A Mustang That Spooks At Objects On The Ground

In this video, Warwick uses the CAT-H desensitization process to help out a Mustang who spooks at things on the ground. The main point of using this process is to address the rising level of concern a horse exhibits before it becomes a spook. CAT-H also works to help horses move between the sympathetic and parasympathetic nervous systems with ease. This requires being highly attentive to all the subtle signs that the horse is feeling uptight and worried.
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[@judithgable7817]

I love how lovingly he talks to his horses and how respectful he is of them!! Yay. He is such a breath of fresh air!!!

[@epona9166]

Warwick just keeps getting better and better. Great video but my favorite part started at 10:41 "I do want to say tho..." where he acknowledges that you might just need to get from here to there and don't have time to practice what he's recommending right then. So many trainers just don't take life into account or are using techniques that require the conditions to be just right. The part about putting yourself between the horse and the scary object when leading is HUGE. Not only do you keep from being on the landing spot of the spook, but if you are between the horse and the scary object, he will be less scared to begin with. And I have to believe that in his mind (subconscious probably) there's that element of you being the leader, the protector. I sometimes take one of the horses on a walk around our neighborhood and even now, when he's pretty chill with everything going on, I probably switch sides 3-6 times over the course of the walk, based on what's coming up ahead. Oncoming car, kid on bike, house where dog likes to charge the fence, etc.

[@kathym6211]

Great reply! I learned this with our reactive German Shepherd.

[@brumbybailey6599]

You diffused so much anxiety that I realised I needed to relax too. I'm so glad you're in the horse world now; there will be many horses enjoying better quality of life thanks to you.

[@braydonsamson4318]

pro tip: watch series on flixzone. I've been using them for watching loads of movies lately.

[@omarmason9642]

@Braydon Samson yup, been using Flixzone} for years myself :)

[@k.j.medley]

Hi! Me again! I wanted to thank you for your previous help with my barn sour mare, she now has no problem leaving the barn! The other night, we loaded her into a trailer for the first time in months, and took her to a barrel racing practice where we watched a friend of mine. A month ago, she wouldn't even stand near the trailer! Thank you!

[@227oldtrees]

That was a great analogy… I don’t like sushi, and don’t take me there. I’ll keep that in mind with the horse.

[@dawnnaomi7907]

I love how you talk about horses and the relationship we form with them. Thanks!

[@user-bn9um1ig9m]

Warwick, you also matched her front feet direction so double connection of 'being seen'. Tx for being so generous with your time and effort put into these videos.

[@michaelschiller9933]

The connection you create with every horse you work with is amazing. I love the way you put the horses feelings above everything else. Love your videos "cousin"! LOL

[@randomvielleuse527]

I loved watching this. Your explanations are so clear and simple, and you show what you're doing several times pointing out the horse's responses so that those of us who aren't quite up to speed can begin to make sense of what we should be looking for. SO COOL. Thank you! And I love that mare. What a sturdy, pretty creature she is...

[@ThePyrshepnBelgn]

I have watched a lot of training videos and most didn't seem fair to the horse or really teach them to trust us. Your videos do. Thank you.

[@Geronimo1974]

Dear Warwick, this is some great horsemanship. You helped me a lot to turn my horsemanship upsidedown. Kind greetings from Croatia

[@riverbank4126]

Really good explanation of desensitization Warwich. Thanks for taking enough time so that people realize that sometimes it seems to take a long time to assure the horse that you don't let bad things happen. You could see the mare's confidence in you building - and then you got those two great sighs! One more step taken towards her feeling safe in your company. It woulds be great to hear how you would transfer her confidence in you to another person who she doesn't know as well - a situation that arises when we help the horse to self-calm and then hand its lead to a student!

[@tesszicker4851]

Thanks for another great training session, Warwick. Even with something like CAT-H, where I have been doing it with my horses (without knowing what it was called!), seeing you walk through it helps me understand how to tweak it to make our sessions even more successful.

