How to Train a Spooky and Unpredictable Horse, Part I
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- เผยแพร่เมื่อ 28 ก.ย. 2024
- Hi, I’m Caroline Beste of the Tao of Horsemanship. This month’s Holistic Horse “Ask the Expert” Q&A is about developing a confident, brave horse, both on the ground and riding. This month’s viewer has inquired about her flighty horse and how typical desensitizing methods seemed harsh, making her horse more scared. She asked me about my holistic approach to training and what I recommended to help her horse trust more, feel safe and brave.
I demonstrate in this video how I will help a more unconfident horse develop trust, confidence and bravery. I do this without focusing on the scary object or environment or forcing the horse to acknowledge or work with the scary object. In the end, it’s not about the object or scary place. It’s about 3 key areas: 1) Trust, Love and Leadership: are you more important than the scary object (does the horse focus on you) and how the horse feels when they are with you - do they feel safe and comfortable.
My holistic approach focuses on understanding the "why" - why our horse spooks. Horses are skeptical by nature AND they are also hardwired to conserve their energy. This means that they do not run away from perceived danger, rather they freeze first so they can assess the possibility of a threat. This freezing lasts only a few seconds too so you have to pay close attention to notice that they don't just run off every time they are unsure. Horses are also curious by nature. If you horse is not curious, he is not brave. If your horse reacts to everything and/or reacts with extreme flight, they have learned this behavior. Meaning they have learned to react to situations and objects they are unfamiliar with. This is not normal behavior. I know this to be true because I’ve studied and worked with both wild horses and weanlings. Horses by nature are adaptable. They are also quiet, low key, which allows them to conserve their energy for real danger when they must take off into flight.
Here are the 3 written exercises, mindsets, necessary to achieving trust, confidence, bravery and safety with our horse. They are also explained in detail with the video. These exercises will help you achieve the level of trust your horse needs in order to feel safe with you.
- You need to become more important than what your horse is worried about - both in relationship and leadership.
- You don’t stop working with your horse until they achieve the 3 “R’s”: Responsiveness, Rhythm and Relaxation.
- Your horse is ready to investigate what they are worried about. This mean they don’t rush past it, blow through it, avoid it. They are relaxed and curious.
Please visit www.riderhorsemanship.com for more education materials, DVD's, clinic opportunities, training and the TAO of Horsemanship Online Foundation Course.
Thanks Caroline, excellent video. I have been dealing with this for years. This all speaks to a much deeper problem with my relationship that my horse and I have. I will be starting over with him. Thanks again.
Hi Laurie! I just saw that you enrolled, subscribed, in my online Tao Method Course! Looking forward to hearing from you on the discussion board or via email!
Finally!!!! I have finally found a trainer who films a video using a horse that is not completely trained. My warmblood mare is pretty much at this very stage and this is the first video that gives me hope that I can remedy her fears on my own. Thank you so much Caroline. Time for me to start from the beginning with your videos. Wish us luck!
I agree - this is so valuable!
Dis is also the first video that gives me hop that i can get my horse relax
Good luck, you got this!!
@@shitunabat7913 you're so encouraging. Go you!!
Same here. I got lied to by the owner that sold my horse and she is scared straight of saddles and bolts to the point that my dad's shoulder got pulled and now he has permanent shoulder issues. Also good luck
Dear Caroline, Want to thank you for sharing all that you do on youtube. As I'm a Parelli student, level 4 now, it's so nice to realize that someone shares such important lessons to people who don't think they need that trust and understanding from a horse. I know a lot of trainers who just say, 'they need to just have miles put on them.' This type of western mentality is so sad and I want to thank you. I have shared this site with people I know and hope you have a wonderful day...
Hi Janice! Thank you:) I look forward to hearing from you and keeping in touch. Feel free to contact me via my email: Caroline@riderhorsemanship.com. Warmly, Caroline
It's really fun to see Zor years back in this video after watching you out hacking with him in March! It really shows how much he's connected to Caroline, grown up, learned and matured let alone riding along the woods with curiosity instead of fear. Checking in with Caroline and Callan! Love these developmental videos!💖
thanks for your video. I have tried this with my horse in the past and noticed how she calms down when I keep asking for direction change. At first she gets pissed, but within 30 seconds she is wanting to stop and stand calmly or just walk. Works great and now that I see how you do it I will try it even more and in more circumstances. Thanks again! Great explanation and beautiful horse!
I have a 29 yr old register Quarter horse gelding who’s been highly trained and used in for 4-H for most of his younger years.
I took him in 5 years ago because no one wanted him and his senior ailments that developed.
I’ve never rode him. We have put kids on him and lead him around but that’s been it.
We’ve always used our mare who recently passed away to actually ride.
This gelding is now alone and I’m seeing what I call his “jerk” come out full force.
My question is can a horse just be a complete JERK, and never gain respect again?
He has shown the spookiness of this horse, just walking him around the property and trails. Just today as I was attempting to brush him out (winter coat) he made the sound of a mare in heat and jerked away as if he wanted to kick me but didn’t. It stunned this 62 yr old woman and I immediately put him in the round pen to lunge out his attitude. I’m now not so sure he’s safe to even brush out.
I don’t have the nerves anymore to work with such a horse.
I believe my mare that passed away spoiled me. I could walk under her, the small grandkids could do anything with her. She’d had guns shot off her back but this guy is extremely temperamental!
Any suggestions?
Thank you Caroline for this Video 🥰 !! I help with a mare these days who must have some kind of trauma with open fields. She's about 8 years and we don't know anything about her past, except that there has happend a carriage accident to her horse-sister... but we don't know whether she was there or not, nor what else has happend... anyway, when i started with her about 3 months ago she used to be absolutely jittery and fearful of everything, thats all better now - way to go though - she only trusts me and her owner, nobody else can touch her hind end, lift her hind feet etc...she has a problem with male people, men talking or handling her scares her all over the place.... but the biggest issue is that as soon as you go onto the open field (gras) with her, she's exploding. It happens from 0 to 100 in a second. A moment she's fine and suddenly she sets of like a rocket. Rearing (lots of), galopping around you and just losing her head, obviously. The good thing is though she always maintains her distance, when rearing/galopping, it's never against us, it just seems she can't do anything else. I can calm her down then but of course we're not forcing that to happen and try to get her used to these areas little by little now. Just put a few feet on the gras, relax and go back to the track etc.... what do you think? I've seen lots of your videos and highly appreciate you sharing your experience 🥰 If you have any thoughts/ideas on this I#d just be so happy!!! Thanks a lot *light&love* Jessi
Thankyou so much for your amazing videos, i have 4 rescue ponies and your techniques have helped so much in giving me control and respect in a kind calm manor, the improvements have been fantastic...THANKYOU!!!
Hi Nigel and Welcome! You are welcome! Thank you and enjoy!
@Tao of Horsemanship, hi Carolyn, love your way of teaching.
Close to the end of the video, you mention how lots of trainers say to work the horses feet to redirect energy. An approach my trainer needed to get my nervous new horse on a float.
