Overcoming My Horse’s Fear of Other Horses: The Breakthrough Continues (Article 3)



I'm trying my hardest, honest!


This is the third in a series of articles about implementing the suggestions in 4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s Fear of Other Horses which I originally wrote for ezinearticles.com.

In the previous article I'd ended the training session with the scary horse trotting towards Cruz while he was on the inside track.

It was now time to take Cruz on the outside track, where he easily feels trapped.

A Bold Plan

Mindful that I increase Cruz’s anxiety by anticipating his, I decided to get more courageous in this next session. I wanted to learn just how much braver my horse and I had become after the exercises we’d already carried out.

When my friends - Julie, on ‘scary’ Cayenne, and Kelli, on friendly Pippi - entered the arena I told them: “Let’s just pretend Cruz has no problems, and ride around each other like normal horsewomen!”

Acting Normally

And that’s just what we did. We rode around like sensible riders, trotting and cantering towards each other on both the inside and outside tracks, following ring etiquette.

Cruz didn’t bat an eyelid! He’d become so used to working with these horses that even when friendly Pippi nearly ran into him, he wasn’t bothered. I’m not sure how he'd have reacted if ‘scary’ Cayenne had done that, but I was thrilled he stayed so calm when the hotter chestnut came towards him in every gait.

This was a major breakthrough! And just in time, too, as I had an upcoming competition on the weekend where I would have to warm up with other horses.

Showtime!

This particular show venue was perfect for our stage of ‘fear training.’ The warm-up area is very large, and familiar to Cruz.

Although there were only three other horses in there with us, one of them was a youngster and not totally under his rider’s control. So I was glad of the space to get out of his way!

Unlike previous times when I’ve tended to ‘hope for the best’ and not take charge of my horse, I was careful to ‘ride every stride’ in that warm-up. I let Cruz know that I was in command, and would keep him safe. “Just pay attention to me, and you’ll be fine.”

I was proud of him. One horse was performing lateral work, and moving sideways into our line of travel. I quietly turned Cruz away from the ‘threat’ and continued working him. Even when a horse was cantering towards him on a circle, and appeared ready to collide with our canter circle, Cruz kept his cool.

Yet another horse was coming into the warm-up. Since it was nearly my ride time, I decided to take Cruz out now and cash in on his calmness. It was making me feel calm, too, and I wanted to keep it that way.

Entering the Ring

The judge was having a short break. Just as I was about to go in and settle Cruz down before she returned, the rider of the hot young horse came out and asked to join us in the ring for a while.

She obviously thought my amazingly calm Cruz would be a soothing influence! I felt a heel, but had to say ‘no.’ I explained why, and she understood perfectly. Later when she rode her test her horse bucked several times and I knew I’d made a good decision.

Our two tests had some 7s and 8s mixed in with our not-so-good movements. We got 63% in our second showing, and won both Second Level classes. Don't tell anyone that we were the only partnership riding in them! But it was nice to have two blue ribbons (however dubiously come by) to celebrate our successful return to a warm-up arena.

It was an important first step in Cruz’s rehabilitation.

Coming Up

I have another show this weekend, after a two week break and a hurricane. However, the warm-up will be smaller and more crowded, and it may be too soon for Cruz to go in there. I will ride him at the venue on the day before, and see how he copes with the other horses before I decide whether to try the warm-up on the day.

I’ll be reporting back!

Overcoming My Horse’s Fear of Other Horses: The Breakthrough Continues (Article 2)

I'm really trying my best to get over my fears, Mum!

This is the second in a series of posts about implementing my own suggestions in the article  4 Steps For Overcoming Your Horse’s Fear of Other Horses  which I originally wrote for ezinearticles.com.

It is an ongoing exercise in putting my money where my mouth isJ

Tackling the Next Step

Yesterday Julie brought her ‘scary’ mare, Cayenne, over for our next session in getting Cruz over his fear of other horses in general, and this one in particular.

I’d already exercised Cruz for thirty minutes before her arrival, and decided to skip the initial ground work which began our previous sessions.

Instead, Julie and I immediately rode in opposite directions from each other in walk, with only a small gap between the two horses. This meant Cruz had no time to get used to Cayenne's presence before having her walk 'at him.'

I purposely placed Cruz on the outside track, as he tends to feel ‘hemmed in’ between a moving horse and the perimeter fence.

So it was wonderful when he calmly accepted Cayenne walking towards him on both reins!

Upping the Stakes

Blown away with elation, we decided to move up to trot.

During our last session Cruz walked while the other horses trotted towards him on either side. This time, with only one other horse in the arena, we transitioned into trot together. Again, we immediately rode in opposite directions.

Not wanting to destroy what we had so carefully built, I trotted Cruz on the inside track, so he wouldn’t feel claustrophobic. Julie and I rode several circuits of the arena on both reins, while I moved Cruz closer to the oncoming ‘scary’ chestnut mare.