[@jilljones4181]

Warwick …I just have to say I never comment but your approach to horses regarding connection and being aware is wonderful Thankyou so so much ..I did a mindful course about 5 years ago so it brings everything together that I feel is the way to go with horses …Thankyou so much again and of course I think your wife’s name is robin to robin too ❤

[@WarwickSchiller]

Thank you

[@fallbrkgrl]

She's so pretty, and seems like a very sweet girl! Love watching you work, and the way you help us "see" what they are thinking, or feeling. Some responses are definitely more subtle than others, and can be hard for inexperienced (or distracted) folks, to see. Thanks again! ❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈☮️🐎

[@ashlynandrews1257]

This was EXACTLY what I needed to see today! thank you Warwick. I will report back after taking my mare out of her stall at her new barn today.

[@Inca1122]

I had the opportunity to try this the other day when my mustang didn't wanna pass a newspaper in the bushes. It worked like a charm!

[@loredelore7286]

Great video. The problem is no one wants to put the time into horses anymore until there is a point of no return. Its months sometimes years of this de sensitizing horses when they are young to everything when on the ground, people just want to get on and go.

[@spaceginger7627]

Really great video! I used to have a mustang some time ago and he reminds me a lot of this mare. Back then I was all about the "make him sniff his fears" approach but that really doesn't work with mustangs or horses that are very anxious. He was my first truly difficult horse and I learned a lot from him. Saying goes: a mustang _needs_ to be trained how every horse _should_ be trained.

[@mdee860]

Space Ginger - I agree, you can "make" a horse do it, but it doesn't work. It's like winning the battle but losing the war. This is far superior, resulting in calmer, trusting horses. W. Schiller is incredible, his explanations are so clear.

[@mdee860]

Such a great lesson about nipping things in the bud... or preferably before the bud. Patience & total focus on your horse is key. You are helping so many people & horses, thank you so much. CAT-H is so key for spooky horses - great explanation. Thank you.

[@terriedwards1770]

Awww you took it opon ur self to a dress her anxiety 😳 and helped her she trusts you you have a relationship with her 💖🐴

[@juliagray207]

I really appreciate these examples of how to apply CAT-H to horses, it really helps contextualize the theory into practice. THANK YOU!

[@Menoetia]

This is more or less the same method my trainer used with my service dog when he was still in the last part of public access training, except we called it the approach and retreat method. I didn't even think to use it with horses, but I can see exactly why it would be a *really* good idea.

[@lindyhaywood2836]

Consciousness creates connection and connection is the ability to stay present. I have been binging all (every video I can find) your videos on KZbin. I am just so grateful that horsemen, not sportsmen, have a platform to help owners understand their horses more. I recently bought an unraced thoroughbred gelding that was in training but never got past the starting gates, a magnificent soul, that was overlooked by so many because he has quite a nasty scar on his knee. With some love, energy and castor oil, it's almost completely gone! When I looked at him he was completely shut down. Didn't even look at me when I went into his paddock. He has since the 2 months of owning him, blossomed into a proud and willing friend. He is rather tall, 16.3hh at only 3.5 years. I haven't saddled him yet, I do feel he will tell me when he is ready. I have a hippy mentality, but he deserves to be a horse first and foremost, before he journeys on to be a happy riding partner. Thank you Warwick for honoring the relationship first. Perhaps the world will catch on, connection isn't species driven, it flows in all life forms. From the water to the trees. Can't wait to join the #journey/on soon!

[@sarkamarova6195]

Great tip in the end for those, who are in the proces of the horse training. Safe first i like it :) I appreciate it a lot, not many trainers show plan B when your horse is not in accordance with showed level. Sharing the video with my barn mates.

[@kat0329]

I tried this today with my 4 yo mare, she has never seen mirrors in the arena before and I was riding her towards it (the mirror covered the whole side) and as soon as she raised her head with all her focus on it, I turned her in a circle. She came closer and closer every time and it didn't take long before she didn't care and focused on what we were doing. I changed what we did a lot beside the mirror with circles, rollback, change of lead and so on. So it totally worked, as always with your humble methods 🙏🏻 Thank you from Sweden!