Isn't that what you did in a nutshell though? Worked your horses feet? Even with the 3 stage approach? Thankyou for your tireless work. Thinking of joining the academy! 😁
Hi Lily and Welcome! Great question and I think (hope) I answer it in the video. I did this video so I could show a different way. My videos are jammed packed with lots of golden nuggets of info too and many of my students study the videos because each time they revisit they see so much more or hear something they didn't hear before. Please watch again as I go into detail why I am working Zor the way I am, my purpose and result. To answer you question directly, no, I would never move my horses feet to redirect energy and that's because it will only escalate them, teaching them to feed off the adrenaline. Zor is an extremely dangerous case. He needs many things with maturity/age (he's only 4), experience (natural habituation) and bonding. I get strong and direct with him because he is so unsafe leading to and from the pasture with the woods nearby. He was very unpredictable. When I get strong, assertive, it is to 1) match his energy so I can direct his mind, get his attention and connection. I keep offering him a safe place of grounded energy (within me) when we stop. He just isn't ready (for the reasons I list) to connect and trust me. Hope that made sense! I am offering HUGE discount on my Mastery Program RIGHT NOW, click here to join www.taoofhorsemanship.com/masterymembership.
Amazing video to help solve an issue I’ve been working on
Great to hear S Shepard, if you have any questions please email Caroline at Caroline@taoofhorsemanship.com.
Thanks
Sabrina
Hello Caroline And thank you for sharing. i'm trying to prepare my lovely mare to ride bitless and so i try to do a lot of desensitizing on the ground. I guess i have to build up my confidence level alongside my horse since i'm new to the horse world and this is my first horse ever. What i0ve seen on this video really helps me understand better the way i have and want to follow but my horse has only one eye and i would love to ear how you would adapt the confidence build-up exercises with this limitation in mind. Have a wonderful day.
Hi Luis and Welcome! Thank you for sharing. Should you want to learn more about Caroline’s training, she has a large DVD selection www.taoofhorsemanship.com/shop and online training courses with lifetime access so please be sure to check them out. They offer more detail and instruction than the DVD collection. Please click here to learn more www.taoofhorsemanship.com/. If you have any additional questions please email us at support@taoofhorsemanship.com. XO, Sabrina
@@TaoofHorsemanship Thank you, Sabrina, i do understand Caroline does not have time to spare. it's ok. I would gladly access the online courses since the region i live in has a certain kind of horse riders whose advices tend to lean towards education by force, a method feel is wrong and so "other" knowledge is scarce. Sadly i cannot afford to join in since unemployment gives me time to work the horse but limits greatly the available funds. Anyway, no worries, i appreciate your answer and wish you the best.
Love this! Thank you for your videos.
Great video!!
Thanks All Things Equestrian! You should see him today! I've posted a few new trail riding videos of him from March 2022 on my channel.
An inspiration; I am really enjoying your insights
I'm so glad!
This is controlling with fear under the guise of assertiveness. Connection with horses is the language of horses. Linda Kohanov's Tao of Equus is a fabulous place to gain deeper insight
Hi Vee and Welcome! I'm sorry you feel this way. It's not at all like that. Leadership is also the language of Equus. Horses like Zor need compassion, leadership and regulation - the science of nervous system regulation. I tried grounding with him first to see if he could connect to my regulated nervous system...but he couldn't. His nervous system was too dysregulated. So, I had to move on to plan B and work with the energy he had, as well as guide it by being stronger than his energy so I could make contact with his mind and get his attention. While I respect Linda's work, she is not a horse trainer, nor is she a horse rehabilitation specialist. I am. I know what I'm doing. You can't connect with a horse like Zor, not the way you mention, not when he's this out of his mind.
Hi Caroline, where can i purchase a long lead rope like the style you use in change of direction for building trust. The only type I can find are 3m long which are too short. Thanks
Hi JuJu! I purchase my rope halters and leads from hand crafted jewel.
We are really enjoying your videos. This will help us with our Arabians who are spooky and flighty all the time. Finding out how to calm them down is going to make them safer for our young daughters to ride. Hopefully we will make it outside the corral riding lol. Don’t trust them not To bolt off with the girls.
Hello Cheryl and Welcome! Great to hear how well my work resonates with you and is working for you!
This video is not how I would handle an Arabian or a flighty, overly sensitive and reactive horse. While the horse in this video, Zor, is spooking and I am showing you how I help him learn to trust me while building his confidence he has had a lot of training with me prior to this video. Training to get him to this place - the scariest place. By nature this horse is not a reactive horse. His spooks are not that big except for the wooded area. We trail ride and such and he does not bolt on the trail. If he did I would not be able to stop him. However, near this woodline, he is at his worst. So please don't use this video as a teaching video, not at your horse's stage of education. I can help you, show you how to help them, step-by-step and it's gonna take time and learning.
The free training videos that I offer on my youtube channel are just the beginning! Should you want to learn more about my method - the level of personal development, spiritual transformation, deep and rewarding relationship you achieve with your horse during training as well as developing the ride of your dreams, check out my Tao of Horsemanship Online Academy Training Courses for People and Horses. Here is the commercial for the Academy: th-cam.com/video/e2TF3CPU1Nc/w-d-xo.html
You can learn more about the Academy, details of courses provided and costs here:
www.taoacademy-horse-training-courses.com/taomethodcourse
Please visit my website www.riderhorsemanship.com to learn more about my method and the wide array of learning opportunities available.
Thank you and may you always be one with horses! Warmly, Caroline
Thank you! We have been taught all the wrong ways and are now having to releases them. It’s funny how when your young you pretty much just take anyone’s advice just because they have all this fancy gear and board in a fancy place. You mentioned you are older now and do not want to fall off. Me either and safety is my first priority now that I’m older and just having the girls build a bind and trusting relationship with the horses as well as us. They are lifelong pets and companions. Loving your awesome training and handling methods.
Yes I no it's going to be hard to retrain him and you can't catch him in a feild but for the past few days he will run in circles around you And then walk towards you after alittle because he wants the grain I have lol. But then I grab him and start petting him a little bit. and ive been working on making his flex his head because he always has it high in the air but he listened great with it And lowers his head half way for me.my only issue right now is that when you walk in the stall and walk towards him he wants to try and kick you
i need some help with my horse she rides ok but she never listens to me when I'm in the saddle
I´ve noticed, he calms down very quickly when he gets the Goodboy reward, just as my horse does. Sometimes when I get too pushy on him, he gets stiff, once I tell him Goodboy, he gets in a second, relaxed. he is like addicted to be rewarded, he gotta know he is doing right, then everything is absolutely ok. :)
JanaSarlota V. Hi Jana and Welcome! Yes, horses respond extremely well to positive rewards such as the loving, calm tonal quality of your voice. If the horse is too reactive though, stuck in their prey mentality of self preservation, it becomes extremely difficult for them to hear or feel anything soft and subtle from us. This is because they do not feel emotionally safe or comfortable. They do not see us a leader thus they remain on hyper alert. This is where making break throughs and getting through to them is so important and we can't do it with a gentle voice, not at first. They won't hear us. Instead we must "match" their energy with the same intensity and get them moving, focusing on us and thinking - working through their emotional thresholds until they connect with us and feel safe again. We accomplish this by getting them to work through specific exercises that ask them to mentally engage, problem solve, think.
When Zor is up and frantic - which is dangerous because he wants to be on top of me and could potentially run me down, I ask him to move through specific exercises I have developed to help engage his left brain and get him not only focused on me but thinking (not reacting). The more he pushes through me, stays in his right, reactive side of his brain, the louder and bigger I become, enough until he sees me and looks at me. When he focuses back on me I reward him with "good boy". He is able to relax enough to see me and connect with me at that moment. I will continue to create those opportunities for him to check back in, focus on me until he becomes more relaxed and engaged. When he does, I know he is feeling safe and comfortable with me, thus seeking out my leadership. Trust, respect for my space and confidence in my leadership are developed during this process.
