horse believes it is solely up to him to take care of himself and often that means run and get out of dodge. Overall, there are generally only 2 reasons why a horse spooks: 1- the horse is young and truly scared 2- the horse is older and has learned that this is where a release comes from.

DESENSITIZING? As Ken works with Janie and her horse, he explains that he does not like the word desensitizing. It is important to have a sensitive horse. However, you must teach the horse to in all circumstances control his emotions and often this is also the rider learning to change their thought process.

In this case, Ken helps Janie with the following steps.

1. Pick and practice a bending/softening exercise in a controlled environment (such as a roundpen) until horse and rider know it well. Often circles or a figure 8 are great!

2. Now, in a spooky situation as soon as the horse starts to get out of dodge calm yourself and go straight into working the exercises you have been practicing. Regardless of what the horse does, continue to have the visual of that exercise and make him work his feet doing it. Pretty soon your horse determines that gee if every time I spook, I have to get sweaty, the cost of spooking isn’t really worth it.

3. Remember, your goal is to show the horse where the right answer is so he follows it from now on. Do not allow him to get a release from spooking.

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Until Next Time, May God Bless the Trails You Ride~ Ken

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