What to do when your horse is panicked?

[Crazy4aOTTB]

So I’m fairly new to trail riding. I do the Pre child hunters but have joined a group of ladies that go trail riding fairly often. I want my horse to be able to “do it all”. my goal is to go on a trail ride / hunter pace at least once a month. Overall my mare has proved to be pretty level headed.

So this past Sunday we were out riding coming up a steep incline and a herd of 15-20 pastured horses came galloping up to the fence line we were riding beside. A couple of the horses we were with spooked some. My mare froze and would not move. She was shaking from head to toe with head high and ears perked! She felt like she could bolt at any time and made a couple of quick turns to the side. I’m pretty pleased that she held it together as much as she did and didn’t bolt, buck or rear but she was clearly scared to death. I was telling her “easy” the entire time and tried to turn her to face the group of horses that were with us. The other horses in the group did not seem to be as bothered as she did but maybe I just didn’t notice because I was scared and focusing on what my horse was going to do.

How do you handle a panicky horse?

[phantomhorse]

A lot depends on the horse and the situation. I generally try to ride things out if possible, but I am not above getting the heck off if I worry for my safety or the horse’s. Try to find whatever you can to get the horse to focus on you and not whatever is scaring them.

It sounds like you handled the issue with your mare well.

[phantomhorse]

A lot depends on the horse and the situation. I generally try to ride things out if possible, but I am not above getting the heck off if I worry for my safety or the horse’s. Try to find whatever you can to get the horse to focus on you and not whatever is scaring them.

It sounds like you handled the issue with your mare well.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

My first thought was to get her moving even if it was in a circle but she was literally frozen with fear. She wouldn’t budge! The group I was with just all stopped and we waited for the herd of horses that came down to stop at the fence. Everyone was kinda ohhhing and ahhhing until I finally said “can we walk on now”? I felt like it was better to walk away in a group than walk away by myself. Later a few in the group said they were glad I suggested walking on when I did.

[WoofNWhinny]

Personally, I ask my horse to lower his head and give him something to do such as turn in a small circle or go forward. I want to keep his mind on me and keep him busy.

Lowering his head helps reinforce relaxation and if he responds well, then I generally massage his neck a bit once he’s under control to further reinforce that relaxation. Circling makes him focus more on me than on simply getting away, so I prefer that to simply going forward if he can manage it.

My Walker is pretty laid-back and sane in general and acclimates fairly quickly to new things, so this seems to work for me. YMMV, though.

[keysfins]

Everyone survived unscathed, so I’d call that good, OP. Agree that walking along as a group was a good tactic.

[Palm_Beach]

I do a lot of ground work and desensitizing over a period of time before hitting the trail. You want your horse to learn to stop and look rather than spook and bolt.

[luvmyhackney]

Groundwork is most effective but, I usually keep candy in my fanny pack for this kind of situation. If you get them chewing it helps them relax even quicker.

[rizzodm]

If I feel my horse start to tremble I get someone to hold my horse so I can safely dismount and go in to ground work mode. If no one is available to help me safely dismount I go to 10 meter circles, forward with change of directions whatever I can to engage his mind back to me.
Once they start to tremble they are very close to panic mode and I don’t want to be on that!

[rizzodm]

If I feel my horse start to tremble I get someone to hold my horse so I can safely dismount and go in to ground work mode. If no one is available to help me safely dismount I go to 10 meter circles, forward with change of directions whatever I can to engage his mind back to me.
Once they start to tremble they are very close to panic mode and I don’t want to be on that!

[jdobbs64]

Depends. I’d rather sit the panic than try to manage it from the ground.

I had a funny thing happen a zillion years ago-I was riding a quirky colt who got very het-up about something he saw, he froze, heart pounding - I don’t recall what set him off- so I tipped his nose off to the left, took a short hold on him and went to swing down- he bolted forward and spun me clear and I landed on my butt. No biggie. he galllllloped down the pasture to the farm’s bridge he’d have to cross to get back to the barn and to safety…well he never did much like that bridge so on second thought he galllllloped back to me and slammed on the brakes at my feet like he’d never left, blowing, head up, all googly eyed. I swear it’s true, funny thing.

