Scary tractors and water trucks, any advice..

clyde-gal · 05-19-2005, 08:11 PM

Hi guys! The ranch where I board at, has a water truck that they seem to love to roam around in and spray everything until it gets muddy, then a few hours later they are back in the water truck, if they aren't using the water truck they are using the tractors around the property. Some times they are careless and drive too fast, and sometimes they drive around with the skip in the air with someone on it.

Heres the prob: Buddy is scared of both of them. He wasn't too bad awhile ago but now he has relapsed into being scared again!

Heres what I do: If I'm riding I put Buddy into a shoulder in if he is acting up, sometimes we will stop and I'll let him look and other times I keep him busy. He is better if I keep him busy, yet I know my heart is racing I try to calm down because I know he can sense it. I've talked to the ranch hands and the owners if they could be a bit more careful. When he is tied up I usually stand behind him and slow the tractor down and let Buddy know that if the scary tractor is going to get one of us it will be me 1st. Also if he starts pulling back I can have him step forward. (although he doesn't go back he just moves side to side, which I think is ok so he can see).

What else can I do to comfort and fix this challenge?

dallasbarnone · 05-19-2005, 09:33 PM

well its kind of hard if they wont stop doing it- and he's being frightend when you arent there too. Only way you might make it less scary is use the truck for a " treat clicker " instead of a clicker. If you are there and the truck comes -give him a treat - sugar cube might be safer in case he spooks so he doesnt "choke" - maybe sooner or later it will be a good thing in his mind instead of a bad one. If you arent there with him at least he will know that when you are around its a good thing instead of a bad one- just dont give him the treat while hes actively spooking - you dont want to reward him for that- but when he stands still and maybe just as its coming before he spooks quickly give it to him -i dont know if this will work but it works with a clicker so why not?

dallasbarnone · 05-19-2005, 09:39 PM

oopps- also that is what i do - keep them busy so they got their feet moving- if you are going to stand behind him like you said - watch out that he doesnt go over the top of you if he does pull back!

ladida · 05-19-2005, 10:27 PM

With us, the horses at our barn feed the horses with the tractors, so they love them. Isabel isn't though as she is in a barn that can't fit a tractor. She was terrified of them, but she has calmed down. It has really helped that she has an outside part of her stall too so she can see them when they drive by. Maybe turn him out when they are doing mroe driving stuff (but not in the arena) so he can adjust to them by himself. Maybe also turn him out with a non scared buddy, so he can realize they aren't monsters.

Thrills · 05-20-2005, 09:06 AM

My mare runs the tractors down because she assosciates them with food! Is there anyway to keep him in a pen beside where they are working with the tractors? If they are running beside him during his off time, he might get desensitized to their noise and movement-it might not seem like such a big deal to him anymore-just the usual routine.

horsetrainer · 05-20-2005, 05:33 PM

if you can find someone with a tractor have them drive it and you follow it with your horse. Horses are not as afraid when the item is moving away from them and they'll build confidence with being around it. after having it go away have it move around and you ride around it... if afraid, go back to following it again. doesn't take to long and they calm right down (assuming your horse calms down when you ride without the tractor around, if not you have a whole different problem to solve).

good luck....

05-19-2005, 08:11 PM	#1
clyde-gal Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: California Posts: 504 Images: 22	Scary tractors and water trucks, any advice.. Hi guys! The ranch where I board at, has a water truck that they seem to love to roam around in and spray everything until it gets muddy, then a few hours later they are back in the water truck, if they aren't using the water truck they are using the tractors around the property. Some times they are careless and drive too fast, and sometimes they drive around with the skip in the air with someone on it. Heres the prob: Buddy is scared of both of them. He wasn't too bad awhile ago but now he has relapsed into being scared again! Heres what I do: If I'm riding I put Buddy into a shoulder in if he is acting up, sometimes we will stop and I'll let him look and other times I keep him busy. He is better if I keep him busy, yet I know my heart is racing I try to calm down because I know he can sense it. I've talked to the ranch hands and the owners if they could be a bit more careful. When he is tied up I usually stand behind him and slow the tractor down and let Buddy know that if the scary tractor is going to get one of us it will be me 1st. Also if he starts pulling back I can have him step forward. (although he doesn't go back he just moves side to side, which I think is ok so he can see). What else can I do to comfort and fix this challenge? __________________ Clyde-gal "Enjoy the little things in life, for one day you will look back and realize they were the big things." Unknown

05-19-2005, 10:27 PM	#4
ladida Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: California Posts: 3,731 Images: 221 Blog Entries: 33	With us, the horses at our barn feed the horses with the tractors, so they love them. Isabel isn't though as she is in a barn that can't fit a tractor. She was terrified of them, but she has calmed down. It has really helped that she has an outside part of her stall too so she can see them when they drive by. Maybe turn him out when they are doing mroe driving stuff (but not in the arena) so he can adjust to them by himself. Maybe also turn him out with a non scared buddy, so he can realize they aren't monsters. __________________ Turn my grief to grace. R.I.P Mister, Zoe and Gilly She-Is-a-belle Member of the FF club for life!

05-20-2005, 09:06 AM	#5
Thrills Senior Member+ Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Alberta, Canada Posts: 2,975 Images: 450 Blog Entries: 60	My mare runs the tractors down because she assosciates them with food! Is there anyway to keep him in a pen beside where they are working with the tractors? If they are running beside him during his off time, he might get desensitized to their noise and movement-it might not seem like such a big deal to him anymore-just the usual routine. __________________ 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

05-19-2005, 09:33 PM	#2
dallasbarnone Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 837	well its kind of hard if they wont stop doing it- and he's being frightend when you arent there too. Only way you might make it less scary is use the truck for a " treat clicker " instead of a clicker. If you are there and the truck comes -give him a treat - sugar cube might be safer in case he spooks so he doesnt "choke" - maybe sooner or later it will be a good thing in his mind instead of a bad one. If you arent there with him at least he will know that when you are around its a good thing instead of a bad one- just dont give him the treat while hes actively spooking - you dont want to reward him for that- but when he stands still and maybe just as its coming before he spooks quickly give it to him -i dont know if this will work but it works with a clicker so why not?

05-19-2005, 09:39 PM	#3
dallasbarnone Senior Member+ Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 837	oopps- also that is what i do - keep them busy so they got their feet moving- if you are going to stand behind him like you said - watch out that he doesnt go over the top of you if he does pull back!

05-20-2005, 05:33 PM	#6
horsetrainer Full Member Join Date: Apr 2005 Posts: 68	if you can find someone with a tractor have them drive it and you follow it with your horse. Horses are not as afraid when the item is moving away from them and they'll build confidence with being around it. after having it go away have it move around and you ride around it... if afraid, go back to following it again. doesn't take to long and they calm right down (assuming your horse calms down when you ride without the tractor around, if not you have a whole different problem to solve). good luck....