J
jesseppi
Guest
I have a fourteen year old Australian Stock Horse. I bought him about three months ago, so I haven't had him that long.
The first time I rode him (the day I brought him home) he was fine. He's a VERY fast walker, and he seemed great. He wouldn't go around anything - branches, rocks, whatever - he just powered over the top of them, no problem.
Last week I took him out, and he shied at the ground. I couldn't see what he saw, I looked down and just saw grass. His behavior was pretty standard for a spooked horse, he moved to one side fairly quickly, but he got over it straight away and moved on. I pretty well ignored the situation, I don't punish him for things like that.
So, today I rode him out, he was a bit fresh, I hadn't ridden for a week, and it was a little windy. He was fairly excited, walking very quickly (which isn't that out of the ordinary). He saw something, again, I couldn't see it. This time when he spooked he put a little more effort into it. He tried to get his head down to have a good buck, but I managed to pull him up. He did this once on the way out, and once on the way home. On the way home I could actually see what had frightened him - a stick and some rocks...
He IS a fairly highly strung boy anyway, quite nervy. I'm not too sure of his history, what I do know is that he's had a lot of riders. He was moved around a lot and used on various properties, so I dare say he's had some nice riders and some horrible ones.
He's a pleasure to handle, he doesn't move around, he can be ground hitched, very calm in that regard. I still feel like he's on guard though, and he doesn't like men as much as he likes ladies.
How am I going to help him get over his fear of the ground...as I imagine that's a hell of a thing to be afraid of.
The first time I rode him (the day I brought him home) he was fine. He's a VERY fast walker, and he seemed great. He wouldn't go around anything - branches, rocks, whatever - he just powered over the top of them, no problem.
Last week I took him out, and he shied at the ground. I couldn't see what he saw, I looked down and just saw grass. His behavior was pretty standard for a spooked horse, he moved to one side fairly quickly, but he got over it straight away and moved on. I pretty well ignored the situation, I don't punish him for things like that.
So, today I rode him out, he was a bit fresh, I hadn't ridden for a week, and it was a little windy. He was fairly excited, walking very quickly (which isn't that out of the ordinary). He saw something, again, I couldn't see it. This time when he spooked he put a little more effort into it. He tried to get his head down to have a good buck, but I managed to pull him up. He did this once on the way out, and once on the way home. On the way home I could actually see what had frightened him - a stick and some rocks...
He IS a fairly highly strung boy anyway, quite nervy. I'm not too sure of his history, what I do know is that he's had a lot of riders. He was moved around a lot and used on various properties, so I dare say he's had some nice riders and some horrible ones.
He's a pleasure to handle, he doesn't move around, he can be ground hitched, very calm in that regard. I still feel like he's on guard though, and he doesn't like men as much as he likes ladies.
How am I going to help him get over his fear of the ground...as I imagine that's a hell of a thing to be afraid of.