[sophie]

Sounds like you and your group handled it well, OP.

I’ve that happen several times over the years. Each time, horse froze, became totally rigid, with heart pounding in my legs. The culprit was 1) a herd of deer crossing the ring we were riding in, 2) the hunt galloping by with baying hounds, 3) deer spooking horses in their paddock, next to the ring we were riding in, and the horses galloped straight through the electric wires.
Not a good feeling, that time-bomb stuff, especially when sitting on a young, very athletic Ottb…but every time, I just sat there, talking quietly, let the horse watch, and waited it out.
IF the horse had bolted then we would have worked through it with circles etc, but that never happened.

[walkinthewalk]

.The group I was with just all stopped and we waited for the herd of horses that came down to stop at the fence. Everyone was kinda ohhhing and ahhhing until I finally said “can we walk on now”?

Your were right, they were wrong wrong wrong.

A pasture full of horses is no big deal, just keep moving -not running away, but moving at the same speed you were before the horses came to the fence. Same with cattle or goats, sheep, etc.

As a 50+ year serious trail rider, I don’t let my horses think anything is a big deal. Well, except for the steaming bear dung in the middle of the trail and years later a rattlesnake sunning in the middle of the maintenance road.

That’s easy for me to say because I am pretty much unflappable. The less nervous the rider is inclined to be, the less reactive the horse is inclined to be. A lot of wet saddle blankets also helps.

But in your instance, it was the group you were with that was at fault. Its fine to admire a pasture full of horses but, if they start charging for the fence, it is time to quietly move on. Common sense — avoid the possibility of a train wreck, horses can get in enough of them as it is.

[tbchick84]

You handled that very well, and you have good horse there. She was scared crapless but still managed to hold on it instead of bolting. There’s not much you can do with a trembling immovable 1200 block of horse other that hope they look to you for input. Always best to keep them moving if you can, but it is what it is.

I’ve only had one situation where my only choice was emergency dismount. I was trail riding on my then 5 year old OTTB, when we came across a llama. He smelled it first and tensed up, but once he saw it, it was all over. Same as your, trembling ball of scared horse. Unlike yours, he tried to bolt a zillion times over. Thank goodness we had practiced our one rein stops over and over. At no point was he able to get even a few steps. I just kept facing him back toward the llama, but was not going. We were very close to two roads. Both had cars stopped watching us. I opted to jump off after the 17th or so one rein stop and help onto the reins for dear life. He still was not going past the devil llama, so we were forced to back track a few miles and find another way back to the trailer. The poor guy walked with his head buried in my chest for a good 1/2 mile before finally deciding it was safe and calming down. It has never repeated itself again. He now knows I will keep him safe and looks to me for what we’re going to do about a particular situation.

My biggest piece of advice to you is, trust your gut on who you choose to ride with. The fewer riders to agree upon speed and direction are always favored in my opinion. I’ve stopped riding with a few over the years due to reckelss riding in terms of not mentioning they’re about take off at a full gallop without mentioning it. Getting hurt is just not worth it. Trust your gut.

[tbchick84]

You handled that very well, and you have good horse there. She was scared crapless but still managed to hold on it instead of bolting. There’s not much you can do with a trembling immovable 1200 block of horse other that hope they look to you for input. Always best to keep them moving if you can, but it is what it is.