Working with Zor like this isn't the only answer to developing him into a confident, controlled horse. Another area that helps unconfident, spooky horses is working through transitions. Transitions are like gears and are the speeds within each gait: slow, medium and fast. I start all horses on the ground, through my lunging method first and work until we can walk, trot and canter online with mind-body connection, emotional and physical control. I then take this mindset into the riding and work my horses through patterns that build more discipline, trust, leadership and partnership. These exercises help develop the mindset needed for trail riding safely and in partnership.
Thanks and I look forward to keeping in touch. Warmly, Caroline
I wonder if you could help me. I have a flighty arab mare who came to me extremely spolied and although she is a very sweet girl, she gets spooky about things she is very accustomed to be around. The wind, the same birds and livestock she lives by ect but a tractor or a truck screaming by unexpectedly will not make her bat an eye. I have learned that she can only be worked with she not in heat. She gets very snotty and nippy when in heat. Because her demeanor is JUST like the horse you showed here, is there any suggestions you have for me to basically redirect these heat behaviors as well just as we do with the anxieties in her surroundings?
Hi Megan and Welcome! I can definitely help you and your lovely Arab mare. When horses react they are in their sympathetic nervous system, their self-preservation modes of freeze, fight and flight. The key is getting them back into their parasympathetic nervous system so they can feel safe, relax, connect to us and learn. I teach this in my online courses and in person. In regards to your mare acting differently when she is in heat, she is a female and like us mares are individuals who experience different menstrual cycles. I feel sorry for her mood swings and physical signs of pain and discomfort. You can talk to your vet about this and they can prescribe a hormone balancer. If you would like to discuss how my method can help please email me Caroline@taoofhorsemanship.com.
thank you very much
How do you have the guts to deal with an anxious horse of that size ? I have a TB and although I can redirect him , I do end up chickening out sometimes. I never let him go without working him but let’s say I meant to take him to a certain part of the farm and he started getting anxious , I work him where he has not yet exploded and then retreat…so it’s not completely chickening out but I haven’t worked up the courage to work him where he would potentially freak out the most . I am a newbie, just 9 months into owning my horse.
Hi Naciye and Welcome! It's not guts, rather experience that builds confidence and gives me many tools to use in my tool chest. I'd also been working with him enough to establish some level of connection and respect for my space. I don't recommend being this close to a horse you don't trust, especially one that is known to run people down like this horse in this video. My advice is learn how to develop yourself and your skills first before you tackle a horse that could potentially hurt you.
Would love to see this on a windy day!
I got a pony for Christmas when I was about 4 or 5 and I'm 11 now. I live in Maryland he she lived in Virginia I recently moved her up to Maryland with me and she is very aware to her surroundings and every time I take my other horse Sky out she freaks out, tears the fence down and runs of and I can't ride my other horse with out her freaking out and then Sky freaks out too. I try and take them for walks everyday to let them explore the new place to get used to it but she always side steps and has even dragged my aunt across the field before. I'm not sure what do do with her I can't do anything with out her having to be with my other horse and she has escaped 4 times now. PLEASE HELP ME 😰 I don't wanna have to sell her 😓😓
Hey Caroline!
Is the approach different if my horse actually have experienced something with what they're triggered by? Like an electric fence? :)
and to the author... this is great job. exactly how it schould be done. the problem are not horses, just people who are thinking this way. great, at last somebody does all those things that have to shown, before you by 100 cd . Good job for You " tiny woman"
What are your thoughts on allowing them to graze when hacking out to establish whether they can relax? Ie when you are riding them?
Hi Shev and Welcome! Yes, I always allow and encourage my horses to graze, and rest, when hacking out on a trail. I will either stay on them and create a cue that tells them it's ok to eat or get off and allow them to graze. This experience creates a positive association for the horse as well as provides enjoyment and bonding time with you and others. For some horses though it's impossible to stop and eat which is a sign they are too stressed and uncomfortable. When this happens, when I see the horse getting too excited, I will dismount and offer it grass or walk with it for a while.
Tao of Horsemanship thank you so much - it’s very refreshing to hear this as it always seems a bit frowned upon by a lot of people but feels totally natural in encouraging relaxation - I shall feel confident in carrying on with this x
Hello, how often should this be done? I am just restarting mine after many years, thanks ,
do you have a email or something that we can talk on? I bought a spooky draft horse and need some help
Great video :)
Hello Caroline! What would you do if your horse runs through the whip or everything in his way? My mare displays outside the stable a potentially very dangerous "habbit": It starts like Thor in the video but she gets really tight until she cuts your way, make her neck so tigh no bending is possible and immediately starts galopping. She does it with everyone. It also happens when there is another horse with us as she doesn't trust him neither. We do a lot of groundwork every single day and I would say we are very close. She loves to get scratching, massages and follows me everywhere I go in the riding hall. But in this situation, she is so triggered that she does not even seem to see me. She totally shuts down and explode. If only I could make her stop one second to make her think. She used to show this kind of behaviour for everything, but every time I could make her stop and think, she got over it. Every new impression is first a big "No", but than she can be very curious and brave.
She shows this behaviour since the first day I got here two years ago. I found a way to "overcome" it for a couple of days but than it starts all over again: I go outside with her step by step and walk back before she becomes non-responsive. She always lick and chew on the way back. We can than go outside every day for a walk without problems for about 2 or 3 weeks. But then suddenly there is a trigger I don't even recognize and she "forgets" all the good experiences we have made. It is not a vehicle, or people or animals. When it happens, I can see nothing but open space. I can not tell you how it would be riding, because I can not ride.
Hi I just got a quarter paint horse a week ago. When we first got her she wouldn't let you come near her. I got her to come near me almost everytime now. but my main concern is that she gets spooked easily around a female person. we believe her previous owner mistreated her. she is a gated unbroken horse that I know has a lot of potential. she's a big lover. she loves to be petted on her face but when you get close to her ears she gets nervous and raises her head up. I've got her to trust me with her ears but everyone else can't seem to get the same progression I have. I just got a round pin yesterday and put her in it and her do a couple of laps but she doesn't stop when I want her to. she continues to run for a minute then eventually stops but she just stay there. how do I get her to come to me? I tried using the whip with her. I saw your video on how to you a round pin and how to miss use it. I saw you hug your horse with the whip but Gypsy is deathly afraid of it. it takes almost 30 minutes just to put a bridal or anything on over her head. and when you get on her she tries to run you into everything and she leans up on the fence, trees, house, etc. she doesn't rear or buck or anything like that. I just got into the horse stuff and I would like to train her very good. I've got her to the point where she follows me without the lead rope or me holding the halter. she makes every move I do when I walk with her. if there is any advice you can give I would greatly appreciate it. thank you
+Dillon Davis Hello Dillon and Welcome!
Your horse is like so many. She is afraid, distrustful and traumatized on some level from mishandling, confusion and possible abuse. Like many in her situation she needs time, consistency, repetition, patience, love and correct training - this part is the secret to developing her into an open, connected, trusting AND willing partner.
What I'd like you to understand first, before you even think of about what techniques, tricks, you can do with her to get her to do what you want is this: you CANNOT train a horse when they are in self-preservation mode. Right now, your mare is displaying self-preservation: flight mode, fight mode or freeze mode. I am an expert on this. Please refer to my website for articles on equine PTSD, specifically "Equine Health & Healing" riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/resources/.
