Horses are very good at anxiety - and to be fair, fear and the urge to flee are why thousands of their horse ancestors survived carnivores, falling branches, fires and more…
In the modern world though, flight can mean running through wire fences, bolting with a rider who falls, injury and trauma that makes the horse more likely to be anxious next time.
Where we can, our horse training should include showing horses they can feel safe around plastic bags, wheels bins, flags, bright jumps, other horses who come too close.
Here are a few ways I try to help my horses know they will survive and that I will help them stay safe:
1. Curiosity Training - showing them new things at a low energy level that lets them stay well below their fear threshold until they become curious and check it out, then rewarding every try. It becomes natural for them to check things out.
2. Letting them follow scary things so they become the ‘predator’ rather than feeling pressure. Juno’s first quad bike, we followed it slowly until she sped up to check it out. Trinny’s first canvas, I dragged it around the field until she followed it then stood on it and investigated it.
3. Respecting their alert. It’s ok to look at what your horse is looking at, but stay calm and centred and don’t stare at it… just let them know Oh yeah I saw that and we’re ok. Breathe.
4. Where you can, place yourself between your horse and what they are scared of. They will feel you are protecting them, and bonus, if they do spook they won’t go over you. 5. Where you can minimise the pressure for your horse, go ahead and the their hero. Swat the horse fly, move them away from the spooked horse in the warm up ring, pick up the plastic bag.
6. Let the horse move their feet, but guide them. You want the horse to feel as free as they can - and not brace up. If you can, keep a soft rein - sometimes I let the reins out as they go over / past the scary thing to link the brave action with a soft release.
7. Ensure your horses have a great gut supplement, and balanced daily minerals and vitamins. For mares who get hot and bothered or spooky with change of their cycle add chaste, for when grass is mouldy and damp or extra flushed in spring and autumn consider a good dual action toxin binder. They have to feel ok in their bodies before they can be brave and calm!