Does your equine partner feel threatened by other horses in the warm-up arenas at competitions? Does he jump to the side when a horse gets too close, or does he threaten to back off, and even pull off, like mine did? Perhaps you are new to performing or are you feeling overwhelmed by the busy crowd because you are used to working alone? Maybe it’s just claustrophobic. Regardless of the causes of your horse’s fear, overcoming it starts with patience.
Step one: work with another horse
Begin your rehabilitation by introducing yourself to other people in a familiar environment where you feel safe. Ask a friend with a calm horse to join you on the sand.
1. As close as your horse will allow, ride side by side walking in the same direction. Do this for both kidneys.
2. Every once in a while, switch sides. Some horses feel “pinned” against the outside fence and need reassurance that they are safe when they are between a horse and the edge of the arena.
3. Then have the other rider come up behind you.
4. When your horse is comfortable with that, the other animal should walk towards yours, only as close as your horse is comfortable with. Don’t push him too far out of his comfort zone at this time.
5. Gradually decrease the space between the two animals, until yours is relaxed to pass on either side of the approaching horse with very little space between them.
This may be all your equine friend can drink during the first few sessions. Be patient and try not to get frustrated. Your goal is for your horse to trust you. Pushing it a little Beyond your comfort zone you need to move forward and realize that you are not going to hurt yourself. But if you overdo it, you will break their already fragile confidence and be in a worse position than before.
Slow and easy is the key. Once your horse is relaxed and happy with steps 1 through 5, perform the same exercises at a trot, followed by a gallop. Don’t move a step until he’s completely relaxed with your current level.
Step two: present a second horse
You are now ready to travel with two other people. The second horse should also be a trustworthy animal, to increase your horse’s confidence.
1. Walk between the two of you, in the same direction.
2. Leave enough space between the animals so that yours do not feel claustrophobic.
3. If you feel uncomfortable at first, walk to either side of the duo, then reinsert it in the middle.
4. When you agree to this, walk in the opposite direction.
5. The other two horses should now walk towards yours, with a large space between them for yours to pass. If your horse becomes anxious, have the other two detach from him. Then repeat the process until you are no longer afraid and can walk calmly between them.
6. Your horse will feed on your confidence: mount him firmly among the approaching animals so that he learns that he will not be hurt if he obeys you.
When he’s focused on you, start working at a trot followed by a gallop, passing between the other two horses as they come towards you again. Only go up one step when your horse is 100% comfortable with the current one. It is crucial to take this easy! It may take longer for your horse to get used to working with two horses than with one.
Congratulations! You have crossed a great obstacle. Keep practicing with the same horses, then add others or switch riding partners. Your horse may even begin to enjoy being ridden in company.
Step three: change driving locations
Before jumping into a show setting, test your horse’s confidence by riding it in an unfamiliar, non-show setting with other horses. By putting him in a less stressful situation than you will find at a show, you too will be calm and give your horse the best chance of passing your confidence test with flying colors. Mount it in indoor and outdoor stadiums. (My horse was most anxious in an outdoor arena, so that’s where I focused his rehab.) Doing this will ensure that your horse is comfortable in both indoor and outdoor shows.
Step Four: Be a Non-Competitor
Unless you’re the super cool type whose nerves won’t erode your horse’s confidence, you might consider taking him as a non-competitor to his first post-rehab show. Choose a discreet location for your re-introduction to the conditions of competition. This will allow you to spend as much time as you want in the warm-up arena without the pressure of competing. You will be more relaxed and give your horse a good experience with strange horses. Then take it to the real thing, when it shows you’re ready.
conclusion
Every horse is different. Yours may be the type that overcomes his fears quickly, or he may be like mine and take a lot of time and persuasion! Don’t have a strict schedule for rehabbing him. If you act like you have an eternity to solve the problem, it will be resolved much quicker than if you try to force it before a specific deadline. You may miss a show season, but you would have missed it anyway while your horse was scared of warming up. Keep your goal firmly in sight, but be flexible with your time frame. Patience is the key.
