I’ve decided I would like to do some trail riding on my show hunter, but he’s so spooky on the trails.
This horse can handle everything a show ring throws at him, but a log in the woods sends him running.
By nature, he’s lazy and usually very quiet, until we get on the trails
I always ride with another person, so he always has another horse with him. What else can I do to get this horse quiet on the trails?
Thanks!
Ride, ride, ride, and do it with a really calm horse who doesn’t spook. I think some horses are just spookier by nature though, whereas others just don’t. You can work on teaching him to spook in place, which I guess is effective for some horses.
As katy said, ride. It’s mileage and I can also tell you from experience that some horses will hack out quietly and not be spooky with an experienced trail buddy; then you take them out by themselves, and it’s a whole new ballgame. But the only thing that makes a difference is wet saddle blankets. While in the spooky phase and if riding alone, keeping it to a walk is probably smart. And then again, some are just goofier out in wide open spaces than in the ring. I’ve got a super sweet mare who is rock solid in the ring, but out on trails, and she’s been on trails quite a bit, there are times when she will still act silly - logs, rocks, culverts - still get to her. Just the way it is with some. Nonetheless, I do think they really enjoy the change of scenery.
Have a beer beforehand lol. Seriously, the more you relax and don’t let his spooking bother you- keep up your conversations with your riding partner, keep your body relaxed and just keep putting on thru his silliness, the better he’ll be. He’s obviously very broke, I bet it won’t take long, just needs some miles.
Just give him some time, I know it can be unnerving. Maybe take him out in small intervals? Only let him return back home once he has relaxed a bit…Kind of like training the buddy sour horse. I did this with my Hanoverian jumper, and while I can tell you that he wasn’t nearly as solid as my trusty older QH gelding on trails, he did adapt and with a spook here and there really seemed to eventually enjoy it. What helped us was sacking him out a bit before heading out and riding with a calm trail buddy.
