This is an archived Horseadvice.com Discussion. The parent article and menus are available on the navigation menu below:
HorseAdvice.com » Training & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Behavior Modification, Conditioning, Desensitization, and Counterconditioning »
  Discussion on Horse Spooks When Dismounting
Author Message
Member:
lhenning

Posted on Friday, Jul 11, 2008 - 5:13 pm:

Hi Folks,

Last month, when I dismounted my foot got hung up and I accidentally poked my horse in the side. He spooked from it. Every time I dismounted after that, he kept spooking before my feet hit the ground. It had me pretty rattled and my first thought was to post on HA and find out what to do.

Then I got to thinking . . . I should know what to do. I've been riding my 7 year old QH for 5 years now and even though I was a beginner when I started I have learned so much through the years. It took some trial and error, but I figured out how to get him to stop spooking when I dismount. So rather than post to ask the question, I thought I would post and tell others how to correct this.

1. My biggest problem is I get nervous when my horse spooks. At first, I kept freezing up and pretty much jumping off as quick as possible because I was afraid. I realized my brain is no different than the horse brain. When I am afraid, I stop thinking and just react. Unfortunately, my reactions are all wrong and only make the problem worse. What worked for me was talking to my horse and telling him in a calm manner exactly what I was doing with each step. That way, I kept thinking through my actions and not freezing up.

2. When he did spook, I stayed on and stayed with him all the way through it. It was not as scarey as I had envisioned and once I got past my own fear, it was nothing. I kept talking to him calmly and once he stopped moving, I praised him enthusiastically.

3. I once again started dismounting and talking through the steps. This time, he did not move so I praised him. At this point, I am over his side with one foot in a stirrup, so I leaned against the saddle and slipped the other foot out of the stirrup. I was balanced if he moved, I would stay with him, but he did not move! I praised him again and s l o w l y slid to the ground. He spooked a teeny bit as I got near the ground but all in all, he was much better than before.

4. I repeated this the next time I dismounted and he did not move at all!!

So I am feeling today like a real horsewoman!! I had a big problem and solved it. I also learned how to work through my fear issues and hopefully will be able to use this in the future.

Thanks for being such good teachers!!

Linda
Member:
scooter

Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 7:33 am:

Linda it is such a good feeling when we are able to finally start solving are own problems. The fear factor is a hard one to over come sometimes...congrats!

It's always nice to know we have HA to fall back on though...just in case.
Member:
ajudson1

Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 8:39 am:

Linda,

I love a success story!! I think it's human nature (maybe just my nature) to forget to step back a moment and look through the horses eyes and learn that instead of focusing on the end result, use baby steps to get the problems solved. Getting past your fear to overcome his fear is a biggie. And staying with him to work through it even a bigger thrill as you've found. Now you both trust each other again and can move forward.
Member:
canter

Posted on Saturday, Jul 12, 2008 - 9:50 am:

Well done, Linda! You are to be congratulated for working through this issue systematically and calmly. Others are sure to learn from it. Thanks for sharing!
Home Page | Top of Page | Join Us!
Horseadvice.com is a BBB Accredited Business. Click for the BBB Business Review of this Horse Training in Stokesdale NC