Versatile Equines Training Tips: Horses that Freak Out: On the Ground

Scary objects: On the ground

If your horse is afraid, listen to him and help him become more confident!

When your horse is 'freaking out' he is not being silly or doing it on purpose. He is actually doing what horses are SUPPOSED to do, it is an instinct that has kept their species alive for centuries. If they sense danger, their innate responses kick in and tell them to get to safety- even if in our eyes we know a plastic bag or tarpaulin will not kill them!

Unfortunately too many times I see people PUNISHING their horses for this, they whack them, yell at them and haul on their mouths, when in reality it is the persons responsibility to better prepare their horses for the many situations we subject them to. Prime example; a rider is warming up in the practice ring for a show, ALL of a sudden a balloon flies past…. the horse FREAKS out, spins around to get to safety and dumps his rider accidentally in the process. The rider hops up angry, embarrassed and disappointed, in their frustration they yank the horse in the mouth and yell at him like he should have known better. My question to these people is… "what have you done prior to this day to help your horse become more confident with spooky objects?"

Thankfully horses can be taught to not rely so heavily on this instinct. It is done through a process called desensitisation. So if your horse is afraid of something, it is your job as his leader to help him over come his fears.

Desensitisation is taught to the horse through a method called 'pressure and release'. It is important to note during desensitisation that the horse learns from the RELEASE OF PRESSURE, not the pressure itself. This is because horses seek comfort, so when the pressure is taken away they feel comfort (release). As such it is CRUCIAL that you release the pressure ONLY when the horse has shown you a sign of relaxing AND they have their feet STILL (and have committed to standing still). If you quit the pressure before he has relaxed, YOU are in effect teaching him that if he freaks out he makes the scary thing go away.

Signs of relaxing include:
-Cocking a hind leg
-Lowering his head
-Blinking
-Yawning
-Licking and chewing
-Sighing
-Blowing snot out his nose
-Being able to stand still for 15 seconds

Scenario Examples
Good: A person is rubbing their horse over with a plastic bag (pressure). After about 10 seconds the horse shows a sign of relaxing while standing still, so the handler takes the bag off the horse and stands still and relaxed (release of pressure). In this situation the horse has been positively reinforced for learning to deal better with the plastic bag
Bad: A person is nervously rubbing their horse over with a plastic bag (pressure), the horse continues to move around and cannot stand still, so the person takes the bag off anyway (release of pressure). In this situation the release of the pressure has further reinforced to the horse that freaking out is the best thing to do.

Tips to effectively teach:
-You may not be able to touch your horse right away so just desensitise the air
-Get him confident with one spooky object, then use the same method for another spooky object.
-Stay calm yourself
-Be CONSISTENT
-Make sure his feet are definitely still
-Do not release the pressure when the horse has not calmed down!
-The same principle can be applied in the saddle (see tomorrows post!)

Common spooky objects include:
-Saddle blanket
-Halter
-Bridle
-Stick
-Plastic bag
-Tarpaulin
-Ropes
-Balls
-Coloured poles

-Horse float