Comments on: Horse Training Tips – Spooking

By: SHeart

SHeart — Mon, 19 Dec 2011 20:20:49 +0000

After more than 45 years of riding, I've learned that life is just too short to own a horse that has traits that frighten or endanger you. The older I get, the less tolerant I am – and the less willing I am to compromise my physical safety. Only the most experienced horsemen should ride horses with major behavioral issues. I recently purchased a four year old reiner that I think was sent directly to me from the Big Man above. I took my first trail ride on him the other day – and because he was always with a professional trainer, I suspect it was his first time on the trail ever. He was a sweetheart, only the black irrigation plastic (that seems to spook all horses) caused him to give a sideways glance. The bottom line is – there are too many good horses out there to deal with one with vices. My advice to anyone with a spooky horse that scares them – is to sell him/her, and get something that is more suitable.

By: Sue

Sue — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:23:35 +0000

I know you said you thought your comments to Pia were harsh but the way I've come to see it is when I watch the horses out in the field kicking and biting at each other my getting after my horse is nothing compared to what they do to each other. Mind you I do not beat or abuse my horse but I will definitely get after him and smack him hard with the end of a lead rope if needed. My horse Junior is a spooker and ever since I've been watching your video clips and reading your newsletters I have been making his spooks very uncomfortable for him. I circle, serpentine… and let him know his spooks are going to cause him to work. My daughter is now starting to also ride him again and she has experienced his spooks as well in the past so I've told her how to address them by making him work and getting his focus back on her instead of what is scaring him. The advice you give about riding the spooking horse works. I know, because I have been following your advice and I have had only 2 spooks in the last 3 weeks compared to 3 or more a week. Two years ago Junior spooked, spun and bolted leaving me with a broken tailbone as I landed right on my butt. Thank you for your advice because it is working for Junior and I.

By: Laura Wagner

Laura Wagner — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 04:15:46 +0000

Larry, Your taining methods and advice are a breath of fresh air. I believe that a horse needs a confidant leader to get him through justified scary situations and can use the same when he's just plain acting stupid for no good reason. The idea of rewarding a horse for bad behavior really gets me riled up. I heard a well known trainer tell a student that when her horse attempts to bite her to greet him with a carrot. I just about fell off my chair when I heard this. My motto is be firm but fair. A horse finds security when given boundries and will learn to love and respect the one who sets them. Please continue to speak the truth regardless of who might get mad at you. In the long I truly believe that riders will be safer and their horses will be too. You are just what the horse world needs right now Larry. I am so thankful that I found you on line. Keep up the good work.

By: Jerry Dockstader

Jerry Dockstader — Sat, 01 Oct 2011 19:29:17 +0000

Larry , your right on with most things I have read and I belive I could learn some good traning tecnicks from you. On spooking I belive getting your horse to trust you more is the best thing you could do.A horse needs to no what ever you ask of it everything is going to be ok. Depending on what has hapend to that horse makes a differance on what you will need to do to get that horse to bond and trust you.Anybody that spends time with a horse should feel that bond

By: Stacy

Stacy — Sun, 11 Sep 2011 19:14:06 +0000

You always send just what I need at right time in your newsletters. I am having a "spooking" issue with my rope horse. He is broke and does great in the pen but he has never been Ridin much outside the arena before I got him so when I first went to ride to check cattle in the pasture was not what I expected LoL. I "assumed" that he would be as dead broke outside the areana as he was in. We have gotten over that fine but he has been some issues Wth his feet so I have not been able to work him as much as I normally would. I have an old cedar log that pull with my horses to get hem used to pulling a steer and I as soon as the log moved you would have thought it was a bear on the end of the rope. He was snorting and blowing and legs all spread out. Thank goodness I always heck their reaction with it while I am on the ground before just to make sure.
I had somebody pull it and him walk behind it, walk him over & around it. He will be fine one minute then we have to start all over. Yesterday was his first intrOduction to it , apparently… Hope to see progress today.
Enjoy he newsletters!!!

Stacy