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Horse Behavior and Training

Training with fun? He didn't have any fun!

By:
renjaho - Hamburg, Germany
Date:
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Hi. After doing Join-Up in November last year I started training the 15-year-old Norwegian horse of my friend. I started with some easier tasks, like Dually Halter Training, crossing the tarpauling and so on. His owner told me, that he would be afraid of gymnastic balls. I said, "okay, I'll try to help him to loose this fear". But in fact I didn't help him. He was really shocked. Now he's often running away when I want to catch him in his paddock! So, what may I do?
Thanks for any help.
Jasmin

Debbie Roberts Loucks, USA
Hello! 2014 Cyberhunt winner 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

Hi Jasmin,
Could you please share what were you doing to help him lose his fear of the gymnastic balls?

renjaho - Hamburg, Germany
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Hi Local! I lead him to the ball very slowly, and every time we approached a little bit, I gave him a rub and we went away. When we got so far, that he touched it with his nose, I gave him a carrot. He looked really confident, but still scary. The problem started, when a light breeze had sprung up and the ball set rolling. It was terrible for him, he jumped away and didn't really want to stop, but after five to ten minutes he started to slow down. My mother was able to catch him. Now it is difficult for me to catch him, I think he connects the ball and me. So, what would you do?

cherosnowball
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

My thought is go back and do join-up because you have lost the horse's trust and it will probably take longer than the first time you did it.After you have regained his trust and if you have a round pen leave him loose and just put the ball down and let him watch it to see what happens.Then if he shows any interest you pick up the ball move a step toward him if he runs stand still until he stops then turn walk away.He may eventually let you come to him with it and then you could use the touch and move away.The moving away is the reward.Leaving him loose so he can get away will help to keep him from feeling trapped.

renjaho - Hamburg, Germany
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Hello cherosnowball! Thank you very much for this idea! It is really good and I think I will try it next time I will work with him. Jasmin

Vio Berlin
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed

Hello renjaho, hello cherosnowball, I would like to share my experience with the gymnastic ball. The only thing different I have done recently when working with a Trakehner mare called Mala, was to show her the ball (after having done a Join-Up) and let her watch it from a distance. Then I walked towards her, asked her to follow me towards the ball. When she stopped because she was scared I walked on and started kicking the ball away from her and/or in large circles around her. We have been working in the arena that day so there was plenty of space. Mala started following me, first from a distance then coloser and I made my circle smaler and turned away from her again and again pushing the ball forward until she was right behind me following me and the ball. The result was that she could see that this scary thing went away from her, she could move it by following me closely! Then I just let it there and immediately she came closer and tested it with her nose and I could even roll it under her, lift it up and touch her with it. Of course she didn't have any phobia against balls of this kind before. We had a lot of fun! Hope to read soon here how it is going, renjaho! Cheers, VioBerlin

renjaho - Hamburg, Germany
Please upload your photo 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed

Hi again, today I've been working with Yesko and a dull football. He was a little bit afraid an ran away at first, but then he even had the boldness to eat a carrot of it. After that we transported it together from one part of the riding corral to another. He is really getting bold now and I'm also allowed to touch him now.
Thank you very much for all your ideas, I think we will loose this fear soon.
Jasmin

cherosnowball
Hello! 100 lessons completed 150 lessons completed 200 lessons completed 250 lessons completed 300 lessons completed 350 lessons completed 400 lessons completed 450 lessons completed 500 lessons completed 550 lessons completed 600 lessons completed 650 lessons completed

All right! I am glad you are having some success.

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