Horse Problem - Spooky Horse - Horse spooks at things in saddle - how to desensitize spooky horse (Contd.)

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Warning: If the horse is afraid of the plastic flying around, be careful when you go to put it in his chest area and on down from there in front of his front legs. If a horse is spooked enough with the plastic there, he will sometimes rear up in an attempt to get away from it, or strike out at it with his front feet as he rears, so at first in that area, be careful and ONLY do this exercise at the end of a 12-foot lead rope (which is out of rearing range), nothing shorter, to keep you safest. Only dart briefly in that area and retreat fast at first so that he can slowly get used to it there.

Incidentally, if he feels the need to move there at any time during this entire desensitizing process, let him! It is prey animal instinct to move the feet when afraid. He's allowed to be afraid and deal with it on his own terms by moving if he needs to. Direct his movement to circle around you, but do let him move if he feels the need. You do not want a horse to feel trapped during any of this.

But if he's moving his feet a lot and not stopping, that just means you went too far, too fast, with no release of pressure/with a retreat. Listen to that and slow down. We're in no hurry in this exercise. We want to help the horse, not make him more afraid, but less afraid. Use retreats when you need to; retreat before the horse retreats (moves) and you'll get there faster.

Horses build confidence via the retreat phase, not the advance phase, and even return to retreat walks as described earlier to at least be the director still of his feet, when needed, backing up a step in this process. Whenever a horse gets upset in this type of desensitizing exercise, retreat back to a step where he was comfortable with earlier and build up again, this time more slowly. And apply more retreats. Don't be too goal focused, be "progression focused." There's a difference. There is no such thing in my training book as retreating too much or too often. Most people tend to err in the other direction: progress/advance too far, too fast. Retreats serve you (and him) well, so get your timing and perception down well to retreat before he reacts, not after and you'll progress better there.

The final step of this ground exercise, you want the horse to be able to tolerate the wand flying toward him pretty fast, like on the side of him, having it come towards him with your overhand arm swinging, but then ending up gently resting it on his back in the saddle area and softly rub him there with it. This shows him once and for all that the wand with plastic, even when flying straight at him, is perfectly harmless and is never going to hurt him, it's simply: an extension of your arm. A harmless gentle arm at that.

Let him carry that wand on his back as you encourage him to move with the lead rope. Via him moving you'll see if he has final issues there. Horses can sometimes fool you there by standing very stoically still, not moving, "just taking it" as you touch him all over with the wand/plastic and let it fly around him, as he tensely holds his breath. However, once you get him moving there "the truth will come out." They can't be faking it/stoical when on the move, and their real feelings about it come out, so do get him moving there to see if he has any final issues. If he does, just let him circle around you, keeping the wand/plastic resting on his back as he moves and he'll soon digest it is harmless and he'll stop on his own.

More Despooking Horse Continued: