Hi all. We have a trail competition next weekend. Yesterday they had the course set up so we could practice (I know that was mighty nice of them). Anyway they had a tippy bridge set up. It probably moves about 5-6 inches on one end when it tips. Interestingly, my mare went over this 3 times with no real reaction. But then we took a break (30 + minutes saddle off grazing) and when we returned to the course she would have nothing to do with it. My horse is a very sensitive OTTB. On this particular course there were a few things that she would initially have nothing to do with but if she is encouraged enough she will usually do things without issue. This is what happened with the hanging noodles, big tractor tires full of dirt that you have to walk over etc. Yesterday after she regressed to complete avoidance- I did get her to put her front feet on it- praised her lavishly and called it a day. What scares her is when the bridge tips. If there is anyway I can modify it so it tips less, I’ll probably try that.
Any tips on getting them to cross the tippy bridge?
Hand walking her over it, plenty of praise, lots and lots of yummy treats as reward, and patience and time. 
Thoroughbreds are very intellegent - so show her there is nothing to it except delicious treats if she follows you. She should catch on fairly quickly.
Just don’t overtrain. Do it a few times, then call it a day.
I would not hand walk her over it per say. I’ve taught a lot of horses to do the tippy bridge and you can get yourself hurt big time if you get on there with them (you on foot) and they panic. I teach it like I teach self-loading into the trailer- with you on the side and them going over it on their own.
Don’t know your mare from a toad, but could it have been the break in between that threw her?
I know my guy doesn’t enjoy double duty.at.all!
Once the saddle is off after work, even if you wait 4hrs or so and pull him back in to work, he is pushing limits and refusing all over!
You said she went over it no issue the first 3 times, but after a break (saddle off) and went back at it, she refused it then. That sounds like a bit of a “I thought I was done!!” issue
Or if she is always on n off work then just ignore me lol
Thanks all. I think the best way to approach this would be to make the bridge less tippy. She often does better with being led over new obstacles. Especially if mom goes first (but I think it would be too dangerous for me to walk her over a tippy bridge- so I would have to do it from the side. What scares her is the moment the bridge tips. She responds much better to the carrot than the stick and she does want to please. When she has time to think things through she will usually do them. The break was due to the trail course being at a campsite where I went to visit some friends who had arrived the prior night. After the break we headed out on a trail ride (back home for me). They wanted to see the trail course- and I wanted to have Angel practice a little more. At that point after going over the bridge about 3 times prior to the break she was “no way no how” to the tippy bridge but did go through other obstacles including another obstacle that she had been initially terrified of in our first go round but decided it was no big deal (the hanging pool noodle tunnel). Normally you just try again another day. Unfortunately, we will likely not be able to practice before our event so she may “blow” that particular obstacle but that’s not the end of the world. I shall do my best to manufacture a tippy bridge in my back yard.
