Spook Proofing Your Horse by Bob Jeffreys

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Spook Proofing Your Horse By Bob Jeffreys

Bob Jeffreys Horse Trainer

There are simply too many items in the world to get our horse "used to" all of them and we can't ask our horse simply not to be afraid.

We've all been there, walking down the trail enjoying the scenery when all of a sudden, without warning, our mount dips, twists, reverses direction and bolts away. Something obviously scared him. It may have been an "attack" rock, a bicycle in a tree or a deer that jumped across the path ahead of you. We could try to desensitize our horse to these things, but this "get them used to it" method only works on the specific rock, bicycle, deer, chain saw, table, chair, etc. that we are working with. There are simply too many items in the world to get our horse "used to" all of them and we can't ask our horse simply not to be afraid. We must teach him what to do when he does become afraid; we must alter his natural "spin and bolt" reaction to fear to one of stopping his feet and facing that, which scared him.

Begin with your horse in his halter and a 30-foot rope attached to it. Stand 10 feet or so in front of your horse. While facing him and holding the other end of the rope in your hand, just say "Boo"! Don't say it with too much vigor, just enough to have him hear it, but hopefully not move away. If he stands still, go up and pet him.
Now go back to your original starting point and try again with just a bit more energy. Keep repeating and each time he stands still, go up and pet him. Build up the energy in your "boos" until you can shout them from 10 feet away and he'll do no more than raise his head up. At this point, you should add "poofing" sounds, then "raspberry" sounds. Then make these sounds while "airplaining" your arms.
Each and every time he stands still, quit scaring him and walk up with a happy face to pet and praise him. Try shaking an old empty feedbag or garbage bag at him, and then advance to waving a tarp. If he doesn't move, drop the object where you are (10 feet or so out in from of the horse) and pet.
Your horse is learning that if he simply stops his feet and looks at what is scaring him; the scaring stops. However, if he does try at any point during the lesson to run off, go with him while you continue scaring him with whatever your using (don't get behind him - he'll think the scary object is chasing him). Try to stay out in front (in front of the horses withers, not directly in his path) where he can see you, use the rope and gently tug at it to encourage him to look at you and stop his feet. When he does, you immediately quit scaring him, drop the object, and go pet him.

This is not a sacking out or desensitizing lesson. We are not trying to get the horse "used to" the bags, sounds or tarps; we're trying to teach him to handle his fear. The spook proofing lesson teaches him to stop his feet and look at what is scaring him) that's why we don't approach the horse with the scary object; we drop it and walk up to pet him without it). This lesson is not our final goal as we shall eventually expect our horse to simply ignore the scary thing and continue to do whatever it is we're asking him to do. We must, however, teach this lesson first. It is a necessary first step and will keep us safe because almost everyone can stay on the horse that stops and stares instead of a "spin and bolt". I'll cover the advanced lesson of ignoring scary things in a subsequent article.
Stay Safe!

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