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HorseAdvice.com » Training, Behavior, & Conditioning Horses » Behavioral Problems » Nervous Greenbroke Horse Jigs » |
Discussion on Snorting and spooking | |
Author | Message |
Member: Sspete |
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 12:15 am: My 7 yo arab/walker gelding has a problem with 'new' areas. He trusts me but seems to have to 'check things out' before walking on. He starts backing up sometimes, so I just keep him backing til he gets tired of it. He is a VERY quick learner and very willing to do whats right. I just wonder why he 'snorts' at things? |
Member: Gillb |
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 10:05 am: Some horses are just more reactive than others - it is often the hot blooded types like Arabs who are usually intelligent as well. I have a Morgan who is exactly the same, he trusts me and is quick to learn, but he has to check out new things first. Provided I allow him to investigate the object he is spooking at, usually by sniffing it, he then relaxes and will carry on. I would get more trouble if I were to try and make him go past without letting him examine it. After all, he does not know if it is going to jump up and eat him!You may also find that you can get your horse used to all sorts of things at home, because he feels secure. But the moment he meets the same thing in a less secure situation, he will react. I wouldn't worry too much about it, it is just the way your horse is - you can improve this the more you take them out on the trail and meet 'new' things, but I find that with these types they are always like it to a degree. |
Member: Christos |
Posted on Sunday, Apr 11, 2004 - 2:39 pm: Sheri,I think that backing him up more than he would back by himself is unnecessary. Horses do not like backing up, it is already unpleasant for him that he "has" to do it, and he does try to figure it out your way, once he does not spin around and run. Just keep him looking at whatever troubles him and wait the situation out. I think that on the long run, this is the fastest approach towards a bomb-proof horse. |
Member: Cowgrl |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 12:04 pm: Hi Sheri,I have a green horse that I'm riding right now and he's also a very intelligent critter but a little on the shy side. If I see a possible spook situation coming up, I make sure I'm as relaxed as possible and don't even look at the object. Horses are incredibly intuitive and if he feels you tense as you approach, he'll think it's something to be afraid of. When I first brought him home, he was very afraid of the big plastic shavings bags. What I did was tied it to a tree in his paddock so he could see it moving in the wind, then tied it somewhere else where he could see it. After a couple of days, I was able to drag it all over his body and he thought it was a fun play toy. He'd pick it up and carry it around his paddock. There was another benefit as well - I rode him out in the woods a few days ago and there was a bag hanging in a tree right next to the trail he just looked at it as we passed right by. I also wouldn't worry too much about it. All this horse needs is wet saddle blankets. I would not make him back up but when he starts that, turn him in a circle and have him stand. Pat and talk to him and if he starts to back again, turn him in a circle again. Once he realizes, that the backing is just not working according to plan, he'll start to settle down. Once he's facing the way he's supposed to go, ask for forward movement. Another suggestion, if possible when seeing scary object, take his mind off of what is scaring him and have him do a little "trail dressage." Use bushes to circle around, trot past a tree and halt, coming closer and closer to the monster until he walks right by without realizing it. Do you have a dog you could take with you? Most horses will follow a dog down the trail and if they see a dog go past something and not be scared, then usually they will do the same. I had a young horse like that and she was much more calmer in scary areas if she had her dog pal with her. Just a thought. Good luck. There's a good horse in there, just needs a little work. Holly |
Member: Goolsby |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 12:21 pm: SheriMy saddle mare snorts also. She does more so just standing in the field or corral than in the saddle. If she sences or sees someone or animal approaching she will arch her neck and snort and sometimes when she is checking out something new and scary. Maybe some are just more vocal than others. I figue she is just saying "What the He..is that!" Colleen |
Member: Alden |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 1:16 pm: I have observed Deer, Elk and Moose that snort at possible threats, just like my wife’s crazy mare when she sees lamas. I always figured it was a two-fold process. First it clears the nasal passages and prepares the lungs to draw in a large volume of air and that air will carry molecules from the threat they are trying to identify. The more molecules their can get in there the better. Also they need to get the volume of air out quickly because during the exhale process they aren’t able to smell the threat. Thus they inhale slowly working the molecules and blow the air out quickly to do it all over again.Second I think they use the snort to try and spook the threat into moving and thus further identifying the object. Deer, Elk and Moose all see moving objects better than stationary objects and I think the same is true with horses. If they can get that cougar or wolf to move just a little with a snort they can make the identification faster and get the heck out of dodge. Because in a herd you don’t have to be the fastest guy, you just have to be faster than the slowest guy. Third it warns the herd and gets their blood pumping and feet ready for the run. Of course these are just my observations, and resulting theory, of wild game. Make of it what you will. Now if you want to teach your horse to not spook like a horse get Clinton Anderson’s training tapes. Or if your in So. CA you can email me and I’ll give you the names of a couple trainers that do a good job. Good Day, Alden |
Member: Hwood |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 4:59 pm: Thanks for the laughs, Alden . . . |
Member: Kthorse |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 7:20 pm: My arab snorts all the time. When he's scared or when he is really really hyped galloping around the paddock. I think he's kinda cute when he does it. He looks like a proud beautiful animal. I, at least know when he does it he is really scared and not trying to pull a fast one on me. Cant fake the snort.Katrina |
Member: Jcsmoon |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 11:01 pm: OK I can not resist this one. I have two mares, one QH who should have been born with feathers poking out of her a** she is such a chicken, and a Curly that is brave but has to make a f**king production out of EVERYTHING! I am no stranger to snorting!I figured out a long time ago with the QH mare that the key to teaching her to stop spooking at averything was to scare her before she had a chance to scare herself. When I felt her thinking about spooking I would blow a big horse snort myself. That would scare the crap out of her, she would jump, then look back at me as if to say "STOP THAT, you scared me!" Well by then she had forgotten what she was thinking about spooking at to begin with. After a summer of doing that she just figured I was freaky enough for the both of us and calmed down. Now this worked great untill my curly filly came along. She would puff up, I would snort, she would snort, I would snort, she would snort... well you get the picture. In the mean time she was also chaseing down the offending "booger" so you can immagine what a snorting horse AND rider looked like chaseing deer and motorcycles down a trail to onlookers.... Hell, I never claimed to be intelligent... I have horses for Gods sake!!! |
Member: Leilani |
Posted on Monday, Apr 12, 2004 - 11:14 pm: Emily,You made my evening!! |
Member: Sspete |
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 12:46 am: I want to thank EVERYONE who has responded to this post, Emily, you're scaring mee too! LOL! Gill: yes, he sniffs at stuff but sometimes needs lots of time to get close enough to it to do that. Christos: We just back up a little bit further as he is very soft mouthed but I have tried the going in circles and he likes to make BIG circles and I get dizzy easily Holly: A neighbor I ride with brings her dogs EVERYWHERE, they don't bother him but he really could care less what they are into. Colleen: I'm certain he knows what the h--- he is looking at, he just doesn't like it much cuz it's something 'new'. Alden: wish I was in California but I'm lovin it here in Wisconsin, kinda 'stuck' here really. Again, THANK YOU ALL for your time and your input. I'm hoping to get both of us more saddle time this summer, that will no doubt help things out. Now if I can only get my 5 yo mare to at least tolerate men. The farrier couldn't believe the 'fit' she had last week!!! |
Member: Dres |
Posted on Tuesday, Apr 13, 2004 - 10:20 am: Emily, you paint a funny picture... |