[@WarwickSchiller]

Im glad it worked but this method doesnt actually involve circling. In your case, as soon as she saw the mirror and her head raised, you would stop and wait until she showed some sign of relaxation, then walk away, THEN do a half circle and try again.

[@kat0329]

@@WarwickSchiller I watched the video 2 times but still missed the whole point, feel quite dumb. I slowly turned her into a half circle pretty much as soon as all her focus was at the mirror-wall, with her head high, but her focus immediately changed back to me as soon as I asked her to turn. I'm certain "my half done" method today wouldn't have worked on a spookier object, with a truly spooked horse. My horse never passed the "what the heck is that, should I be spooked or curious?"-mode. Of course the whole point with the method is to gain relaxation confronting the spooky object and then turn, can't believe I missed that while riding. Thanks for your answer, no risk I will forget the essential purpose again! 😊

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@kat0329 You basically did this one kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqethHZ5n7WGgLs

[@magdalenagauderon3754]

I love this so much! And its right along with what I am learning at moment regards releasing tension through bodywork.pick up the small signals and work with the horse.

[@kathleenbronson9849]

Awesome video Warwick!!!

[@jcadams8232]

Warwick, your video helped me with my mulo loco, this morning.

[@laurak6108]

Love his methods!!!

[@ellasiggy]

What a beautiful horse x

[@sms7782]

Thank you soooooo much! 🍀🍀🍀🍀

[@larrysullivan6536]

That’s amazing well done you

[@nataliekitchens1380]

Gorgeous Horse

[@champyandmorris]

Thank you for sharing 🙏😊

[@shannonmugavin9181]

Great info

[@destinationaddictionsamsar7894]

I'd love for you to do a series training a mule using your methods. As mules tend to be way more in their head than horses and the mule trainers available tend to use harsher methods.

[@WarwickSchiller]

Id do exactly the same thing with a mule

[@heathercollins4432]

@@WarwickSchiller - >> ( - ;

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@heathercollins4432 "You HAVE to treat a mule like you SHOULD treat a horse" is an old mule saying, so I think they are the same.

[@heathercollins4432]

@@WarwickSchiller - I treat mules with a great deal more respect and may I say "wariness" as I feel that they are a great deal smarter than horses...That's been my experience, anyway. I've been outsmarted by mules many more times than horses....

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@heathercollins4432 Thats because you HAVE to work with a mule that way. You should with a horse, but you can get away without it. Not with a mule

[@evacari_8994]

My mare is EXACTLY like this and gets spooked everywhere. It is really bad in our inside arenas and I can't even ride her casually because she is not focussed on me and her ears are fixed on the far end of the arena. I can pick up the rein and she will turn, but I won't get an ear flick. So I decided to work in one of the arenas by hand before riding in there again. However, she walks relaxed with me until we get to half of the long side. Then she is transfixed on whatever there is on the far end (nothing's there really) and she won't relax. I will stand there with her for as long as needed, but even after 15 minutes she still is looking at everything around her and her ears are fixed. I hope she will relax sometime in the future, because that means our relationship is getting better...

[@lesliepark3370]

Thanks for adding the practical advice at the end. Some days you just need to get from A to B.

[@kajinsautumn9833]

This would be an awesome technique to get my TWH not to fear tractors and other moving vehicles. Thank you, Warwick!!

[@madeleindevilliers2530]

Thanks!!

[@mitzibud6908]

So wise!!

[@dianereiser6417]

This is very beneficial for training my horse, it’s better than holding an object and bring it towards them, but in hand work with moving them on the ground to the object desensitization seems like its a good reading of my horse.

[@calebscrazyamazinglife1795]

Gooooooooood looking horse

[@cavmuns]

Your awesome.. ❤️

[@SkyMurphy77]

finally hand my light bulb moment about shutdown horses getting spookier, my grey gelding did that last year, I thought it was bad weather... it was a whole 3-4 week deal. Thanks this video really helps, this happens all the time with the babies.