Playing My Part

Desperate for this exercise to succeed, I think I was more anxious than my horse! It cost me a lot to sit quietly, with my hands firmly in front of the saddle to encourage forward movement.

There was only one anxious tremor from Cruz. I immediately pushed my hands a little further along his crest, with a slight closing of my leg, to encourage him without bullying. 

Ending on a Successful Note

It worked. The tremor subsided almost as soon as it had begun and we rode smoothly past. WooHoo!

After three quiet trot loops on each rein it was time to walk our horses, give Cruz a huge pat and thank Julie and Cayenne for their tremendous help.

This afternoon we will trot Cruz between the mare and the outside railing. Here’s hoping for another big step forwards in his rehabilitation!



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!

What a Difference a Julio Mendoza Clinic Makes!

After getting 57% at the Fix-A-Test, I took Cruz to a local schooling show for our first outing at Second Level test.

I really wanted to improve our score by at least two percentage points.

Show Number One

We just squeezed into the 60% bracket with our Second Level 1 test – my shoulder-ins were too much like shoulder-fores and received 5s. Then I dipped below that magic 60% in Second Level 2: my sad attempts at travers both received 4s, with the comments ‘not succeeded.’

Ouch!

Then Along Came Julio

However, I was booked into a two day clinic with Julio Mendoza, who’d been invited by a fellow PVDA Calvert Chapter member to visit our humble Southern Maryland area. I am so glad he did. He is a very upbeat, courteous and fun guy who wants riders and their horses to enjoy themselves.

Quick Background

Two days earlier I’d had a second lesson with a new instructor, as my former trainer was getting too busy with her competition circuit to devote regular time to teaching.

We were to ride shoulder-in and travers at walk on a 20 meter circle, punctuating the movements with halts.  This enabled me to concentrate on bending Cruz around my inside leg for the travers, and keeping a strong outside rein for the shoulder-in.

We then graduated to trotting the same exercise, alternating between compressing Cruz and releasing him forwards. His trot improved 1000%.

Back to Julio

So I warmed Cruz up in the same fashion at the clinic, and was thrilled when Julio continued during our session with the same exercises. But he did add some changes.

1. Bit Placement

First, he lowered the bit one hole in my gelding’s mouth. He explained to me that the area of the bar immediately in front of the horse’s teeth is very sensitive. By placing the bit further down, it was now resting on a less touchy part of his jaw.

Cruz immediately began to chew happily (and at our last show was actually foaming at the mouth!).

2. Hand Placement & Rein Function

Julio told me that I keep my hands too far apart. My outside hand should come almost to my horse’s mane and my inside hand should be close to it. The reins should also be held a little in front of the saddle.

One function of the outside rein is to lift the horse - together with the rider’s shoulders, core and lower back. This rein ‘belongs to the rider.’

The inside rein ‘belongs to the horse’ and one of its uses is to relax his top line.

Keeping my hands more together maintains the horse in a more condensed ‘packet.’ Julio had to constantly remind me to do this during the two days of the clinic, but I could feel a huge difference in my horse when I did as I was told.

3. Use of the Reins and Legs

Julio says the inside rein ‘belongs to the horse’ while the outside rein ‘belongs to the rider.’

The outside rein stays constant, supporting - but not holding - the horse. Since the aim is to get the horse to lighten up in front, any time he leans on either rein, release that rein a tiny bit before resuming contact. This takes away the horse’s prop so he has to carry himself.

The inside rein is the more playful rein, which releases as a reward to the horse when he bends, gives, etc. This doesn’t mean constantly messing about with it: just let it be softer/squeezed more than the outside rein so the horse gives to it and bends laterally.

At the same time the inside leg needs to urge the horse forwards and into the outside rein, while the outside leg supports him.

4. Shoulder-In and Travers

In the shoulder-in, I learned to maintain my inside leg behind the girth to keep the horse’s haunches out on the track, while my strong outside rein brought his shoulders in for enough angle. I also learned that I need more forward impulsion to perform a good shoulder-in.

For travers my horse needs to be properly bent around my inside leg, yet not over bent, laterally or horizontally. Again, with correct impulsion, Cruz found it easy to perform a correct travers.

5. Collected Trot

I needed a sharp reminder that ‘collected’ trot does not mean ‘slower’ trot!

My clue to having achieved collected trot was when Cruz moved forwards in a controlled fashion with so much bounce I could hardly sit it out! He became lighter in front, and moved laterally with ease. It was a great feeling. This trot also segued effortlessly into a spectacular medium trot.

The Second Show

Thanks to that clinic, at the following show I got 6s for my shoulder-ins (no more shoulder-fores) and 6.5 for my travers (goodbye to those 4s!).  

With expert guidance from Julio and my current instructor, Cruz and I are on truly en route to becoming a genuine Second Level partnership!

P.S. On the second day of the clinic, before our session began, a clap of thunder and instant downpour of rain on the indoor arena’s roof freaked Cruz out, and he took off!