The first step to helping your mare is understanding her mindset (how distrustful and defensive she is) as well as the degree of trauma your horse has experienced and how it has affected her brain chemistry. Again, please refer to the PTSD articles on my website. Once you have your brain wrapped around her mindset you can begin to understand why she does what she does, reacts, as well as develop a more trained eye to observing her thoughts - catch the thought before she commits to an action! This is what I refer to as "the path of least resistance" and when we no longer fight with our horse, we guide them. This level of horsemanship is also about feel and timing - the goal and mastery of any great horseman. One of our great masters, Tom Dorrance, wrote a book about what it takes to understand our equines and develop the level of feel and timing needed to achieve true unity. I highly recommend reading it: True Unity: Willing communication between Horse and Human. AND, not to complicate your situation. While we would all like the gentle approach and path of least resistance, defensive, traumatized horses need an expert to help them "work through" their triggers so they can become open to learning and trust.
To answer your questions on how to get your mare to come to you, join you, I will begin by pointing you in the direction of my DVD series, specifically where to begin: riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/dvd-information-where-to-begin/. I am not trying to sell you AND I cannot possibly give you a short answer, technique or trick to assist at this stage. Firstly, you do not have a horse that is ready to learn. What she needs is for you to work with an expert who can help you help her work through her defensiveness. You need this so she can begin to heal and trust, thus work with you. Basically, what you are asking for is a 3-6 month re-start/re-training program for her and/or a 3-6 month apprenticeship program for you. Horses are amazingly intelligent, quick learners and complex. Your mare isn't even on the level of learning right now and that is something that you have to wrap your brain around before you even think about how to train her.
If what you seek is the level of understanding, relationship and partnership I have with my horses, the DVD's are where you would begin. While my DVD series is where I begin with every horse, untainted young ones to tainted, traumatized horses, you won't find all the answers there. What they will show you, give you, is an education of my method, specific techniques, exercises and most of all my approach to training - what makes my work with horses so magical and desirable. If you need additional help, and you will, with how to work with your mare, you will need my Problem Solving Strategy DVD's riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/dvd-information-where-to-begin/.
I also offer long distance coaching services riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/long-distance-coaching/.
I hope this helps, inspires you and most of all supports your journey. I look forward to keeping in touch.
Warmly,
Caroline
💕♥️👍🏻
yes he is racing how can you help me in a race wen a horse come next to him he give up afraid and back a way can you help me please
+Trevor Beckles Hi Trevor. I am sorry, I cannot help you. I save and rescue OTTB's and am not an advocate of racing. Warmly, Caroline
usefull
A lot of college students suffer from "triggers", too, and the results are much the same... :)
If i di those things with my horse, with the whip by his face he starts kicking towsrds it
Sounds like you don't have his 'respect' yet.
And when a horse is too scared of a horsewhip, how you gonna train this then?
Hi. With handle end up and whip end down, start with it at under his nose to smell it. Then slowly and gently with it in your hand pat him a little bit on the side of his face and touch him up and down in the same spot until he feels safe w that. Tell him good job. Then ever so slowly and gently starting w his face work your way around his face, down his neck shoulder leg belly under belly towards his hind. If he gets scared at any point, go back to the previous part he felt safe with. Never reprimand him during this. When you finish that side w running it up and down gently on the inside and outside of the hind leg. Back up to his head and begin the other side in the same manner. Take a long time to do this. After the other side is done you should be able to use it for training purposes as an extension of your hand and as a stop signal when holding up the butt end and as the move away or forward signal when holding the whip end toward him.
You are doing nothing to help that horse become calm. Quite the opposite. You're just harassing him: "Redirect him constantly." If you want him to learn that that's a safe space, calmly walk him past the woods or in the woods. Let him eat some grass. Hang out with him. Feed him there. Yeah he dropped his head to grab some grass, but he wasn't relaxed. You could tell he expected to be yanked on any second -- and he was. Horses become confident by having positive experiences on top of positive experienceshe -- the more the better. Not by being distracted. Distraction by changing directions or disengaging or whatever is a momentary way to defuse a dangerous situation. It's not a training technique for building confidence.
Hi Epona and Welcome! I appreciate your concern. Rehabilitation is not an easy process for the horse nor is easy to understand for the human. You can love on a scared horse and give him as many positive experiences possible, which I agree is necessary, but you must also be able to help him work through his trauma so he can create new and positive associations, behaviors and habits. A horse like Zor is so scared he can't connect and he keeps going into self preservation. This first phase is about interrupting his habit of checking out and flight and making each moment an opportunity to connect with me. This video is complicated and I don't expect most people to get it. It's the first level of rehab. Trying to love on him and show him a good experience by the scary woods would never work and that's because he is in self preservation mode and unable to connect that way.
@@TaoofHorsemanship its a joke that anyone believe your babble.
I dont like the way she is doing it whipping is not the solution he is obeying her coz he is afraid of being beaten by her..... watch the videos of Klaus F. Hempfling see how he tam the horses in matter of mins without even hurting them
Hello Muhammad and Welcome! I appreciate your concern. However, your perspective is skewed. Taming a wild, or even gentling a young horse, and rehabbing trauma cases are two entirely different situations, each deserving a different approach. In the end, my horse is not scared of the whip nor does he fear me or the whip. I'm very open and communicative throughout the video about "how" I use the whip, it's purpose to rehabbing and helping horses like him "work through" their triggers and fear. Thanks again, Caroline
Hello Caroline i really respect and honor your opinion as you are the expert and have proven years of experience which i don't have, However, what i saw in the videos of Klaus is altogether a different approach which he introduced and that is all based on the body language and gestures you can even see his videos in which he was able to gain the horse confidence in matter of mins he did it with several stallions. No offense you are a great trainer too but i just expressed what i saw as i said earlier i just said what i liked which cannot translate as an expert opinion
Hi Muhammmad! I value your opinion and I appreciate your respect for my choice in you how I handled Zor in this video. I am very familiar with Klaus's work. I do not know him though nor have I worked with him. With all due respect to him he only shows you the end result of his work and if his videos do show him working with a horse they are edited, only clips of the positive. I definitely am tainted with many of the horse professionals in my field, especially those that call themselves natural horseman. There is nothing natural about horsemanship and most professionals do what they can to manipulate the audience into believing in their methods and buying their products. My videos are honest, especially this one, and long. They show you start to finish what I see, how the horse shows up (in my eye and heart), where I need to be and why. In the end, it is up to you to follow your heart and be true to yourself and do what matters most to you and your horse. May you always be one with your horse:) Warmly, Caroline
Hi Caroline yes i agree with you on the fact that the videos shown are really short in length. It doesnt show from the start till the end, you keep up the good work stay blessed.
Cheers
Muhammad
Hi, I forget one thing to ask from you which always pops up in my head while seeing a rider handling a horse with reins and bit. Sometimes it feels as if horse is in misery due to the bit as all the vains from the jaws are directly connected with the brains and during the ride if the reins are tighten it might give the horse severe pain. Is it possible to control the horse without the bit ? or its just a myth?? . Need your kind explanation to understand it. Thanks!
UNPREDICTABLE? ITS A HORSE AN ANIMAL
Horses are very predictable.
My holistic approach focuses on understanding the "why" - why our horse spooks. Caroline Rider
I appreciate the mix of firmness and compassion that you show, I have a nervous horse that I am working on gaining his trust and respect. Really like your way of training!
I needed this my 17.2 hand horse is scared of EVERYTHING! thank you for the amazing video!
Hi Lexi and Welcome! Thank you! I share more free videos and great articles on my Rider Horsemanship Facebook page facebook.com/RiderHorsemanship/. Please share my work with others so we can spread the word!
We believe in a holistic approach to horsemanship, providing expert knowledge and instruction for the whole horse and rider. Our approach is multi-dimensional and includes the physical, emotional, mental and spiritual aspects of both the person and horse’s well-being. We have 8 training modules that specialize in self-awareness, the spiritual connection,
relationship, discipline, confidence, biomechanics and balanced riding.
We offer a complete guide, step-by-step learning and instruction, here at our center and on our Tao of Horsemanship Online Academy Training Courses for People and Horses www.taoacademy-horse-training-courses.com/taomethodcourse. Please click here to learn more about our training pyramid/program www.riderhorsemanship.com/rh-training-program.
Should you want to learn how to develop the relationship and ride of your dreams and from home, please check out my Tao of Horsemanship Online Academy Training Courses for People and Horses. The Online Academy is very comprehensive and includes 3 main courses, each a building block for the next to follow. The LIFETIME access gives you access to hundreds of step-by-step instructional videos and teaches you how to begin your horses training no matter if they are young and green or older and need a re-start. The videos within each course follow my foundation curriculum or program for starting and re-starting horses as well as problem solving tips and strategies. The LIFETIME access also includes BONUS materials, webinars and a discussion forum where we have created an online
community where I answer questions each week.
I highly recommend the LIFETIME membership as it gives you 24/7 access, 365 days and forever, not to mention all of the BONUS material that’s included.
Please visit my website www.riderhorsemanship.com to learn more about my method and the wide array of learning opportunities available.
Thank you and may you always be one with horses!
Warmly,
Caroline
Hi Micky and Welcome! Sounds like your horse is either defensive or distrustful of the whip.I mention in this video that I would not be coming on so strong with the whip if my horse was afraid. Zor is not afraid. He is more afraid of the woods and what might come and get him. His attention is not focused on me. The use of the whip not only interrupts his escalation it helps to re-focus him back onto me.
My intention with the whip is for Zor to respect it (not plow through it) not fear it. This goes for any horse and tool. You will need to help your horse not fear the whip before you use it. Let me know if you are interested in learning how to help him understand that the whip is a communication tool, there to help re-connect, communicate and teach when necessary. Warmly, Caroline
Caroline please please tell me my horse fears the whip not in a running around like crazy but in a way that she only listens to the whip not really to me. Help me
@@sarahnystrom8517 put the whip on your ass and stop watching this animal abusing bullshit here
I really would have liked to see him try all the through- you cut him off, and it looks as if you have deliberately scared him. I've retrained 100's of horses and started 3year olds and up-most of those horses had "people" problems already. I never wanted to create the fear you did in this video.
Hi Tatina and Welcome! Could you explain, or show me, where I cut him off so I can understand your perspective? Like you my specialty is in foundation and rehabilitation. Zor was 4 years old when this was made. The approach I use, have used on thousands of horses, creates the ability for them to work through their fears/triggers, and eventually feel safe, trust me and the process and most of all learn how to self-regulate, self-sooth. I don't recommend this to anyone, not even my apprentices. It's a skill that is mostly intuitive, guttural, not to mention I use energy which takes time to learn how to engage and direct. You can't "see" energy but you can see how Zor responds to it. Sometimes is as strong as he, and aids in tuning him back into me and away from the scary woods and others quiet and waiting. I spent months hand walking him, grazing him and helping sensitize him to the woods. It was time to take it up and interrupt some really strong and dangerous habits he learned when he became unconfident, such as running over handlers, breaking stall doors, bolting. With that being said, I don't expect most people to see all that is going on, the subtle nuances of Zor's thoughts and changing emotions or how I use my energy to try and get him to connect and ground, feel safe. In the end, the horse never lies. His positive changes and progression tells me (us) he understands, is releasing, figuring things out and changing.
@Tatjana:exactly. This abusive bullshit here has nothing to do with solid Horsemanship. She scares horses into learned Helplessness. That's all. Her fans are as incompetent as her.
Oh my goodness, Zor was so different back then! He's grown so much since you've had him, Caroline, and I hope you see that in him!
Hi Veronica! Yes, I sure do and thank you!
I found Caroline on TH-cam because recently my 18 year old has been becoming more and more spooky. I realized pretty quickly that I was making things worse. So when I searched the spooky horse this video came up.
This is so excellent and so well taught that I went out and got a carriage whip immediately. I implemented her technique today and it was fabulous. My mare started out on adrenaline but after teaching her what I wanted from her she relaxed and was so brave in the scary areas we worked in. This is definitely going to take a while to get better at this but I love, love, love Caroline's methods! It was such a great thing to watch for the lower lip being tight and then finally licking and chewing and even grazing right next to the scary object. She kept her shoulders away from as well.
Thank you so much Caroline, you are fabulous!!!
Have a look at Warwick Schiller , his last video works on a young horse who won't ride straight away from another horse in an arena. He allows the horse to find a spot to rest by not controlling the horse. Your technique is the one I used to use, but now there is a better way by allowing the horse to control itself. Have a look at his video and I think you will join the dots
I love your approach and your compassion for each horse. I have a 23 year old halter horse mare, who's extremely nervous. She will hide in the run in when she hears a sound she doesnt like. I've tried so many different ideas with her. Some days are better then others. One end of my arena is her " no way am I going over there" zone. Petrified!!
Oh sorry but Thanks for the laugh! 🤣🤣 some horses are so flighty!
Hey, I watched r video about how to train a spooky and unpredictable horse. Part 1. And it helped. But her is the problem I have a 9 year old mare and she does not have a spot that she is not unsure of. She just gets spooked by little sounds. Can u help me with this problem. And when she gets spooked she kind of jumps a little. Emma
תודה רבה על העזרה
Hi Emma and Welcome!
Sounds like your horse is very unconfident, unsure and anxious deep down. If you follow my method it will help you re-pattern, re-balance and re-set your spooky mare so she will become a more confident, connected and trusting horse. I wish I could give you written advice on how to turn your horse around and in the end it's just not that easy. It takes tremendous awareness, experience and skill to change the behavior of challenging and often times dangerous horses. There is no "How to" and there shouldn't be. What I have given in my "How to train a spooky and unpredictable" free training video is an example of how to handle a horse "like" Zor. While most spooky and unconfident horses exhibit similar behaviors and react similarly to situations like him, each situation is different and the interaction (dialogue) between you and your horse is also going to be unique - no two people handle the same horse the same way nor do they see (interpret/perceive) the situation at hand the same way either.
What you need is a trainer like myself working with you both and helping you better understand your mare, who she is, why she reacts and giving you the tools needed to change the outcome and behavior. I offer long distance training and coaching riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/long-distance-coaching/ and a huge and intensive educational DVD system.
While my "How to train a spooky and unpredictable" free training videos give you certain areas to work on (and these areas apply to all horses suffering from a lack of confidence) you will find a step-by-step guide to developing horses (and re-starting challenging horses) in my DVD collection. The following link takes you to my DVD collection riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/product-category/dvds-2/ and shows you were to begin as well as guides you to which Problem Solving Strategy DVD would work best in your situation riderhorsemanship.com/index.php/product/problem-solving-strategies-series-bundle-dvds-1-6/.
Please revisit my "How to train a spooky and unpredictable" free training videos, as well as my youtube channel: th-cam.com/users/CarolineRider. My videos are jammed packed with tons of information, education and answers. Often they can be overload so I advise my students to revisit the videos often and break them down so you can begin implementing what you learn, little by little. The more you visit, the more you will see and continue to learn.
I hope this has helped and I look forward to staying in touch!
Warmly,
Caroline
Amanda George again in America
why the hell do people think they can beat the spook out of a horse, it just makes them more nervous
Hi Camille and Welcome! Are you referring to my video?
Camille :people who support and like this abusive handling are incredibly incompetent
How do I do this with a horse that is fearful of cars?
Also, my horse is super excited around the trails and doesn’t stop walking very fast and pulling me when I walk her along the trails. She looks around and doesn’t look at me, always pushing into me
awesome advice I love ur videos=)
She look familier
There very few wild horses most been neglected, beaten, Drugged, so care time and understanding horses
Are not into human psychology or wild cowboy boots
You click way to much, to the point where the horse is tuning you out.
Hello Everyone! I am sharing a discussion about this video and subscriber comments from one of my online academy students: www.taoofhorsemanship.com/. I think our discussion will help those of you, who are uncomfortable with my energy and how I deal with Zor, understand my approach in this video. In the end, the horse does not lie and will always tell you how they feel about you and what you are doing. At the end of this video, you see progress with Zor and you see him more connected to me and relaxed, trusting. That was the result I was looking for. So, for those of you upset about how I use the whip, please get out of your head and look at the situation objectively. You will see that Zor is NEVER afraid of the whip and that my purpose with how I use the whip is to break through to him and get his attention. Back to my conversation with Eva my student:
Hi Caroline,
thanks for your detailled reply and inspiring words! I appreciate sooo much, how much energy and time and thoughts you spend on this discussion forum. And yes, I am getting a lot out of it, checking through other students questions and your replies.
I have a situation assesment / thinking question.
I saw one of your youtube videos in which you worked with Zor at the woodline. A place where she is scared and paying attention to the woodline instead of on you. You made her walk around, turn direction, using the whip quite a bit. Somebody in the comments said that he didn't like it and referred to Klaus Ferdinand Hempfing Videos. Not using a whip at all. I watched that too. I have watched Hempfings Videos before I became your student :)
Now - I see two very different situations here which are not comparable. In my eyes!
Your horse was paying attention to the woodline and I think you needed a lot of energy to prevent that - as if you would say "ignore that, come back to me, pay attention to me". Your horse Zor was not nervous per se, yet spooked about that place - for no real reason other than habit.
The situation KF Hempfing was in is, that the horse didn't pay any attention to his owner at all and was nervous in a gatter, totally ungrounded, all over the plac. Not spooked, but very nervous and ungrounded. So what he did is offering the horse a calm, relxed place. Of course not using a whip.
Here is my thinking process in assessing a situation and I like to check if you agree.
One of the main questions to asses a situation might be - what is missing here? A overall nervous horse - missing is groundedness. So, I am not using a whip for that but myself being relaxed and offering a save place. A spooked horse - missing is attention to me that nothing is wrong. So if the spookiness - outside atention - has a lot of energy, I need to put in a bit more energy to bring that attention back to me. So, I might use a whip.
I think the person who didn't like the way you handled that situation might have confused the situations. Two different siutations.
So, "what is missing here?" seems to be a good working question to assess situations. Would you say that I am on the right "thinking track"? Since there are never ever enough "how to .. " for every situation in life :))) I like to check my "thought processing".
Warm regards
Eva
Hi Eva! You are welcome:)
Great question and excellent awareness my approach with Zor in my free training video: "How to Train a Spooky and Unpredictable Horse, Part I."
My approach to handling Zor is all about getting his attention and matching his intentional (focused) energy with the woods. There is NO way he is ready to connect with my quiet energy. He can't feel it right now because he is too concerned about what is in the woods. So, being as big as he is and working on getting him to focus on me is the first step to getting his mind and his trust. Trust is not about the whip either. He trusts me and how I use it and doesn't have any issues with whips. That's why I can get so big and loud with the whip. I have to literally scream at him with it to get his attention! What he doesn't trust is the woods and as long as he is overly preoccupied and spooking he is dangerous.
While I too am a fan of Klaus Hempfling's work, I have never seen him handle a horse like Zor or explain in great detail why he does what he does. Most if not all of his videos are short (not long enough to show you the how or why) and are tailored to be marketing/promotional materials, not training materials. I am a marketing specialist (my former career and life before this) and I know how manipulative marketing and advertising can be. Klaus's videos are all about exciting his viewer with Iberian like horses and movement or draft like stallions rearing and each video is designed to capture only seconds at a time and it's done with careful purpose and precision - to show what they want you to buy into! That's another reason why I created the free training videos. To give my audience the reality of the situation as best I can in 20-40 minutes. And, it's not always easy, pretty nor does it makes sense to most in the beginning because most of what I do is very revolutionary and unconventional, not romantic and dreamy - not at first. There is NO way that is possible when you are rehabbing "most" horses. It can be crazy, dangerous, ugly, sad and a lot of hard work in the beginning. And, what you receive in the end makes it all worthwhile. But, most trainers only show the crazy (before) and sweet (after), they don't show you the stages in between where it isn't fun or pretty or easy to understand.
If Zor was like my OTTB Lovey, in nature (temperament) I would have used a totally different approach and one that would have been more quiet and grounded. Why? Because that is what Lovey would have needed from me most and where she is easiest to connect with. Zor on the other hand is a very dominant personality, aggressive with other horses, bolts and can be dangerous not to mention he is 1,800lbs and 17.2hh of pure muscle and flight!
Thanks again Eva for a great discussion!
Hi Caroline,
I just watched your TH-cam Video on How to train a spooky and unpredictable horse. I have a 14 year old Arab Gelding with a horrific abusive past. We trail ride often. While he has gotten much better over the 2 years that I've owned him, there is always the potential for the spook at nothing and the bolt. You video gave me some great tools to work with him, but I have a question.. When we are on trail rides with others and he spooks and I can just "feel" the potential bolt coming. Is it wrong for him to get out of the saddle and work him?? Many people have told me that by me gettting out of the saddle, that is letting him know that he is winning and that I should ride it out. I can just feel it in my gut that if I stay on him, one of us or both of us could get seriously hurt. I just want to do what is right for my horse. I would really appreciate your opinion on this .. Do I get off and work him?? Or Is he "winning" if I do??
Thanks so very much for your time,
Lisa
Hi Lisa,
This is a great question!
First I'd like to address the ignorant recommendations from the folks that advise you to stay on and ride when one you are afraid and second when you know the potential danger of your horse's actions. Safety for you and your horse comes first, always. And kudos to you for listening to your heart and gut on this and coming to me with your question and validation.
I would never recommend staying on when a horse that is frightened is thinking about bolting. I would immediately get off and begin working them through their trigger so that they get out of their right brain (reactionary prey mode) and into their thinking and connecting left brain (thinking, cognitive side). The exercise that I recommend is called Half Circle. It involves moving my horse back and forth, from left to right and in a trot, not a canter. If he has to canter, let him and make sure he can stop and pause for many seconds until you ask for the other direction. Eventually he will slow down. I would be be specific about the gait as you want to begin offering your horse a framework from which you will begin guiding him. If he is just running around you, like a typical lunge pattern, he will continue to escalate (build up more speed and frenzy) or maintain the level of adrenaline that has caused him to react dangerously to begin with. The key here in making the mental and emotional change for him is in the careful guidance you give while asking him to move to the left of you at a trot and then stop, pausing (if you can) for 3 or longer seconds before you ask him to trot to the right of you and stop. By doing this you are allowing him to stop and slow down (begin decompressing, relaxing), refocus on you (build trust) and engage his left, thinking side of his brain. You are also helping him replace adrenaline (self preservation mode for fight, flight) with endorphins, the calming hormone.
