My horse is really nervous?

[Daisyy]

Basically, he was stabled for ages, and also, he lived in a pub garden near a motorway for six months, needless to say he hasn't seen much.

I tried just taking him out on a little walk today (lead rope and head collar) it was only about five minutes long, but he seemed so shocked by everything, he kept trying to trot, and I had to stop him, I know he's okay with traffic, but everything else he just puts his head right up and starts trying to trot, I have quite a good bond with him (he follows me everywhere, even though I don't give him treats) and he respects me whilst in his paddock, at the barn, riding in the school etc, its just outside.

I don't get nervous with him outside, like when we start out, but when he starts trotting, and throwing his head high, and walking close it me, its just really intimidating. What should I do? Just get him use to things?

Helpp!

[corny girl]

Does he wear a Martingale? That would stop him throwing his head up .

[Daisyy]

Nope he doesnt (: Though thats a good idea!

I heard of this method where you basically teach them to put their head down by pulling slightly on the leadrope, which makes them calm. Do you reckon that would work?

[mizz_honesty]

Are you leading out in-hand or ridding out? As if your leading out have you tried leading him in a bridle to give you a bit more control? Head collar doesn't really give you much control for when they start lifting there heads up

[Daisyy]

In hand (:

[mizz_honesty]

I'd try leading out in a bridle first to see if the extra control that gives you helps first and then taking it from there.

[Daisyy]

Okay thanks! (: I'll try it tomorrow

[annabel]

Right, hard as it is, you're going to have to 'fake it till you make it'. My mare is sharp as hell & an absolute spookmonster -especially when I was meant to be walking out in hand after box rest -, but she's completely kidding on. Act confident, relaxed, moderate your tone of voice so that your fear & panic can't be heard - much harder than it sounds, I know.

Take every precaution. Lead in a bridle with a lungeline put over the poll (slot through nearside bit ring, over head, and clip on offside bitring), gloves, hat & body protector. Keep the lead short.Try & lead out with a confident bombproof type ahead. I personally think de-spooking is safer from on-board...

When the horse starts to jog, use your right hand elbow and give a jab to the shoulder whilst applying gentle poll pressure with the lunge line & slowing down your walking till you can both reach a halt, giving a clear verbal command (I use wo-oah). Lowering the head is a calming sign in the horse world, so if you encourage working low then you'll make better progress. Be very careful if you stop to let the horse graze - they're more likely to panick then if they're a spooky type & you don't want to be in the line of fire. If he's nappy, carry a long dressage stick with you - preferably a tab end one - and give him a 'walk on' command verbally & back it up with your stick. Be really firm, take your time & be gentle but don't pander to any nonsense. You can't think 'oh how funny bless the poor half ton lamb lamb look how he spooks at a rustling leaf', think 'walk ON' and ignore it.

Also, have another look at his diet. You don't say anything about his age, workload, breeding etc - My mare is German with lots of Trakehner blood (known for being tricky) so I know she is always going to be sharp so I don't ever go on walks, and it's a case of management so no oats, barley, starchy feed, alfalfa... Basically hay, chaff, and a bit of outshine.

[Daisyy]

Thankyou annbell! (:

He's an 11 year old TB ex racer, he's fed on purely grass in the summer

[Pimperella]

Originally Posted by annabel

Right, hard as it is, you're going to have to 'fake it till you make it'. My mare is sharp as hell & an absolute spookmonster -especially when I was meant to be walking out in hand after box rest -, but she's completely kidding on. Act confident, relaxed, moderate your tone of voice so that your fear & panic can't be heard - much harder than it sounds, I know.

Take every precaution. Lead in a bridle with a lungeline put over the poll (slot through nearside bit ring, over head, and clip on offside bitring), gloves, hat & body protector. Keep the lead short.Try & lead out with a confident bombproof type ahead. I personally think de-spooking is safer from on-board...

When the horse starts to jog, use your right hand elbow and give a jab to the shoulder whilst applying gentle poll pressure with the lunge line & slowing down your walking till you can both reach a halt, giving a clear verbal command (I use wo-oah). Lowering the head is a calming sign in the horse world, so if you encourage working low then you'll make better progress. Be very careful if you stop to let the horse graze - they're more likely to panick then if they're a spooky type & you don't want to be in the line of fire. If he's nappy, carry a long dressage stick with you - preferably a tab end one - and give him a 'walk on' command verbally & back it up with your stick. Be really firm, take your time & be gentle but don't pander to any nonsense. You can't think 'oh how funny bless the poor half ton lamb lamb look how he spooks at a rustling leaf', think 'walk ON' and ignore it.

Also, have another look at his diet. You don't say anything about his age, workload, breeding etc - My mare is German with lots of Trakehner blood (known for being tricky) so I know she is always going to be sharp so I don't ever go on walks, and it's a case of management so no oats, barley, starchy feed, alfalfa... Basically hay, chaff, and a bit of outshine.

Very good post. was an article in one of the Horse Magazines last month about gaining the right control and being positive and focused in leading them on.
In breaking Spooky in, we walked her past everything new and just kept doing so while being positive and focused upon walking her past things and her being able to take the lead from me that the cows in the field or whatever it was, weren't anything to be concerned about and that confidently getting her to walk on with confident tone and positive body language.
Think too many people get too nambypamby with horses and allow them to get away with too much. Then when they can't cope and the horse is sold on, worse than it started with. It becomes someone elses problem. But if that horse had been given positive training, then maybe the situation could have been sorted.