 |
| he really is adorable |
Which is why I thought it was really suspicious that Mr Calm and Cool was all of a sudden losing his marbles and spooking at all kinds of random things. ALERT ALERT ALERT ARENA DOOR AHEAD sort of nonsense.
I recognize that it's winter and the cold weather+sometimes limited turnout can cause some behavior changes, but that didn't really feel right. There was something else going on.
 |
| MUST YOU TAKE ANOTHER SUNSET PIC |
So what happens when my usually non-spooky horse leaps dramatically away from the in-gate of the indoor arena?
Well, I look for what scared him, which means I take a little leg off and let him drop impulsion and maybe give up the contact and...
Ding ding ding!! We have a winner.
It was so obvious when I put it in those terms. I had just been talking to a friend of mine and remarking how sweet he's been and wondering where his jackass/smart/evasive side was. Yeah, right there on the surface. Where it always is.Sooooooo.
With that in mind, I put Courage on the bit and made him do ring figures. If he had time to invert and look up, his brain wasn't working hard enough. If he spooked, I kept leg on and rode forward. If he told me he wanted to spook, I pushed the reins at him and rode forward to keep from bracing.
 |
| plus he looks great in my cooler collection |
Yup, Courage.
In fairness, after I hopped off, he had a massive spook in place. Because you know, cold weather+limited turnout really is a thing. It's just not as big of a thing as he wanted me to think it was.
He's such a bastard. It's why I love him.
Bahahaha! Good for you! I have a friend with a young horse, and it's been fun to teach her about "not letting him get away with things." She's never ridden a youngster before, so despite him not being green he's still under the impression that if he tries hard enough he can get out of work by being bad, or ignoring her. She's quickly picking up the confidence and experience to tell when she needs to get after him. It really is a learned skill!
ReplyDeleteMy horses are all spooktastic idiots in the winter. Bend is your friend. Bend the body towards the spooky object, flex the head away from it. Sounds like you got it sorted!
ReplyDeleteI needed that reminder too.... always forgetting to keep moving forward and not let them get away with things like that :D
ReplyDeleteNice try, Courage. Human wins again!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on being a bad-ass and riding through it! I personally like to take my leg off, pull, and curl into the fetal position. I find that super helpful : P
ReplyDeleteYeah, I definitely do this one too. ;-)
DeleteI have to work a little extra to keep Miles focused too this time of year
ReplyDeleteinteresting insights!! i'll have to remember that for whenever the arena thaws lol
ReplyDeleteMy event mare had a couple of weeks off recently, so obviously the smartest thing to do was to saddle her right up without lunging and go straight out on a trail ride. Mare tried to spook, so she got to shoulder-in for 120m (two full-size dressage arena lengths) at a time, collected trot, leg-yield in zigzags from one side to the other of an arena-wide stretch, etc. That settled her a bit.
ReplyDeleteYep. Same deal with mine.
ReplyDeleteHe certainly makes you work for it!
ReplyDeleteCurious, what bit is that in pic #1?
ReplyDeleteI've had more than a couple days like this! And my horse is old enough and broke enough to know better! But this is a good reminder to keep working, do not back off the requests. I am guilty of that, too. And it just makes this worse.
ReplyDeleteThis is an awesome post and completely relevant to what's been going on with the weather. You're completely right in every way. A lot of people don't realize it until they talk it out with a friend and it's so great you had a great ride. :) Here's to more!
ReplyDeleteCheeky Courage! Apollo likes to play this game with me where he pretends he's afraid of something. I used to totally cater to this and let him stop and have a look. Now I just decide to be scarier than whatever scary thing. I made weird noises and jiggles my legs. I have fooled him at his own game! :P
ReplyDeleteWinter spooks are totally obnoxious! Glad you guys worked it out.
ReplyDeleteI wish B would just give up.
ReplyDeleteSidenote, his stall is HUGE. *swoons*
Preach! Hemie had my number for months and months and months with this. Several people had to tell me it was BS before I believed it. My pookie-wookie-being naughty? Say it isn't so. =P
ReplyDeleteOh jeez Tristan does this. At some point every winter he gets sick of the indoor and picks a corner to be "terrified" of. Cue bug-eyes, spooking, flailing, you name it. On one level, I can't blame him. On another - SERIOUSLY, horse? Get over yourself!
ReplyDeleteHehehe smart Courage... erm umm I mean I'm glad you figured it out! :D
ReplyDeleteMoar work + moar forward is the answer to all the problems. ;)
ReplyDelete