When I finally brought him to a standstill, I leaped off and stood shaking while trying to reassure Cruz that all was well.

Julio gave me a kind hug, then hopped on Cruz for a while. It was lovely to see the horse go so well with a great rider! Julio was so calm that Cruz settled straight down to work and I was soon able to resume my lesson on him.

It drummed into me how staying calm oneself is vital to convincing the horse that there is nothing to worry about.

We're Riding Second Level!

Yes, folks, it’s official, Cruz is a Second Level horse now!

The winter here in Maryland was so mild that I was able to continue with a reasonably regular riding routine throughout. But I ride Cruz very differently from before.

He’s gone from being argumentative, head-in-the-air, I won’t-go-round and I won’t-listen-to-you to ‘O.K. Mom, what do you want from me today?’

I’m so excited about this that I want to share with you how this came about!

Forward

Steuart Pittman, the eventer, told me not to force Cruz to bend to the left, his bad side. ‘Just ride him forward and keep his head straight.’

This took the fight out of our sessions.

Because I was thinking forward while I rode, my hands came forward. Cruz was very thankful for this. He responded by becoming relaxed and softer in the mouth, jaw and neck.

My instructor added, ‘Use more left leg.’ This, plus short intervals of lateral flexion to the outside (right) encouraged Cruz to give to the left ‘by himself.’ As long as I continue to ask for forward motion and carry my hands over his withers, I have a co-operative horse.

It’s also important for me to keep my hands ‘alive’ - constantly talking gently to him with the ring fingers on both hands, but not nagging. I have a tendency to lock my left arm and hand, which adds to his left side resistance.

A Bit of Foam

Another suggestion from my instructor made a huge difference. Cruz’s  cavesson noseband comes with a leather pad under the chin. But my trainer recommended putting a strip of foam between Cruz’s jaw and the pad to further soften the impact of the noseband.

I have a foam mattress cover from Walmart, and have been chopping up for all sorts of things, such as extra girth protection. So I cut a strip from this and placed it under Cruz’s jaw.

He felt the extra comfort immediately and gave me no grief when asked for vertical flexion. This of course made me feel terrible that I hadn’t thought of doing this before! I’m not suggesting that a piece of foam is a cure-all for flexion issues, but it certainly helped in this case.

Counter Canter

Now that my horse was listening I could attempt counter-canter again, which had been such a disaster previously.

I was very careful to sit as tall and balanced as possible in the saddle as we negotiated the half circles and three loop serpentines. This time he stayed quiet and rhythmic, without breaking stride.

Simple Changes

Because Cruz is so ‘right-handed’ I was demanding too much left flexion in the simple change from right lead to left lead canter. I felt the need to exaggerate my request for left lead canter out of the walk.

What I achieved instead was another right lead canter depart (and an upset, confused horse).

As soon as I kept his body and neck straight while giving the left canter aids, Cruz quietly moved into a smooth left canter.

Putting It All to the Test

This past weekend I was lucky enough to find a Fix-A-Test locally. I could ride my first time at Second Level in front of a judge, have her comment on it, and help me improve without the stress of competition.

Cruz was an angel, and did everything I asked. We were awarded 57% - a great start to our season!

However: the judge commented that Cruz travels with his hind quarters to the right. He is not straight and this detracted from every single movement.

She offered me a choice: go through the test again, or work on straightness? I chose the latter.

Two Exercises for Straightness

1. Trot: Because Cruz carries his haunches to the right, riding haunches in (or travers) on the left rein trains him to move those haunches to the left.

Afterwards, in regular trot, his hindquarters are directly behind his shoulders and his ‘engine’ is pushing him evenly into both my hands. This has the effect of making him more ‘up’ in front, adding bounce and energy to his gaits. He feels as if he is moving without effort.

2. Trot and Canter: Ride on the quarter line so the horse doesn’t follow the boundary fence. This makes it obvious to the rider if the horse isn’t traveling straight. 

Channel the horse between your knees, and place the reins where the horse’s shoulders should be if they were directly in front of the horse’s haunches.

For example: Cruz carries his shoulders to the left of his haunches. My job is to align his shoulders in front of his haunches with my knees and the reins. After a while he starts to ‘fill up’ my slightly open right rein, as his shoulders come in front of his hindquarters.

Driving the horse forwards into the contact helps.

Once Cruz is moving straight, I can feel the power that gets wasted when he’s going all over the place instead of forwards!

The straightness makes collection easier, and he is ‘up’ in front for the transitions from canter to walk and up again. He listens to my seat and is lighter in the hand.

Encouragement for the Future

Less than a year ago I was being strongly advised to sell Cruz. His canter was lateral and he refused to submit to the bridle. I am now riding Second Level with that same horse, thanks to a different training system and his CoolStance feed, plus supplementary Quiessence with chelated magnesium, to counteract the effects of the sugar in the spring grass.

I look forward to the new season with a transformed (and straight) horse!