I’ve only had one situation where my only choice was emergency dismount. I was trail riding on my then 5 year old OTTB, when we came across a llama. He smelled it first and tensed up, but once he saw it, it was all over. Same as your, trembling ball of scared horse. Unlike yours, he tried to bolt a zillion times over. Thank goodness we had practiced our one rein stops over and over. At no point was he able to get even a few steps. I just kept facing him back toward the llama, but was not going. We were very close to two roads. Both had cars stopped watching us. I opted to jump off after the 17th or so one rein stop and help onto the reins for dear life. He still was not going past the devil llama, so we were forced to back track a few miles and find another way back to the trailer. The poor guy walked with his head buried in my chest for a good 1/2 mile before finally deciding it was safe and calming down. It has never repeated itself again. He now knows I will keep him safe and looks to me for what we’re going to do about a particular situation.

My biggest piece of advice to you is, trust your gut on who you choose to ride with. The fewer riders to agree upon speed and direction are always favored in my opinion. I’ve stopped riding with a few over the years due to reckelss riding in terms of not mentioning they’re about take off at a full gallop without mentioning it. Getting hurt is just not worth it. Trust your gut.

[spurgirl]

Agree with Walkinthewalk…best practice I’ve found is to quietly reassure your horse, and walk on. In the case described, I would’ve quietly said, “Oh, look, horses coming to visit. We know what they are. Let’s walk on.”

Case in point, friend and I were starting out (trotting) on a trail ride off the property a few weeks back, early one morning. We literally had 3 resting young deer EXPLODE up out of the leaves, about 8 feet off of the trail. Her horse semi reared, mine spun in a complete circle (thank you saddle horn!)… the deer then leaped across our path, then turned to look at us. I quietly said “Oh, that was fun, you know what deer are. Let’s move on.” The horses both relaxed, and on we went, at the same gait we were doing, a brisk trot.

Since we are in charge, and the horses react off of our perceptions-calmness, nervousness, etc., it’s best to just talk quietly, acknowledge the distraction or issue, and move on.

[walkinthewalk]

A tad OT, but further to Spurgirl’s thoughts:

One of my horses got his stall re-done today. Old mats out, new mats in, on top of several inches of new limestone crush.

When he came in for the night, he stepped back twice, not sure of the smell of the new rubber mats.

I laughed and said “hey Big Guy! You got brand new digs! Get in there and check it out!” I pointed, in he went business as usual.

Some people would have bothered to halter him, which in this instance IMO, could have added to the apprehension. I chose to keep things business-as-usual, making a fuss in the positive way of the kid got his room remodeled.

Any situation stands a better chance of success, if the rider or handler can remain matter-of-fact. Being right, in that manner, also increases the trust level of the horse so, when an honest panic situation does arise, the horse is inclined to respect and listen to its rider or handler:)

[CFFarm]

Anytime you have a panicking horse and you and the horse come thru it in one piece…you did the right thing.

[Crazy4aOTTB]

Thank you all for the reply’s! I am grateful in the long run she didn’t decided to bolt or spook hard. I know about doing a one rein stop! But I’m nervous that in this type of situation that I would have lost my mind as well and not remembered to do a one rein stop. I gave her lots of praise and peppermints once we got back to the trailer. She is not a “trail horse”. We stay in the ring and ride out in the pasture some. But she seems to have a good head and I feel that maybe she took care of me a little more than I took care of her.

Someone mentioned choosing the group of riders I ride with. Unfortunately I don’t feel that I have a lot of options since my barn mates don’t do trails. They focus on the ring work and jumping. The group I am with is mostly pretty respectful and helpful and understanding that my horse is a “beginner” to trail riding. They did walk back over the small little creek to help us over it. I just don’t think there horses were as terrified as mine was. But I guess it takes these outing to make her more “bomb proof” .

I’m choosing to see this as a trust building exercise!

[tpup]

Your horse handled it really well. The frozen, heart thumping horse can be terrifying but she held it together and so did you. One thing to try is find a signal or “message” you send your horse during stressful times, letting her know you are okay and so is she. For us it’s a wither scratch because I can do it with reins in hand and even holding a neck or grab strap…and I always couple it with a long, relaxed “Eassssy” or “You’re okay…” He seems to understand now. The more you ride, the better she’ll get.