Right now the most important part of training your horse is re-patterning him meaning you are changing his habit of exploding with connecting to you for guidance = leadership and using his thinking side of his brain. Now, this exercise is for when you are out and trail riding. There is still much work to do at home in a pasture or arena. You still need to work on his emotional thresholds and develop more confidence in you as a leader as well as more emotional agility in your horse. I recommend working on your walk/trot/canter transitions in an arena or small pasture. Transition work will help you develop control with your horse. You want him to listen to you and obey you not push through you when you ask to slow down or stop or escalate into a buck or bolt when you ask for more speed. In order to achieve this, everything needs to be done slowly...3 strides of working walk and ease into 3 strides of slow trot back down to 3 strides of working walk to halt and pause for 3+ seconds and back up 3 steps and pause again. You literally have to reprogram your horse:) Make sure to praise him, love on him, when he does well and is trying and especially when you stop. This will help motivate him to try harder to please and think about stopping when he is unsure.
I hope that helps. Please keep me posted!
Warmly,
Caroline
Thank you this too!!!😊
You drove him into a position where you were flailing the whip .... then said you didn't whip him... it was the horses fault. If Im wrong correct me lol
Yeah I got confused at that too but she is the most self controlled experienced horse person I have ever met.
I think your approach is FANTASTIC! I loved how to "closed the door" letting the horse make the mistake of running into your whip & nice FIRM FAIR leadership :) Looking forward to watching more of your videos! My half arab is alot like this horse 1/3 of the time. The rest of the time, she's the calmest 1/2 QH. Thank you!
Hi Elizabeth and Welcome! Awesome to hear how well my work resonates with you!
Should you want to dive deeper into my method and relationship building program please consider my online training course called The Tao Method. The Tao Method Course is a step-by-step training curriculum that focuses on developing oneness between horses and people, in mind, body and soul, so that they can learn and work together. It is an accumulation of all my training (not problem solving) DVD's and so much more. It is very comprehensive, with 12 months of course videos to watch, study and practice. Here is the promotion should you be interested:
A little about my purpose and why I developed The Tao Method Course. I am a rehab and foundation specialist. I have dedicated my life's work to helping both horses and people find the connection in the work their hearts desire as well as learn how to work together and in relationship. Should you be interested in learning more about my work and how to build the dream relationship and oneness we all seek when we ride, please read on about my online training program, the Tao Method Course.
My method of horsemanship is founded on a relationship oriented training program that is compassionate, spiritually driven, mindful, solution-focused and REAL - it really works!
R - Revolutionary
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The online Tao method Course works for both beginners to my method, and horse trainers. There are at least 7 learning module videos presented each month along with supplemental reading materials and "How to" practice sheets. The course is being offered at a discount, and limited time, for only $34.95/month. Once you join you can access any-and-all monthly courses (videos), however you need to begin at the beginning and with Course 1.
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Caroline has a proven method of training and rehabbing horses that not only answers ALL-of-your questions while providing you with REAL solutions, it is a loving, safer and effective way to start and re-start horses. Caroline has designed the most comprehensive training and solution based online equine academy available! Students from all over the world can now study from home, learning the necessary skill sets needed to master the many aspects of horsemanship. Her online academy provides different courses to study with a focus on her world-renown relational approach to training and bonding horses and their people.
Through Caroline's courses students will not only learn how to assess, train and problem solve, they will learn how to develop the ultimate relationship with their horse during the training process. This is what makes Caroline's training approach and method so unique and amazingly rewarding for both horse and human!
The Tao Method Course is Caroline's foundational training curriculum, where she begins with each-and-every horse and person. You can now study, practice and interact with Caroline right from your home or barnyard! Through this course you will learn how to train your horse correctly by following a step-by-step educational curriculum. While this curriculum teaches you the many building blocks necessary to develop a solid and correct foundation it also focuses on you and your horse's learning aptitude and emotional, mental and physical well-being during the process.
The Tao Method Course dives deeply into the psyche, heart and bio-mechanics of horses, taking you step-by-step into the following areas of horsemanship:
- Horse psychology
- Learn about equine nature and specific temperament
- Learn how to assess and work with learned behaviors
- Develop deep connections and feelings of "oneness" when working with our horses
- Learn about yourself during the process
- Develop deeper mind-body awareness, spirituality and intuitiveness
- Learn how to speak the Language of Equus through mind, body and soul work
- Work with energy, Chakra's when connecting and communicating deeply
- Develop feel and timing, the "Holy Grail" of horsemanship through specific techniques and exercises
- Become a better diagnostician and problem-solver
- Learn about the bio-mechanics of movement
- Learn how to "dance" at liberty with your horse
- Learn the Art of Lunging
- Develop balance, collection and self-carriage
- Develop a Classical Dressage Foundation
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Hope to see you on the online course discussion board!
Warmly,
Caroline
I'll try this for my Buddy and Buster my two opposite boys 🐎
I just found your channel. I love your videos. I had a mare that was very afraid of our woods. Finally we set up a trail cam it was coyotes. I could never trail ride her after that.
Hi Hellava Live, welcome!! So happy you found us! I hope you will continue to watch our videos! If you would like to learn more about Caroline and her methods, check out our website at www.taoofhorsemanship.com/
Thanks
Sabrina
I did this today and is realllllllly worked! Thank you so much for giving me confidence to do that and now my horse has confidence in me :) xx
Hello dear Caroline, I would like to ask you one thing, because your big experience, what you would do if you have one horse which one is outside always afraid about dogs who are shouting and running around. I think my horse had once maybe one accident with dogs by being attacked. 🙄
How to handle such problem? Do you maybe have one idea? I thank you a lot for help. Many many greetings from France Susan
Hi Susan and Welcome! Most often when our horses have extreme reactions to things it's because of a bad experience. Now if your horse is reactive and super sensitive to many things, like my horse Zor was in this video, it is partly his nature, who he is and his learned behavior of coping. In either case, developing stronger levels of trust and confidence through specific training is the cure. My MasteryMembership can help you! Please check out my MasteryMembership Online Training Program for People and Horses www.taoacademy-horse-training-courses.com/mastery-membership-regular
Thank you .Thank you. Working on this right after lunch.
I have a horse that is 23 and he is very skittish and he hasn't been ridden in 5 years or so
Why is there a whip involved when training the horse? 🙄 Doesn't that hurt? 🤨 Ask yourself, how would that whip feel if another person used it on you? 😩😩😡😡😳
Because this woman is highly incompetent and a charlatan
I could never figure out what he was afraid of? The picnic Table?
Hi Gerry! He's afraid of the woods. I mention that in the video and written description. He's completely over-faced, overwhelmed and over stimulated. In addition he is barn/buddy sour. He is only 4 in this video and new to me too. Getting his attention was impossible until I built the relationship. No technique, or mechanics, habituation, would work for a horse like this.
You are amazing!!!
I loved learning about the rhino lip indicator...
could somebody please explain to me about that lower lip again, the tension in the lower lip? Does anybody have any pictures of that or can anybody explain that better to me?
Hi Emily Larkin and Welcome! Thank you for sharing. I know exactly what you are experiencing, and Caroline can help you. We will add your question to our weekly live radio show, Everything Horses & More! hosted every Wednesday at 12pm EST on facebook.com/TaoofHorsemanship/. We hope you can join us and if not, you can find the recording on our Tao of Horsemanship Facebook page. Thanks again and I hope to see you on our show! XO, Sabrina
You mentioned that sometimes they will try to eat when they’re nervous, but then got in a new subject. What do you do when they put their head down to get a bite of something while nervous.
