Fear of leading ancy horses, any ideas?

Paint_luver · 04-07-2005, 04:42 PM

Okay, I've been embarassed to admit this for a while, but really would like some suggestions.

Over a year ago one day, I was leading Buddy in the barn. Something spooked him and he bolted and knocked me over, running me over. I was not seriously hurt, but ever since then I get really nervous when leading a nervous or ancy horse, especially one I'm not overly familar with. Since I am not riding Midas right now (for obvious reasons) I just thought I'd start desensitizing him to a whole bunch of stuff and the whole area in and around my barn/stables. He gets alert while going in new areas and looking at new stuff, and has never really done anything bad since that first day when he reared and what now, but I still get nervous because I can tell he is slightly nervous.

He is a SUPER curious boy (he picked up a pop can I didn't notice today and chomped it!

) and he's absolutely fine once he sees whatever he's unsure about and is able to prod at it with his nose. The problem is, from what I can tell he's the type of horse that feeds off of others' emotions to a fair extent. So when I get nervous, he gets more nervous. I know this, and I know I need to keep calm, but I just can't seem to be able to! So, I need ideas on how to keep myself calm so I can keep my horse calm. I'd also like some ideas on how you handle a nervous horse (other than keeping calm) and how to handle an ancy horse so that I can feel more at ease knowing exactly what to do.

Okay, start the posts! And please try not to laugh at me TOO much, I know this is so darn silly.

eventin_papa · 04-07-2005, 04:49 PM

just keep your cool..when im leading/working with ancy horses i just make them stop and stand there and back up..and they learn to stay behind me and not do anything bad!

Cowgirl2135 · 04-07-2005, 04:52 PM

Make you horse lead by you, you only want to head their head on the corner of your eyes. Not their neck, and make sure it not DIRECTLY behind you.

Paint_luver · 04-07-2005, 04:52 PM

I know I have to keep my cool, but how? I even know it at the time, but no matter how hard I try, I can't just make myself calm down.

I do lots of backing too. It still scares me sometimes though, because when my gelding ran over me he was a fair distance back...

Paint_luver · 04-07-2005, 04:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cowgirl2135

Make you horse lead by you, you only want to head their head on the corner of your eyes. Not their neck, and make sure it not DIRECTLY behind you.

Okay, thanks. That's the distance I lead Midas at now I think. I never lead a horse directly behind me either. The time Buddy ran over me he was a little bit further back then you described, but to the side and actually bolted sideways and into me...

Thrills · 04-07-2005, 04:56 PM

I found with young horses, and recently off the track thourghbreds, that sometimes putting my hand on their neck gives their confidence a little extra boost, as if we're in this together. I like to talk softly to them too...its okay big fella...who's my pretty boy...

TrickPony · 04-07-2005, 04:58 PM

Well...
I've had a few horses come over me and I agree - it's NOT fun! So I make all of my horses insainly respectful. Hah.
Your horse should always stay about 3 feet behind you when you're leading him. He should follow you, not stand at your shoulder. If you feel like you have to yank on him to make him walk at your speed, SMACK HIM HARD with the leadrope across the chest and make him back up about 5 feet. Ideally, your horse should watch you so closely that when you back up, he backs up with no pressure (i.e. he always stays 3 feet away).
I'm sure you know this, but make sure to hold your leadrope - never wrap it around your hand/body/whatever (I see SOOO many people do this!)
Train your horse to walk behind and to the right of you so that you can always see him in the corner of your eye. When you want him to get back, really hit him with the leadrope to get your point across.
Hoped that helped... sometimes it's hard to explain!
BTW, why aren't you riding your horse? I haven't been on in a while... I probably missed something...

Cowgirl2135 · 04-07-2005, 05:00 PM

You don't want it behind you, you need to see them, thier head should be by your shoulders. Mabie 3 feet AWAY from the shoulder sideways, not behind you, you need to keep on eye on them.

o0HunteR0o · 04-07-2005, 05:01 PM

Whenever I'm leading a horse thats overly ancy, I always make sure I dont let them get too far in front/to far behind me, and I keep a tighter than usual grip on the line about 3-4 inches under the halter buckle. Act like youre confident and aren't gonna take any you-know-what from them. If they get spooky, just say 'come on, its ok' in a confident voice and give the line a little wiggle. Act very nonchalant, let their fears be their own. That usually distracts my horse from whatever he's staring at. Youll get over it eventually, bad experiences really mess with your confidence. You just need a couple REALLY good experiences with it, and you'll start to realize your capabilities!

o0HunteR0o · 04-07-2005, 05:03 PM

Forgot to add: If they're being snotty and disrespectful, do not be afraid to give a few firm, meaningful yanks on the line. Disrespect is dangerous. Good luck