[@claudiapank9762]

Great !!!

[@Jason-hq4cq]

beautiful horse, big for a mustang? nice work!

[@TheQueenAndTheKing]

Welll... guess what i did wrong last week 😅 and now this pops up on my feed...

[@josianefazlija8016]

Very very clear and intersting! And when you are riding? Personnaly I stop and we watch, when quiet we continue, and again till we pass...is it correct?

[@sadmimikyu8807]

I tried this technique today with the 28 year old pony mare I take care of twice a week. First of all I think this is a great principle: to show the horse you care and see what is going on. Excatly my style because I do and I do. I am angry because people say: but if you stop when she spooks, you tell her that there really was something to spook about. So just ignore the small things. I disagree. To me this sounds like what parents say when their baby cries: if you go to the baby every time it cries, you teach it you will come when it cries. Yes, but is that not the point? People are afraid of reinforcing 'wrong' behaviour and forget that this is how it should be. I try to be a leader for her. I am not there yet but I am working on it and I do not want her to be scared. Sometimes it is just small spooking but her owner told me she has the ability to freak out completely.. Last week before I had seen this video she started to snort and flare her nostrils and it sounded as if she had a panic attack. Her breathing was really laboured. We were on a narrow path and I am supposed to walk only big circles with her because of her legs, so I could not do any. I felt this fear she had and the panic of it all and she was upsetting me as well. She completely forgot I was there. I felt I needed to get her back. Back to the present. Back to awareness so I gabe her the only task I could think of: stop. Then let her correct her position as she was standing half in front of me. So she walked backwards do her feet were behind mine. And then we just stood there. She anxiously peeked around me to get a look at the noise she had heard. But she stayed. And we just breathed. When I walked her on.. she did not spook. I could feel her anxiety was there but it was not overflowing anymore and mangeable for me so no more safety concerns on my part. I felt quite proud and since this moment I am convinced this is the right way. Not just dragging her past it.

[@bobtail5371]

I loved the sushi explanation! 🍣

[@rhythmandblues_alibi]

I think this could really help my Anglo Arab. He won't necessarily spook but there are things around the yard that he sees all the time but he still goes on high alert and I don't really know how to help him with it. I have instinctually been walking putting myself between him and the things that make him worry, but sometimes there's a thing on each side and it's not possible to shield him. Thanks can't wait to try this.

[@persephonemaeve2704]

What a beautiful horse. My mare has developed a fear of her clumps of hair that I brush out. They roll across the ground and perhaps look like mice to her. She’s usually rock solid and very level headed. Any ideas on how I could incorporate this technique with moving fur balls??

[@tanyapurcell6819]

This is great as my mare does this at the start of every ride but I generally sit quiet dont push her and wait till she relaxes and we walk onwards when she ready is this wrong

[@joannasott5675]

fab material as ever..im notiicing that box fore hoof...is that a box foot? thx

[@WarwickSchiller]

She has 2 clubbed feet and is pigeon toed.

[@HeyWatchMeGo]

I appreciate all your videos, however I am curious as to why you are putting the time into a mare with these kinds of issues on the near front.

[@lauraallen9434]

My new horse likes to spook at object he has seen a million times and not new ones. If a barrel he saw for 2 months moves inches to the left, it's tornado time! I'll try this...but it feels so specific and 0 to 10 sometimes

[@stitchedreams]

Could you apply the same method for encountering spooky objects/bushes/etc. under saddle?

[@sadmimikyu8807]

You can. He has a video showing where he lets the horse walk away from the spooky object and apply pressure and once the horse walks towards the object he releases the pressure. But you have to let the horse walk away from the thing.

[@angelfoodcake1979]

Does this work for riding as well?

[@rrrrrr-ry3cn]

She is so beutifull😍

[@momclark5706]

Great tip to not get run over!

