De-sensitizing Your Horse to a Different Environment

How many of us have purchased a horse for a specific purpose and then come to find out that the horse is terrified of that environment? Somewhere in their past they have had bad experiences and the question becomes how do I get them used to this. Some folks would feel that they need to get a different horse and make sure this one gets a home that won't be using the horse for that discipline. You each have to assess where you are and whether you can or want to do the work yourself. If you decide to get a different horse, don't feel guilty! You will be doing what is best for you and the horse and that is great.

In this month's column, I'm going to go over some tips and ideas for de-sensitizing a horse to a scary environment followed by a story. A reminder is in order. Every horse will re-act differently - these ideas might not work for your horse, but I hope that this will get those creative juices rolling around in your head and help you find something that will work.

Let's say the horse was a barrel racer or "fresh off the race track" and you want to trail ride at a nice easy pace or start showing. Now these horses have been trained that there are only 2 speeds of travel when a human is aboard. Standing tensed ready to run and running full out. The noises of the show environment mean to them that they need to "get ready to run". This can be very hard for these horses to understand that we don't want to run fast so be very patient. Always remember to be calm and relaxed every time you are around them. Start at home by getting the horse used to standing calmly while you groom them. Talk gently and move slowly with the brushes and take the time to make it enjoyable. If you will take a deep breath and let it out slowly every once in a while it not only seems to help the horse stay calm but reminds you to relax. Our horses feed off our emotions!

Next, add in tacking them up in this same calm and relaxed atmosphere. If your horse is calm at home then do your riding and practicing. Do everything slowly and remember those deep breaths. Next try tacking up tied to your trailer at home. Remember, for safety always hook the trailer up to your towing vehicle when doing anything with your horse and the trailer. Maybe the next step should be to try trailering to a trailhead or small show and getting the horse tacked up at the trailer to see how this is carrying over. You might even want to get permission from a supermarket or other facility to use a corner of their parking lot if you can't find a show close to you. It needs to have some activity but use your judgment as to how much activity your horse is ready for. Always remember to clean up after your horse in a situation like this. Use your calming routine and then go back home. After doing this a few times and if the horse is staying calm then go to an easy trail with a friend and keep up the calm and relaxing exercises you have been doing. I would line up a friend with a very good and calm trail horse to start riding with. An ideal horse would be one that would allow your horse to get very close and not get excited if your horse does. Try a short ride. Just keep building slowly on this routine, always keeping calm and relaxed.

Use a friend with a calm horse and go to a show but don't plan on competing. Do everything that you would do if you were going to show. Groom and tack up and then lead the horse around in back of the trailer areas so they can get used to staying calm around the noise. Of course you would do this with his calm buddy so he won't feel alone. If the horse is staying calm, then slowly work your way closer to the action. Finally, go to the warm up area and practice as if you are showing. When these things all start going calmly you will be ready to start showing. This might take several shows or trail rides with the buddy to get to this point or it may not ever happen. It could very possibly bring you to the point I made earlier about finding this horse a different home. Don't be afraid to re-think your strategy, as it might be best for all parties.

This same routine can be used in other situations with a little imagination. Just remember to take it in small steps and if the horse ever gets over excited you might need to slow down and back up to a place where he is comfortable before you start in again. You might also need to break things down into smaller steps. This needs to be done in stages and some horses will take longer than others to get used to things. You want the horse calm and relaxed with what you are doing before going on to the next step. Be patient and don't be in a hurry. A good horse doesn't usually just "happen", it takes time and patience to develop that good horse. If you do this gradual building, you and your horse will have a better relationship than you ever thought possible!

Good luck and please share any other ideas you have that have worked for you.

Trail Riding Sweetheart

P.S. Here is a story about my first teacher and the lesson I had to learn the hard way!

When I First Met Sally

It was in June of 1997 when I first met Sally and I didn't see anything except that beautiful face. She is a chestnut with flaxen mane and tail with gray streaks all over because she is getting along in years. According to the vet who did her dentistry in the fall of 2001, she is 30 something, heavy on the something. The only detail of her past life that I was able to find out was that a 14-year old boy had ridden her in 4-H barrel racing.

