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  Discussion on Ditch phobia
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Member:
Kiwi

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 12:44 am:

How do you get a horse to go over ditches and build confidence?
Moderator:
DrO

Posted on Sunday, Aug 10, 2003 - 9:00 am:

Hello Sandy,
Like so much in training horses you start small enough that the horse does not mind then build a little at a time at a rate the horse does not notice the changes.
DrO
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2003 - 2:23 am:

You can lunge them over first before attempting to ride them over if they are inexperienced so that they learn to jump drains without having to worry about the rider's weight.

Imogen
Member:
Goolsby

Posted on Monday, Aug 11, 2003 - 8:55 am:

When I got my first horse (we were both green) I would get off and walk her through water holes and creeks. It was a pain and took awhile before she would step in water. She would still rather go around or jump over, but I make her go through.

About a year ago I rode my friends horse for him that he had just purchased. He is 60 something and old school. When that mare refused to go through a big water hole, he got off (my horse) took a whip and beat her (with me on her) until she was more afraid of him than the water. By the end of the ride she walked right through the water. She also liked to walk backwards down hills.

Im not opposed to a little force and use a crop or slap with end of the reins to convience my horse to go where they dont really want to go. I follow up with lost of praise. But Ive always felt this guy was too rough on his horses (he trades a lot) but they definately do what they are suspose to.
Member:
Chrism

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 - 10:07 am:

If you have a friend with a horse that jumps ditches, go out together and have the more experienced horse show yours the way.

Also, they is a great tendancy of the rider to look in the ditch - don't. Be sure to watch the lead horse in front of you!

Cheers.
Member:
Penner

Posted on Tuesday, Aug 12, 2003 - 1:35 pm:

Hi Sandy, Could you be a little more specific on exactly what you want to do with the ditch? (Ie: jump it, walk thru it, does the ditch have water in it, etc).

For jumping, is your horse a made jumper or green?

For trail riding, what I did with my 2 year old, is recreate a shallow (even 10 inches deep) ditch (find an similar area on the property), & feed some hay in it - but make sure they have to walk into the ditch to get the hay (even if its the 2 front feet only).

At least for me, the 2YO figured out he could walk in it, & it wasn't scary, that way.

Hope that helps.
Member:
Sswiley

Posted on Thursday, Aug 14, 2003 - 12:47 pm:

Sandy I assume that since you use the word "over" you are speaking of jumping ditches as opposed to quietly walking thru.
I had a TB that was deathly afraid of ditches, and I event. I found two ways to school that helps. One is to jump over "pretend" ditches in the arena, this helped when it came to those coffin jumps or any other ditch combination. I would put a tarp or piece of wood down that was only a foot or so wide between stantards, it would look enough like a jump to be familiar.
Another thing to do with earthen ditches that are deeper and more intimidating is to walk them thru the ditch if there is an entrance and exit. Not sure why this helps but they usualy are not so horrified to jump it after that. I think many horses just go stupid about it and dont understand that they can jump it.
If your horse is not even ready for these kind of challenges then start walking thru evey dip and ditch on the sides of the road that you can find. It amazes me how a horse can be horrified at a 6 inch dip on the side of the road but my guy was so I know its possible.
Member:
Kiwi

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 - 8:17 pm:

Hi all

Thanks for the great advice. To give you more information, my horse and I have been eventing at the beginner novice and novice level for 2 years. I just moved him up to training level this summer and all was going fine with ditches, water, etc. until I decided to try some preliminary fences at a local farm. We jumped several large obsticles but when I pointed him to the large and rather imposing coffin, he balked. That's when the trouble began. He never stopped before and at the coffin, I could not get him over it, so I had to walk away. Now he realizes that going over a fence is an option. He will happily jump novice type ditches and tarps made to look like ditches, but when going to a rather large and deep coffin, he slams on the brakes. I'm not sure if he is scared or just being stubborn.
Member:
Althaea

Posted on Wednesday, Aug 27, 2003 - 11:55 pm:

Hi Sandy!
Horses have very poor depth perception when it comes to going over/through water or ditches. What we know is relatively shallow may seem like a hole through the earth to a horse. Everyone's suggestions are quite on the mark.
One thing that I find has helped is to put a small fence on the take off side of a ditch or water. It should be high enough to incorporate the ditch/water in the natural parabola arc (I've had the rather appalling instance of having a horse land in a large deep coffin because the take-off fence was too low. Horse was game though and jumped out vertically of the 5' hole with nary a scratch.) Often a fence constructed so that it leans away - over the ditch is helpful. Placing colored rails on the jump can also help distract the horse away from reacting to the hole too. I often use a "nick, nick" (gentle side to side short quick pulls) to keep the horse's attention on me rather than something terrifying ahead.
Keep us posted on your progress!
Member:
Imogen

Posted on Thursday, Aug 28, 2003 - 3:33 am:

I would lunge the horse over the obstacle in this situation by circle lunging close to the obstacle if at all possible or working with another person put the lunge rope over the coffin and encourage from a safe distance behind with the whip. If necessary bring with you a schoolmaster horse which will jump the obstacle and stand on the far side to encourage... when lunging happily put a rider up first of all with a lead then on own.

Imogen
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