[@stinahumana]

Beautiful, what's with her left front foot?

[@marianne.holmen]

Looks like a slight club foot?

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@marianne.holmen Shes very club footed in both front feet

[@marianne.holmen]

@@WarwickSchiller Ah, doesn't look as bad on the right front in the video. Hoping it's not something that's bothering her. Great looking mare otherwise :)

[@justtanartist2257]

What about spring loaded electric Gates

[@doriennaraine3004]

My horse is fine on the ground, but when I'm on his back he acts like I don't exist. He will move, but he's got a bit of tension or is not focused on what I'm trying to do with him.

[@a24-45]

This reminds me so much of what can happen when you going out for a walk with a little child and something scary comes along. My son at 3 yrs old would be holding hands with me walking the footpath, when we might see a huge dog up ahead. My little one wouldn't say anything, he would just stop in his tracks, staring at the "monster" dog with big eyes. Then he would draw himself in close to my side, and then actually try to hide behind my leg. If I tried to push on towards the dog, he would refuse to budge. I learned to know the signs, and to take a wide semicircle/detour around very big dogs! This horse's reactions seem so similar. When working through her fear, the mustang turns her head to look at Warwick -- it seems to me she's seeking reassurance from touch/physical contact (with her muzzle). Then she hides her head behind him, as if this is where she feels safer - as if Warren is her protector, parent or leader. Please correct me if I'm reading too much into this, but her trust and faith in Warren is adorable to see.

[@saspinks3001]

Would you recommend handling the same way if you were on the horse? Or would you suggest getting off the horse and going thru this procedure before remounting to move forward past the object?

[@WarwickSchiller]

You can do the same thing under saddle.

[@saspinks3001]

@@WarwickSchiller Thank you sir!

[@barneyfromblackmesa2454]

I love your telescoping flag

[@sylvisterling8782]

Would you like one? They're dead easy to make!. Check your local pharmacy. Places like Walgreen sell extendable back scratchers. Made with a telescoping handle, they can extend quite a way. Simply pull the 'scratcher' part off the end, rubberband, tape, wire or glue a white handkerchief to that end and voila! Instant collapsible flag. If you cannot find one in your local drug store, try Amazon or even a car parts store for a collapsible mirror on the same kind of handle. Poor man's solution: Get an antenna off an old junker. Same thing. Wrap the 'handle' section with duct tape and away you go.

[@barneyfromblackmesa2454]

@@sylvisterling8782 Thank you!

[@CH-jq7xg]

Warwick sells one on his website if interested.

[@heidiames9960]

What do you do when this happens as you’re in the saddle riding?

[@WarwickSchiller]

You can do the same , or you can try this kzbin.info/www/bejne/rqethHZ5n7WGgLs

[@leeevers8976]

Is this for just stationary objects when leading a horse? What if you’re trail riding and the horse gets ‘spooked’ by a rabbit or needs to go over a bridge, through a stream or fallen tree?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Yes, this is for stationary objects when leading a horse, and the last CAT-H video I made was for desensitizing a horse to a flag.

[@KR-qn5oi]

Would this be the same process if you are under saddle?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Yes

[@louisetiger1408]

Once the horse relaxes could you not just keep walking? What is the function of turning back and then walking on again?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Because they need to be able to approach that spot without getting anxious, before Id go any closer.

[@gingercox6468]

When I get stuck like that we stop and investigate it. Smell and touch it.

[@jefferyschirm4103]

Sometimes a horse can be very much far sited , things close are blurie equal spokie !

[@javdestiny]

How do you know when to do this and when to push? My first mare that I had for 19 years, all I had to do was stop and let her look at something and she would decide it was ok and we could go on with our trail ride. With my new mare (had her for 7 years now) this does not work. When I let her stop and look at something she is concerned about, instead of deciding it is ok she decides she must be the one who gets to decide and she decides "no". Sometimes when I am firm and determined she will power through for me. How do I know when to let her look at something and see it is ok, and when to just say "we ARE doing this!" P.S. I have tried in vain to find a trainer to go on a ride with me to help me figure this out.