04-07-2005, 04:42 PM	#1
Paint_luver Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 5,893 Images: 297 Blog Entries: 138	Fear of leading ancy horses, any ideas? Okay, I've been embarassed to admit this for a while, but really would like some suggestions. Over a year ago one day, I was leading Buddy in the barn. Something spooked him and he bolted and knocked me over, running me over. I was not seriously hurt, but ever since then I get really nervous when leading a nervous or ancy horse, especially one I'm not overly familar with. Since I am not riding Midas right now (for obvious reasons) I just thought I'd start desensitizing him to a whole bunch of stuff and the whole area in and around my barn/stables. He gets alert while going in new areas and looking at new stuff, and has never really done anything bad since that first day when he reared and what now, but I still get nervous because I can tell he is slightly nervous. He is a SUPER curious boy (he picked up a pop can I didn't notice today and chomped it! ) and he's absolutely fine once he sees whatever he's unsure about and is able to prod at it with his nose. The problem is, from what I can tell he's the type of horse that feeds off of others' emotions to a fair extent. So when I get nervous, he gets more nervous. I know this, and I know I need to keep calm, but I just can't seem to be able to! So, I need ideas on how to keep myself calm so I can keep my horse calm. I'd also like some ideas on how you handle a nervous horse (other than keeping calm) and how to handle an ancy horse so that I can feel more at ease knowing exactly what to do. Okay, start the posts! And please try not to laugh at me TOO much, I know this is so darn silly. __________________ "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed ." Ralph Waldo Emerson

04-07-2005, 04:49 PM	#2
eventin_papa Senior Member+ Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: 7th stall down, california Posts: 2,623 Images: 129 Blog Entries: 4	just keep your cool..when im leading/working with ancy horses i just make them stop and stand there and back up..and they learn to stay behind me and not do anything bad! __________________ Fen Cera "Ash" THF Countdown Days until Next Show :17

04-07-2005, 04:52 PM	#3
Cowgirl2135 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 3,460 Images: 32	Make you horse lead by you, you only want to head their head on the corner of your eyes. Not their neck, and make sure it not DIRECTLY behind you. __________________ My Quarter Horse is better than your 4th level dressage horse!

04-07-2005, 04:52 PM	#4
Paint_luver Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: Iowa Posts: 5,893 Images: 297 Blog Entries: 138	I know I have to keep my cool, but how? I even know it at the time, but no matter how hard I try, I can't just make myself calm down. I do lots of backing too. It still scares me sometimes though, because when my gelding ran over me he was a fair distance back... __________________ "Riding a horse is not a gentle hobby to be picked up and laid down like a game of Solitaire. It is a grand passion. It seizes a person whole and, once it has done so, he will have to accept that his life will be radically changed ." Ralph Waldo Emerson

04-07-2005, 04:56 PM	#6
Thrills Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,975 Images: 450 Blog Entries: 60	I found with young horses, and recently off the track thourghbreds, that sometimes putting my hand on their neck gives their confidence a little extra boost, as if we're in this together. I like to talk softly to them too...its okay big fella...who's my pretty boy... __________________ Some days you are the dog...some days the hydrant HR director of the FF Club I've Been Gobbled by Thom Turkey!!! http://www.millan.net/minimations/sm...turkeytalk.gif

04-07-2005, 04:58 PM	#7
TrickPony Senior Member+ Join Date: Jun 2004 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado Posts: 2,691 Images: 242 Blog Entries: 23	Well... I've had a few horses come over me and I agree - it's NOT fun! So I make all of my horses insainly respectful. Hah. Your horse should always stay about 3 feet behind you when you're leading him. He should follow you, not stand at your shoulder. If you feel like you have to yank on him to make him walk at your speed, SMACK HIM HARD with the leadrope across the chest and make him back up about 5 feet. Ideally, your horse should watch you so closely that when you back up, he backs up with no pressure (i.e. he always stays 3 feet away). I'm sure you know this, but make sure to hold your leadrope - never wrap it around your hand/body/whatever (I see SOOO many people do this!) Train your horse to walk behind and to the right of you so that you can always see him in the corner of your eye. When you want him to get back, really hit him with the leadrope to get your point across. Hoped that helped... sometimes it's hard to explain! BTW, why aren't you riding your horse? I haven't been on in a while... I probably missed something... __________________ "I do what I please and I do it with ease." I've been booed!

04-07-2005, 05:00 PM	#8
Cowgirl2135 Senior Member+ Join Date: May 2004 Location: California, USA Posts: 3,460 Images: 32	You don't want it behind you, you need to see them, thier head should be by your shoulders. Mabie 3 feet AWAY from the shoulder sideways, not behind you, you need to keep on eye on them. __________________ My Quarter Horse is better than your 4th level dressage horse!

04-07-2005, 05:01 PM	#9
o0HunteR0o Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 636	Whenever I'm leading a horse thats overly ancy, I always make sure I dont let them get too far in front/to far behind me, and I keep a tighter than usual grip on the line about 3-4 inches under the halter buckle. Act like youre confident and aren't gonna take any you-know-what from them. If they get spooky, just say 'come on, its ok' in a confident voice and give the line a little wiggle. Act very nonchalant, let their fears be their own. That usually distracts my horse from whatever he's staring at. Youll get over it eventually, bad experiences really mess with your confidence. You just need a couple REALLY good experiences with it, and you'll start to realize your capabilities!

04-07-2005, 05:03 PM	#10
o0HunteR0o Senior Member+ Join Date: Dec 2003 Posts: 636	Forgot to add: If they're being snotty and disrespectful, do not be afraid to give a few firm, meaningful yanks on the line. Disrespect is dangerous. Good luck

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Are We Over Vaccinating Our Horses?	Sandra-A1	Horse Health	65	01-17-2007 01:58 AM
Gastric Ulcers	DefinitelyADreamer	Horse Health	7	04-07-2005 06:43 PM
History of the Appy	CountryBoy	Horse Breeding	10	02-12-2005 06:28 PM
Celebration Releases......~	Sandra-A1	Horse Chat	0	01-19-2005 06:08 AM
EPSM in draft horses	SirCharles	Horse Health	4	09-15-2004 02:18 PM