Problems with horses shying
Aug 13th, 2008 by Carolyn Resnick Method
Today what I would like to talk to you about is horses that shy and I’m sure a lot of people would like to have an idea of why this can happen. There are of course many reasons why a horse shies and it is sometimes very complicated to say exactly what it is. Many times however the horse shies because something spooks him and he wants to get back some control. So instead of performing the act that he is being asked to, he shies. In those circumstances, the best way to get over it is opposite to what most people do. The traditional thing to do is try to to get the horse used to the object in question. Instead, try this. Ride your horse past the object, do not pay any attention to it and continue on your way. This way gets the horse over the idea that he needs to control the situation.
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This is a contiuum from that last thought…I realised I made it sound as though it took three years to get Rocky over spooking, and that is not at all what I meant. I meant that Rocky has been a challenging horse to forge a bond with…he came to me after years of being bought, trained for different needs and sold. He was shut down and totally withdrawn into himself. It took three years to help him emerge from this inward place.
He and I took a journey together towards coming out of a place of abandonment and force. Learning that I could be his leader, and he could trust my judgement has been a key for both of us to unlock a deep happiness.
Last night, I groomed him at midnight under the stars. We live in Vermont, and there is no light pollution here. He lifted his great head to rest on my shoulder. AS I looked up into his eye, I could see the reflection of the stars in it. He is a grey fjord – so he is colored like a Grulla. His dark face blended in with the night sky and the milky way. only his eyes shone. I thought to myself “Ahhh – I am having a MOMENT…”
Hi there, I just read the piece about shying.
First of all, thank you for all your good work. I am so happy to have found you…
I have been working with rescue horses for a few years…and learning in my own way how to relate to them as horses. One thing I have discovered, that a horse taught me, is to act like a sentry when there is something troublesome out there in the world. I will stare hard at the goblin, and blow short bursts – usually three. If this alone does not return my horse’s attention to me, then I may take a menacing step towards it, and blow one more time…either way, I finish by dramaticly sighing, stepping aside and yawning. I use my body to “decide” the goblin is nothing.
In this way, I helped a terrified PMU mare to overcome her absolute fear of big trucks. She was living next to a gravel pit, and several times a day a big truck would go by. She had severely injured herself panicking about them. I stood in her paddock with her, and performed this ritual during a busy time of day. by the third truck, she was looking to me to tell her it was ok…by the fourth truck, she had “decided” they were no longer a threat. That was the end of her panic over big trucks.
My mare, Dakota, had taught me this lesson. When I first got her, it was mid winter and I had to travel an hour to see her. I basicly put her in the indoor arena and practiced moving her around at liberty. In truth, I wanted to understand horse, but at first I was using methods and techniques to get the ball rolling. I had lost my natural ability to move with her, and the methods filled in until she and I could begin to understand eachother.
It happened one day, when some snow fell off the roof. It was a truly terrifying noise…I even jumped. I watched her position herself between me and the noise, and was struck by the power of her protective stance. Her feeling of guarding me was a surprise and also unmistakeable. A few weeks later, I went to get her from the back acres, in which there was a herd of about 20 horses. I suddenly realized that not all those horses were so keen on humans, and that I was in the middle of two conflicting mini-herds. Dakota had risen to the top of the ranks, and she herded me onto a manure pile – higher ground. then she left me and gently but firmly began herding all the other horses away from the path I would need to take to get out of there. It took her some time, but she finally stood half way up the path between where I was standing and the gate. Then she sent the message to me – loudly – “move NOW.” I could not help myself. As I walked up the corridor she had made, I “felt” an invisible protection all around me, coming from Dakota.
It is a combination of this feeling that she surrounded me with, and the actual style of snorting and blowiing with total focus, and total peacefulness when the spook is over that I sought to emulate. It has taken practice, but when I have shown people how to blow at a goblin, there have been times where the horse literally puts his head behind the person – and hides, sighing with relief. For the first time ever, horses begin to feel that their human is looking out for them.
My horse Rocky, a Fjord who was gelded at five, is ever watchful. He protects his mares and has actually attacked a Rottweiler and several coyotes. I have heard him growl…I never knew horses could growl. On a trail ride alone, he did not believe that I could watch out for him when we first started riding. It took 3 years to develop a bond – but now if there is a scary trash can, I can simply look firmly at it, and he instantly softens under me “thanks, Mom, I didn’t know WHAT that was…”
However, as you are so good at saying, this ritual must be done with feeling and awareness. staring at an object, fearing what the horse may do and feebly snorting at it will get a quick ride home!
Excellent advice! It also works on dogs too, by the way. I’m so happy you addressed people who pat their horses and tell them they’re okay when they’re scared. That makes me nuts. If there’s one way to have a problem continue longer than it needs to, that’s it.
I stumbled upon a woman working at PetsMart the other day who mentioned she was interested in learning more about natural horse training. I started gushing about you and your ideas, and she was hooked. I’m not positive, but I’d bet a lot of money you’ve got another fan. Just thought you’d want to know…
Hi Carolyn!
That is great advice not to pay any attention to what my horse is shying at. I find myself looking at what my horse is scared of and then things get worse. Next time I will try staying focused on what we are doing instead of trying to figure out what my horse is looking at.
Thanks