[@javdestiny]

I should add we were doing pretty well with me insisting until a quiet trail ride no obstacles, in a wind gust a tree fell just in front of us almost hitting us. Both of us were injured. I spent a couple of days in the hospital and could not ride for 3 months, she fell on her knees and scrapped up both front legs. Since then we have both lost confidence in my judgment. I have worked with trainers but they only want to work in an arena which is not the same as the trail.

[@esterlundin3142]

@@javdestiny It is difficult to judge the situation properly just over text, and I do not answer for Warwick, but for me it sounds like you might be getting over your horses threshold if she has to decide or not. Perhaps you should try stoppning sooner, as soon as you see a small change in your horse, (ears fixating, tenser movements or raising her head) and then stop and wait until she shows any signs of relaxation and then turn back. If your mare is allowed to stop and think when she first feels a tiny bit of anxiety she won't have to decide "no". :)

[@teresawort9124]

My horse all of a sudden won't ride in the arena. So I will do this with him.

[@WarwickSchiller]

He is probablt not spooky, he is probably arena sour

[@teresawort9124]

I used a different arena today...he did great...thank you !

[@mystictailsfarmga]

Good video,, Horses have great noses and can smell the manure.. We have a pig and my horse can smell his manure from a good distance and avoids it at all costs. This is important when trail riding, they will spook at different smells, so desensitizing is very important. I know they sell coyote and other urine samples and they can be used to help with training too!

[@comesahorseman]

When you turn her away from the scary thing you first walk between her and it (protection?), then turn her so that she can face the scary thing and keep an eye on it. Correct?

[@sarahwilliams311]

Has she had X-rays to confirm club foot?

[@WarwickSchiller]

No idea, she's not mine. But that's not what the video is about. It's about observing and honouring thresholds in our interactions with our horses. I know you saw the feet, but did you see the true purpose of the video?

[@carmenslee6234]

Freaking ads do my head in!

[@spiderjoes]

Put an adblocker extension from chrome

[@Galemor1]

Biggest mustang I ever seen, looks like a lot of Spanish blood. But what going on with her front hoofs?

[@WarwickSchiller]

Shes pigeon toed and club footed.

[@Galemor1]

@@WarwickSchiller I guess you are working on fixing that too while she's there. 😉 Is she shoed or barefoot? My mare was 17 when I got her, and changed to barefoot, it took two years, but the progress all thru her body was amazing and well worth the time. The trimmer was very good, and even she was amazed by the progress, the last year, her feet mostly trimmed itself.. Went 5 months between trim, and then just tiny adjustments.. Hope they are able to get this fixed too, might also be a contributing factor for the reason why she's spooky..

[@WarwickSchiller]

@@Galemor1 Shes barefoot, and Im not fix her being pigeon toed and club footed. that'd be like trying to fix her height, or her colour.

[@lucasa1849]

Her hooves....

[@WarwickSchiller]

Shes very club footed isnt she. When I first saw her I thought that being club footed would be natural for a mustang and they wouldn't survive in the wild,, but I recently visited a mustnag sanctuary and many of the 200 there had club feet. Aparently there are strains of mustangs that have it. Who knew.

[@lucasa1849]

@@WarwickSchiller intesting!

[@TimCausleyhorsemanship]

Wild unhandled horse yes--but Mustang?--no way--good video--term "Mustang" very over used--I have gentled off the prairie unhandled horses--the mustang DNA is rare and most never more than 14.1 hands

[@WarwickSchiller]

She has a BLM brand...

[@sharadbhutoria]

Am I the only one who noticed that her right foreleg is badly shoed. 🙄

[@WarwickSchiller]

She is actually club foioted and pigeon toed in both front feet. Badconformation, not bad shoeing

[@sharadbhutoria]

@@WarwickSchiller ok, is it possible to correct that in horses? With shoeing maybe.