Despooking Games

[Laura]

Hey All,

So I thought I'd start a topic on De spooking. My 5yr old TB has zero confidence, and spooks (badly) at just about anything. He's been off with a suspensory injury and is just coming back to work now. So far we've eliminated numerous things from his "holy crow that is going to eat me" list. They include tarps of all shapes, sizes, colors and textures, yoga balls, wind chimes and most recently - umbrellas!

What have you guys done for de spooking your horse? What weird things is your horse afraid off? Wheels still needs to work on not being scared of the BM's toddler! LOL

[Ari]

My old thoroughbred used to spook at yellow mailboxes! :)

[Jennifer Lamm]

OMG, I have a horse that has too much confidence and will eat all that stuff.... the only thing has has any respect for is a white plastic bag.... I want to do despooking games for me kid.. :) I'm trying so hard to trust him.... he is also afraid of this large white crane (bird) that lands in my yard.

[Elaine Ritter]

Sounds like my old TB gelding who is still here but retired now. Scared of his own breath in winter time. "Scared of the BM's toddler", too funny. Had the same problem here with my own toddler. My old TB still has plenty of spook left in him and couldn't quite figure out the tiny human running in circles on the lawn. Great snort'n, flip'n out fun for my big old guy. Luckily my son grew up some and the TB is turnout & retired! He now looks to my son as the bringer of the treat bucket.
My best advice is constant work routine building a trusting bond. My horses spookiness got worse when not in work. (I know hard to do when recovering from injury.) Best of luck with your TB.

[Shae-Lyn DeSousa]

I saw this on a show once, but I don't know if it works. . . If you want to de-spook a horse, try to show them the object a lot! Maybe even try to show another horse the object, while letting your horse watch.

[Shirley]

HI Laura, So how have you guys been progressing thru the summer and fall with your de-spooking.?
I've still been timid about getting out and riding around where I feel more at risk from the unknown.. Now that we are experiencing cooler weather I've been getting my exercise by leading Cash around the barn-yard. I let him graze a while in one spot, then walk on to another and stay there a few minutes and then on and on and on. He's doing well. I can go down the non-bushy lane with him and both be relaxed now. On a good day....it's time to give it a go! It's deer-hunting season too so I can't go very far away from the barn to stay safe.
Fill us in!
Shirley

[Jenna Merkley]

Hey guys sorry I havn't been on in awhile. You will be happy to know (i know I am!) Dez is doing so much better!
she has came a long way this summer and not many things scare her now. Right now our only problem is the flashlight lol. She hates it! She is a bit like a goldfish haha because i keep turning it on and off, and she gets used to it. then when i leave it then turn it back on, it scares the heck out of her again! But I have finally been riding her this summer and we have been doing lot's of hacking and she doesn't spook at things like a bush moving and her own shadow anymore!