Hi Lisa and Welcome! In order to change unwanted, unhealthy, behavior you need to first figure out what causes it. If you don't fix the cause you'll never fix the unwanted behavior. Horses that are anxious have a need that isn't being met. Fix the need and the behavior goes away. If all you do is correct the symptom, nervous eating, you will forever be correcting. In the end, horses are like people. Satisfy the emotional need and the bad behavior goes away.
So how do you fix a horse that gives you his attention and FOCUS on the ring and on ur property yet not out on trail in hand? As soon as I take him out of the gate in woods he chooses to move his feet rather than focus on me ?
Hi Barbara and Welcome! Learning to "re-connect" with your horse in my big program. It's also a process and cannot be achieved in one lesson or with one technique. At least not my approach. Most trainers make it happen and instill fear. My training teaches you how to earn it and keep it. My program shows you how (and not in one lesson of course) how to develop the level of connection, trust and consideration you need from your horse so they want to connect, stay connected, and feel safe with you. It is
comprehensive and includes hundreds of "how-to" step-by-step lessons. It's so big it has a 13-page table of contents. Please click here for details www.taoofhorsemanship.com/masterymembership/ and email me should you have any questions Caroline@taoofhorsemanship.com.
You are an amazing trainer, your just like my trainer
Well I have another question to ask you then. My mare will spook or start to back up if try to walk to her rear end. How do I stop her from turning?
Hi Nyan! Sounds like your mare needs a total transformation and over-haul. She is extremely distrustful and over reactive. Again, there is no one fix or answer to your question. I can recommend where to begin and that is with horsemanship practices, exercises, that are designed to build rapport, trust and relationship between the two of you. Once your mare accepts you as a friend she will begin to trust you, making training (introducing new ideas, exercises, experiences) easier. Starting here will help! Warmly, Caroline
Caroline Rider thanks so much Caroline!!!
I'm curious how to apply this when working with a traumatized equine who is scared of me? I have a small mule for the past 9 months and cannot get close to her without her going into freeze response. It's been very difficult to find any resources for this situation.
Hi Jean and Welcome! You can't. This video is about working with a spooky horse that is dangerous which is different from a horse that can't bond with humans or connect in relationship. The horse in this video is mine and we spent a year developing our bond and relationship. Relationship should always come before training and connection before mechanics. You need to work on bonding with her first and learning how to create a safe space for her to feel safe. Then you bring in the rehab work. I offer all of this in my big Mastery Relationship, Ground and Riding Foundation Program. I was offering a 50% sale on my big program www.taoofhorsemanship.com/masterymembership. If you're interested in the sale price please email me Caroline@taoofhorsemanship.com.
@@TaoofHorsemanship thank you for spelling that out, it's a big help. That's the approach I'm coming to as forcing anything didn't result in any learning. I'll check into your program, thanks
its a good video but that rope halter is sitting on the most sensitive part of the nose that can be hurt if pulled to hard. Is there a reason the halter is so low on the face?
It just slipped down. If you watched at the begining, you can see that it's in the normal place. She doesn't ride with it like that, it was just an accident. Hope this helps!
This train before riding and for what time
But I really like you it’s just my opinion keep up the good work
Thank you so much.... this is so helpful to me here in the UK. 😊
Hi Maria! Awesome to hear! Please keep me posted on your progress and feel free to contact me with further questions: Caroline@riderhorsemanship.com.
GREAT VIDEO!!! Thank you!!
I'm training a green Arab gelding and I need some tips. He hates lung lines and bucks on his left side when using one. Recently, when I asked him to change directions from his right side to his left, he started bucking and then ran into the open paddock. It would be great if I could get some training tips!
Hi FoxLegend17! Arabs can be very sensitive and reactive by nature and breed. I would slow your requests down and slow your horse down.I would begin by asking your horse to walk. This will be the toughest part as it asks for discipline. You may only get a couple of steps before your horse speeds up or escalates. Watch this video again and you will see how I "interrupt" the behavior and shut the horse down and to a halt. I will shake on the lead rope hard enough for the knot or clip to make contact with the horse's chin and as many times, repetitively, until he/she stops and looks at me. This is SO important because when the horse looks at you they are connected and asking a question. You will wait 20 seconds, asking the horse (and reinforcing if necessary by shaking the rope and/or tugging hard) to stand. ONLY when the horse is ready to stand and relax will you ask for the walk again. You will do this as many times as needed and until your horse can walk with energy and relaxation 3 revolutions around you. DO NOT change direction until you can ask for 3 revolutions 3 times. This may take an hour or 3 days. The purpose is to change your horse's perception of running, escalating and bucking. You are developing the correct mindset for training now: attention/focus, discipline/obedience and relaxation. Keep me posted! Caroline
Thank you!
My horse quivers his lips opens and closes it while I’m riding?
Hi Dani and Welcome!
That is a really good question that Caroline can definitely answer for you.
Please email her at Caroline@taoofhorsemanship.com or join us on our weekly LIVE webinar Wednesdays at 12pmEST. facebook.com/TaoofHorsemanship
xx
Sabrina
Horse I have on free lease is scared of cows and they are all around she is a very spooky horse at times making it hard for me to want to continue the lease...do I send her back and find a horse more calm for Me?
Hi Heidi and Welcome! If you feel overfaced by this horse but are also deeply connected and want to make it work, you can! But if you don't feel connected and want to put in the time it will take to help her grow and change, I recommend stopping your lease and finding a horse that suits you better.
@@TaoofHorsemanship thank you for reply! She has found a new adventure and I am searching for my next horse I can connect with 💗
This horse behaves JUST like mine, great video, you are such a fantastic horsewoman and trainer!!!
Wish I had seen this before I went to the barn this morning because today was one of his spooky days where his attention was everywhere but on me most of the time. ^__^
In your opinion and experience, when you work with a horse like this regularly, is this a behaviour that can and does go away almost completely? And if it does, does it only 'go away' with the human they have built up that trust with? or with most humans?
"hes blinkin and thinkin" ❤️
trailrider322 Hello, I have a 10 yr old quarter horse. We were out on the trail and a deer jumped up right beside him he spun around and dumped me. Now he is afraid of going out on the trail. Any advice for me? I had only had him for 5 months.
Why is it ok to hit a horse but not any other animal 🤔
Hi Donna and Welcome! It's NOT ok to hit any animal, mammal or being.
My 8 year old Appaloosa mare is spooky of everything ever since she had a foal I have fell off 3 times on 1 ride just from her spooking. I don’t feel safe on her back because she feels like she’s going to run off with me. So to try and stop her I tried to back her up into the area where she spooks most and it got her to relax but she still isn’t ready for anything.
I have a horse that will be in a parade next week. This horse is scared of horse-drawn wagons ( which there will be plenty off) and I don't know what to do. We don't have access to any wagons or the money to pay someone to drive one. Does anyone have any ideas of how to desensitize her to them without having one on hand. Any suggestions are appreciated.
Thanks Caroline! This is just what I needed for an identical problem with working my 4 yr old in a round pen he deemed very scary. Today I tried what you did in this video and it worked like a charm. I am very appreciative of you putting out this video!
I have a horse that I ride and he was abused years ago, but he is very spooky and will blow up every now and then at the slightest things, even things he’s experienced times again. He is fine with cars and big vans etc but anything small like a bag or a wheelbarrow or even people he is terrified of. It took me months just to gain his trust and I’m still working at it. I’m not sure what to do about this or how to help him at the moment but I am not going to give up on him. Any tips?
I like the approach but i don't like people training their horses to depend on them for safety. Thats why I desensitize. I raise my horses anxiety en reward them when they use the thinking side of their brain and calm down. Now I have a horse that is also confident without me by his side.
Fix your halter