How To Section

Desensitizing your horse

Life for a horse can be pretty scary. In the wild they have to constantly be aware of danger in the form of predators, so thousands of years of this behaviour is ingrained into our horses. There are not likely to be many predators in the meadows of the UK but anything unknown or sudden can make a horse think its life is in danger. They are also herd animals, and being alone or out with a companion they do not trust can be very difficult for them. Another thing to think about is the comfort of the horse. Badly fitting tack or rough treatment will make most horses more likely to take a sudden turn when riding. Its important to know the difference between a scared horse and a horse who is uncomfortable. If there is any doubt, always consult a professional. There are many more variables in horses, but here is a few to think about:

Scared

• Wide eyes • Shaking • Snorting / flared nostrils • Head in the air, not moving about • Refusing to move forward • Standing very still or attempting to spin, bolt, prance or unseat rider • Ears pointed forwards and not flickering

Discomfort

• Reluctance to tack up before a ride • Hollowing the back,  riding with the head to the floor or swinging it • Walking backwards, sidewards without listening to aids or rushing forwards • Ears to the side, flickering or back and a general “grumpy” face • Pawing at the ground • Looking around the area, not focused on one particular area/object • Bucking and rearing or snapping at something with their mouth

Assuming your horse is not in physical

pain, what can you do to make them

unafraid?

Wendy Avery explains: “Hi my name is Wendy. I am 43, have been around horses all of my life and I have two very different horses. I have owned my 18 year old Irish Draft cross 'Nick' since he was 3 years old. He has always been a very brave and confident horse and can remain in control under the most challenging of situations. A lot of people refer to him as 'Bombproof'; however his biggest downfall is someone approaching him to attach a rosette to his bridle or hand me a dressage score sheet. People are surprised when such a calm and confident horse takes fright like this. I never fully resolved this issue, it was easier to simply ask people in advance not to hand me anything or to fold it before handing it over. In most situations, Nick thinks first, then reacts. If I am quick, I can control the reaction he chooses and praise him when his reaction is a safe one. Even if something takes me by surprise, more often than not, Nick's reaction is safe. I am very lucky to have such a wonderful horse, but I could never suggest that he is bombproof. I have owned my 8 year old TB x Shire x cob 'Spider' since he was 3 years old. I realised very early on that Spider is not naturally 'brave' and would never be anywhere near bombproof, so I have tried to make use of his trusting and inquisitive nature to try to help him to cope with situations. If nothing else, I was determined to remain safe if anyone approached him with a 'flappy' thing! Spider will react to something before thinking, so I really have to be several steps ahead of him to try to stay safe. When hacking, I see more and more balloons, bunting, flags, kites and colourful children's' toys now, so I have tried to make these objects part of everyday life for Spider, in the hope that it prevents him from spinning and bolting if he comes across anything when we're out. When he was 3 years old I introduced him to the 'Touch' game by asking him to touch a treat tub lid (target) with his nose, from the verbal command 'Touch!'. When he touched it I would click my tongue and give him a treat with my other hand. I would ask him to reach up and touch the target above his head, round to his side and between his front legs. I also use a cat toy on a stick which has a bell in it, so that he can locate the target by sound if he can't see it. Then I added other objects such as an unopened umbrella and asked him to touch that. The first time I walked across his field with a huge golf umbrella up he instantly knew this was something he would be rewarded for touching! Eventually I was able to hold objects that he was already familiar with whilst riding. I always start slowly, with the object folded, then unfold it as and when safe. I had already got him used to objects being dropped or dragged, so if I had to drop something from his back it wouldn't alarm him more. Children on scooters and cycles often want to catch up with horses to say hello, without realising that they may scare the horse. Despite Nick being terrified of show judges with rosettes, he is excellent with children who run at him carrying all sorts of strange objects. I think his caring nature towards children (and the chance that they are going to stroke him and adore him!) helps. To help Spider with this occurrence, I made use of fly-tipped kiddies' toys which are great, especially if they've seen better days. If the wheels are rusty and out of alignment they rattle, squeak and shoot off at odd angles. I started off at a distance and only got closer as his tolerance and acceptance allowed. Scaring him at this stage would have been a setback. He is an inquisitive type and quickly followed me and my new toys round for treats. I find with some horses that turning my back to a scary object can help. If I'm not scared enough to look at it then hopefully the horse will see it as less of a threat. When hacking, I find that looking over my opposite shoulder on the approach to something which may cause a problem (such as a litter bin or discarded cardboard box) can help in a number of ways: • If your horse spooks you know what you are jumping into • You can turn your horse's head so he is aware of things that are more dangerous than his 'perceived' threat • Your blocking aids on that side are automatically engaged to discourage movement in that direction • Your horse's attention can be diverted to what he thinks you are looking at and you've passed the scary object by the time he looks back! I also leave scary things near their field, paddock or schooling area and gradually move them nearer. They currently have bunting on the paddock fence after I spotted a local bridge with bunting on both sides. Hopefully when crossing the bridge I won't end up in the middle of the road when strong cross winds catch the bunting. I also place objects on my horses' regular route between field and stable. When leading the horse past I make sure I walk next to the object, so that if the horse does panic it will jump away from me, not on top of me. It also helps their confidence if they see that I am happy to go past it confidently. Some horses would like the games I play with Spider, but some would hate it. All horses are different and need an individual approach. It doesn't matter how much work you do, they are still unpredictable, but doing as much as you can to prevent and accident has to be a good thing.”

