Overcoming My Horse's Fear of Other Horses: a Breakthrough! (Article 1)

Today is a great day! Read on…

The Problem

I’ve been plagued for a long time by Cruz’s fear of other horses in the arena at shows, but also at home. This problem has forced me to choose show venues with an alternative warm-up area where we can work alone.

Last week I went online, looking to see if anyone else’s horse has this problem, and what they do about it. Many riders have posted on forums that their horses are scared of being ridden around their own kind, and I searched for meaningful answers.

Looking For Help

I was very excited when my search revealed 4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s Fear of Other Horses although the title sounded eerily familiar.

Aha! I thought – I need to read this.

Imagine my surprise when I found myself reading my own article! I wrote it a while ago for ezinearticles.com, but am also billed as a guest blogger on Richard Beal’s blog. He writes on Western riding, and I was flattered that he felt my advice worth repeating.

Using the system, Cruz had got better, then regressed when a horse bucked next to him at a show warm-up. After that, I had not been working consistently to regain his trust, as I should have. 

Since mine appears to be the only step by step program for eliminating a horse’s fear of other horses, it was high time I carried it out properly! (Please let me know if you find another program.)

  

Start with Fantastic Friends

I am blessed with amazing friends, who are committed to helping me.

Cruz feels safe around Kelli’s quiet mare, Pippi. She is his comfort zone.

Julie has an energetic mare, Cayenne, of whom Cruz is deadly scared as soon as she even walks towards him, or dares to step sideways in his direction. He sucks back and half-rears in fear. She is a very useful 'threat.'

The Program

Getting a horse over this fear takes as long as it takes: days, weeks or months. Each horse is different. Patience is key.

I suggest riding the frightened animal with one calm horse to begin with, until he is completely comfortable. Then bring in a second horse.

If your horse is truly frightened (and maybe scaring you, as Cruz had started to do with me), start with either you or a strong and calm horse person on foot. Stand beside the horse at the arena entrance and let the other(s) walk, trot and canter past.

Once he stays calm, lead him into the arena and have him stand in the middle while the others ‘do their thing.’ Then walk him between the other horses as they walk - then trot - towards him, and up from behind him on either side.

When he is calm about this, get on him (or have a competent, calm rider mount up for a while) and walk him between the oncoming horses as they walk and trot towards him/from behind.

The next step is to trot your horse among the two others, followed by everyone cantering.

Cruz is afraid of horses coming towards him, but some horses are more worried about horses coming up from behind. Adjust the exercises for your equine buddy’s particular issue.

Carrying Out My Own Advice

Day One

Yesterday a calm, strong and competent friend (thank you, Christina!) led Cruz into the arena while Pippi and Cayenne worked around him. Then yours truly had the guts to lead her own horse :)  while the others walked and trotted towards us.

Cruz stayed calm and I finished there.

Day Two

Today I worked him under saddle for 30 minutes until the others arrived, then dismounted and led him among the other horses again. Julie’s daughter, Ashley, had brought her cute and calm young gelding, Teddy, into the mix. Three other horses in all.

Cruz was great on the ground, so I mounted and walked him between the two mares as they walked and trotted towards him on either side.

We only had one ‘iffy’ moment when Cruz thought about sucking back. I realized that I pull on the reins when that happens, making it worse. The second time around I kept my hands steady, in front of the saddle.

Cruz breezed between the two mares without a hitch, in both directions!!!


YoooHoooooo! This is HUGE! Cruz enjoyed the big pats and hugs. He, too, felt the enormity of what he'd accomplished and snorted happily back to the barn.

Thank you so much, Kelli, Julie and Ashley!! They are very kindly coming back tomorrow, so we can build on today’s success.

I aim to trot him between the oncoming horses and will keep you posted.

After Five Years We Make It to the Ride For Life! (And How 13 Was My Lucky Number)

Getting comfortable together again

In 2008 I entered Cruz in the PVDA Ride For Life, a huge two day, breast cancer benefit show at the Equestrian Center in Prince George’s County, Maryland.

But a month before we had our terrifying incident at the New Jersey Horse Park. So I switched horses, and took my husband’s grey Irish Sport horse instead. Thanks to sweet C.D. I was able to compete, and some of my self-confidence returned.

Shen-Calmer 

My goal continued to be to take Cruz to the Ride For Life, but for the next four years I was too chicken to even try.  Licensed shows had always ended badly for us.

Then, this year, a friend recommended Shen-Calmer to me. It is perfectly legal for horse shows, and ‘takes the edge off.’ I ordered some and entered Cruz in the competition, at First Level.

You cannot buy Shen-Calmer in stores or online. You need to find a TCVM practitioner to order it for you. TCVM stands for Traditional Chinese Veterinary Medicine, and you can find a list of practitioners online.

It turned out that my horse chiropractor, Dr. Ruth Stokes, is on the list, and she was able to get the powder to me within 24 hours!

Shen-Calmer is not cheap, and I would recommend it only for situations where other herbs are ‘illegal.’ You also cannot keep your horse on it indefinitely, which is another reason for using some other calmer as long-term help for your horse.

I use Daily Calm from Springtime Inc. if Cruz ever needs help in other situations. It contains the ‘forbidden’ herb ginseng, so I have to stop using it at least 7 days before a licensed show.

Pre-Show Stress

The ride times were published a week before the show, and I discovered that I would have to ride in Ring 1, the huge indoor arena.

The problem was not the actual arena, it was getting into it. You have to walk down a long ramp, and through a short tunnel between the roar of massive air conditioning machines to reach the cool interior. Cruz was gonna freak!

Just to make matters worse, he was in stall number 13....

The Big Day

It was now Saturday, and time to ride him in that inside arena. I am ashamed to say that I was crying as I put on his bridle.

Here’s the sequence of events:

Friend (poking head over stall door): “What’s wrong?!”

Me: “I don’t know how Cruz is going to behave, and I’m so scared!”

Friend: “You don’t have to ride in there, you know.”

Me: “Yes, I do. I’m in a team competition here in two weeks. What if I have to ride in the indoor again, and I didn’t use this opportunity to get him used to it? I’ll have let my team down.”

By now other friends were gathering round and witnessing my meltdown.

Them: “Group hug?”

Me (sniveling): “Yes, please!”

Group hug.

Now I’m sitting in the saddle.

All my friends: “Group hug again?”

Me (still sniveling): “Yes, please!”

Group hug (including the horse).

Then Hallie Ahrnsbrak offered to lead me into the arena. Hallie is a member of our local PVDA chapter, and rides Grand Prix on the stallion Feintsje, aka Emmitt, the only Baroque Friesian competing at the top FEI levels.

She is wonderfully calm and talked sense into me as I warmed Cruz up. Afterwards she walked beside me down the ramp and through the scary tunnel between the monster AC units.  Cruz was totally unconcerned, even when we had to wait by all that noise for the previous competitor to exit the ring.

Hallie kindly read my test for me. Cruz behaved like a pro, and when we left the arena, I was hugging and patting his neck like crazy.

The Results Are In

I felt like a million dollars. I had faced my fears head-on, and come through triumphant. I was also in love with my horse again.

P.S. We won the class!