I thought she was gorgeous, you know that drop-dead gorgeous look of a horse you are bound to end up loving!! Of course not many others see the same thing you see! She came home on a day when the farrier was trimming everyone's feet so she got put in line also. She stood still for him to do her feet but you could tell she was not there. It wasn't just excitement at being in new surroundings, she was scared. As I held her lead rope she looked right past me to the other horses. Her head was high, her nostrils and eyes flared and all her muscles were tense. She was just barely tolerating us.

Have you ever really thought about the term "buddy sour"? I have and in the next couple of years Sally helped me to understand it completely. The next day I wanted to bring her out in the yard and brush her. She let me put the halter on her and lead her just fine for about 20 feet. At that time she started dancing and looking back over her shoulder at the other two horses. By the time I got her about 50 feet away, she was so wound up that I was terrified she would explode and hurt me. With hesitant hands, I very carefully reached up to remove the halter and then jumped back. She took off so fast my heart was in my throat!

A few days later, I left for two weeks on vacation so she was able to bond with Cinnamon and Kelly. When I got back the training began in earnest, mine, not Sally's.

My 12 year-old niece, Meghan, came to stay with me for two weeks so we could ride horses. That was the main reason I got Sally. Meghan was not a very good rider and was very clumsy with the reins. I was told that any child could ride Sally. Those wide eyes and flared nostrils told me that she was not to be trusted because she didn't trust us. Meghan would ride Cinnamon.

This also led me to the conclusion that the person whom I bought this horse from had no clue! She was in her early 70s, was raised in Germany and had ridden all her life, but didn't understand horses at all. At least not this one!

A few days later, Meghan and I went out to get the horses, brushed and saddled them for our first ride in the yard and pasture. Meghan was on good old Cinnamon and I was on Sally, the horse any child could ride!

Everything went just fine as long as Sally was right next to Cinnamon. The next day was just like the first day and I thought we were ready for the neighbor's field. Everything was great until we were headed back towards the gate. Meghan was doing pretty well even though I had to remind her about every ten steps to gather up the reins again. I thought I would try something that I had read about on the Internet email group about helping horses to get over being buddy sour. You were to walk the horse in a circle away from their buddy and then right back. Sounded easy.

I asked her to turn in a 20-foot circle and come back to Cinnamon. Cool, that worked nicely. She wasn't too nervous. A couple of minutes later I tried it again with a little bigger circle. All right, that was ok but more tension surfaced. Ok, deep breath, relax, there. Sally was relaxed again. When we were about 150 yards away from the gate, I told Meghan I was going to try a wider circle and to just keep Cinnamon headed straight. This was going to be my last circle. It turned out to be the last circle away from her buddy that I would do for a long time!

I started the circle swinging a lot wider than before. When we were about 50 yards out Meghan started yelling. I pulled Sally to a stop and looked. Cinnamon had decided that since she had no guidance from the child on her back and I was not close to coach Meghan she would take the initiative to get home a little faster. She had started a gentle trot but it scared Meghan and her hands were flying way above her head as the reins were long again. Meghan was now screaming and I yelled for her to grab the saddle. Have you ever had that nagging feeling that what you are doing is dangerous but at the time you are not able to handle it just yet? As soon as this other crisis is under control you will take care of the volcano that is brewing underneath you? I can tell you, without a doubt, the volcano should be dealt with first!

I told my "nagging feeling" that I would handle it as soon as I yelled one more time for her to grab the saddle. Cinnamon was almost in the yard by now and Meghan was still upright in the saddle. I was still holding Sally in with the reins - tightly - and the mountain was rumbling loudly. I got the word "saddle: half way out when the volcano erupted.

I think I got the word half way out, I don't remember. The next thing I do remember was that the sky was very blue. Why was the inside of my head tingling? I sat up and saw Sally going through the gate. She caught up to Cinnamon as she got to the picnic table where we had mounted at the start of our ride.

I felt so sorry for her when I realized how scared she was out there and the only creature she felt she could trust was trotting away from her. After that I decided we needed to go a lot slower because I couldn't afford more chiropractor bills at this time!

People who know her now, 5 years later, think I'm exaggerating. She is my grandkid trainer and any kid can ride her as long as we stay in the corral, the pasture or the yard. On the trail she will still do her energizer bunny routine if another horse leaves her. It doesn't matter how many horses are still with her, she worries about the one that left!

I really love my teacher. She loves to be groomed and used for an occasional ride and will live her last days in as much comfort and care that I can give to a great friend and teacher!

Happy trails,
Trail Riding Sweetheart