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Discussion on Help Needed With Spooky Arabian Gelding
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 4, 1999 - 12:52 pm:
Hi,
I ride this 8 year old Arabian gelding who is kinda skittish, spooky and hyper. Although he has gone quite away over the last few months but I would like some further tips on schooling/training him. He is a very talented horse and could do very well in horse shows except for him being green. Any suggestions on training methods to make a horse become less skittish, slow down more, be more responsive to the rider, ride easier outdoors and at shows would be greatly appreciated.
Arabgirly
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Posted on Sunday, Jul 4, 1999 - 9:23 pm:
Hi Andrea,
the only advice is to practise in all sorts of conditions over and over and over again. Ride around scary stuff, with others, alone, outside, inside. The more you work this horse the better he'll respond in scary situations. When you do take him outside or to a show ask him to do what he can do really well, not the stuff you're still working on. Because he's distracted you need to fall back on the over-learned stuff otherwise you'll blow his mind. But with the familiar stuff (gait changes, direction changes etc.,) he'll feel comfortable and will be more likely to react. Also you must keep a very calm manner. I've found it effective to allow my horse to look at what's scary and then tell him what it is (e.g.,"oh, it's just that **** pheasant again"). while I know he doesn't speak total english he seems to have an "oh, okay" response. Then once he's looked at it I put him back to work and insist that he stay there. It helps a lot if your horse is a freezer rather then a runner.
good luck
Teresa
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idaL. |
Posted on Monday, Jul 5, 1999 - 10:06 am:
Hi Andrea: your horse sounds like he is trying hard for you. I am going to suggest you take everything very slowly... make everything extremely easy and comfortable for him. If he is new to you, even leading him to nice grass and let him eat while you read a book under a tree helps. Do lots of bonding and building trust exercise.
Ida
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