Calming down your horse

If you hack, you have probably experienced your horse spooking at some point. Or perhaps you have come across a field of horses who are enjoying the sunshine and have decided to go for a gallop along the fence, taking yours with them? Even if you horse is 100% bombproof with vehicles, there is still a chance that it can spook or get feisty,  especially in spring when the sweet grass and fresh air gets into their blood and they begin to think like Red Rum! So what can you do as a rider/handler to control the situation?

Start Easy

When a horse is broken to ride, the basics are instilled. Walk > trot > canter > left or right. But you will need more than that for a good all round horse. If your horse knows what aid is being asked, then it is easier to distract them and calm them down instead of them being confused. If you have an arena or other enclosed space you are in the best position to practice the following, advised to us by Lesley Williams. But we understand that not all people have the use of an arena, so Lesley tells us that it can be done anywhere. In response to our Facebook Question “How would you calm a spooking/fresh horse?” Lesley said: • Lateral flexion • Bend the ribs by leg aids only if not possible tells you horse is bracing or his mind is somewhere else. • Keep their attention on you, back up, move shoulders over etc. All can be done when hacking out, opening gates, going over bridges (particularly motorway ones.) • Practice at home, riding at different speeds within a gait, so three speeds of walk, trot and canter. • Lunge before you ride to take the edge off your horse. If he wants to increase speed going home, it shows and tells us that he's un-confident ... rushing home! Once he gets home work him, rest & work again ... stay chilled you don't want him working that hard that he sweats like crazy .. then tie up for a while. Out hacking get him to walk away from home at different speeds (or trot and canter) on way home, same deal ... slow walk, then medium ... standing still is probably going to wind him up. Let his feet move but direct his energy in a way that keeps his attention on you” Most people get off, feed or turn out. Getting turned out or fed is a treat to the horse, they know that if they go on a hack or a work out that as soon as they come home they get food. This is what entices them to go faster on the way home or to misbehave and get sent back to the stable. Breaking this cycle by a short hack then a work out  or a work out then a hack/lunge (whichever your horse likes least) will change their mind setting, and you might find they want to work at one thing for longer, anticipating something less fun when they finish it!  It is important to praise your horse too, if they behave let them know you’re proud with a soothing voice and a scratch.

Don’t Be Afraid

It is sometimes easier said than done, but anyone riding a horse knows that it can pick up on your emotions and use them. If you are terrified your horse will think “oh, there is something to be afraid of” but will not make the connection that what you are afraid of is your horse! The following tips show how you can calm yourself down, in turn helping to calm your horse: • Breathe! When we are anxious our breathing becomes rapid or stops. Take deep breaths to relax yourself. Singing (even badly) helps us regulate our breaths, so go for it! • Relax your shoulders. Drop your shoulders down and let your arms relax a little too. • Relax your legs. The more tense you are the more your legs will dig in. A sensitive horse may confuse this as an aid. • Smile! Simply smiling can trick your brain into thinking you are happy and confident (honestly, google it)

Soothe Your Horse 

Horses don’t like to be afraid, so work on their natural instincts to bring them back to harmony: • Let your horse look. If it sees no danger it will calm down. Be prepared for it to not like what it sees and spin, but if it does keep it going in the circle to face the problem again until it understands there is no danger. If a car is the “problem” let them know what you are doing and thank them or being patient. • Encourage your horse to lower its head by having low and open arms. A horse is relaxed when its head and ears are down. • Scratch your horses withers and neck as if you are mutually grooming. • Talk in a soothing voice. “Shhh” your horse and talk calmly to it in a low husky “whickering” voice. You can practice this at home, soothing your horse when grooming and just making a it relaxing time for him/her. This will also relax you. • Laugh and Yawn. Even if you are on the verge of tears, yawn and giggle even sing! If you are doing this at home when your horse is relaxed, he will associate the sound with no danger.

Know your horse

If you know what your horses limits are then you can work on them. If you have a new horse always introduce them to a few “scary” things in the arena or yard before hitting the road. If your horse is scared of one particular thing, have one near them at all times (if he is afraid of bikes, have one sitting outside his stable and take it for a spin now and again.) If he is afraid of tractors ask someone with one if you can bring your horse to it to have a sniff of it turned off, then have it turn on and again slowly introduce your horse to it. bomb proofing can start in the arena too. Many people use the following in an arena, and just ride their horse around them: • Umbrellas • Tarpaulin • Wheelbarrows • Bikes • Cars/lawnmowers • Plastic bags on the fence Whilst all this may help its important to know when you are out of your depth. Always consult a professional trainer if things are not progressing and remember to keep yourself safe by wearing protective gear when dealing with anxious horses.