Day 8 - SCEA Rescue Horse - Desensitizing and walking over tarps.

Today we focus solely on getting the horse comfortable with walking and standing over a big "scary" tarp.

[@jenmisterpaz]

My 11yr old son was inspired by these videos and decided to start working with my older mare named Paz that has developed some bad habits. After I finished with Mister today my son completed day one with Paz and reached the point where she would follow him. We are having a great time with this.

[@ChristinaLoveletting]

She is absolutely the most precious filly I’ve ever seen. Absolutely sweet personality.

[@Kikyo9386]

I really wish you had more videos, Fancy is just like my new boy Wick and I absolutely love your methods, I want more videos, you are so good ❤

[@jenmisterpaz]

I just finished day 7 and day 8 with the exercise ball and the tarp and Mister did fantastic.

[@deborahscotlass7678]

Desensitising (he now plays daily with his gym ball) carrier bags,tarp all over body/head.walk over and stand on tarp. This week he had saddle on (with no buck or bolt) taught him to stand and bring hind into mounting block and was able to get on him bareback. I am a first time horse owner and your videos have been of immense information for me. Thank you :)

[@kaitlinsteinhauer6762]

Love your videos! I think I'm gonna start using some of these techniques with my horse as well as the Arab gelding I'm working with. Very helpful and informative, but also very fun. I love that you can be in the middle of a training session and be comfortable and confident enough to start making jokes while training, as that is something I struggle with sometimes, being calm and confident. Great videos!

[@RoughPuppets]

I have tarps, silage bags, carpets, metal sheets and plywood dotted around my field. My guys walk over all of it when going about their daily missions. Then when it's time to be led over any of them there are no issues at all. Works for us :)

[@iannelson9391]

I love your videos! They are amazing and are so helpful! Thank you for doing them!! :)

[@sthemage]

That is one cute paint

[@SecondChanceEquine]

@sisbarbo YeeHaaa! You made my day. Consistency is your friend, keep doing what your doing so it becomes habit for both of you.

[@HALedbetter85]

Did you have a video of introducing Fancy to the saddle? I couldn't find it. Again, this is a great series of videos. Thank you for sharing your knowledge and experience. This is the kind of stuff I want to do more of. Wish your facility was in Colorado! I'd be under foot, soaking up the wisdom.

[@SecondChanceEquine]

I use the Aussie or blocker tie ring. This allows me the freedom to desensitize the horse with all kinds of scary objects safely. Somewhere in my videos I demonstrate how it works. You can find it on KZbin or our website.

[@Xalliumm]

Please do more of these videos with different horses so we can see how different horses react to the same method!

[@SecondChanceEquine]

@sisbarbo Every horse reacts a bit different. The worst case is that he'll pull the rope all the way thru and you'll have to pick up the end and do it again. It's easy and fun to do. The first pull is the longest, every one after that gets shorter. You take away the need to pull against the restraint because there is none (very little). It works wonders. FYI use a 14 ft lead rope.

[@SecondChanceEquine]

I did film Fancy's first saddling but I forgot to edit it. Man I am getting old. Anyway, here is a link of Gerry Cox who I think is very good. He shows how to do the introduction of the saddle very well. Colt Starting - Day 3

[@HALedbetter85]

Awesome. Thank you :)

[@SecondChanceEquine]

@sisbarbo We want our horses to be spookless, especially when tied. Most likely you'll need to do a lot of desensitizing with a hot blooded horse. These types of exercises help to teach the horse think and be rational instead of just reacting. Set up the spooky situation and teach it to be cool and calm no with it. Use your imagination, umbrellas, balls, dead cats...whatever you can find that will make it think. Be safe and follow the method I was using. Clinton Anderson has a DVD for this.

[@SecondChanceEquine]

@xSomethinglikethis You may have quit the exercise too soon. If we do it correctly the horse will actually crave to be near the tarp or object because they will associate rest & relaxation with it. After vigorously working your horse away from the object, spend more time relaxing and desensitizing the horse on or near the scary object. Make it clear, off the tarp is work on the tarp is rest. Do this 4 days in a row, don't skip a day.

[@SecondChanceEquine]

@horseloverssong Actually Ada Boy is her last name. Yeah, yeah that's the ticket, it's her last name, Fancy Ada Boy! FYI: If you listen carefully I say "ada boy, good girl". LOL

[@sleslie99]

Hello Scott, I just came across your tarp training video and loved the results. I have a young horse, recently in from pasture and knows the basics. BUT we are in a very active and 'crazy' barn. She ties well BUT I have only tied her in her stall and outside my other horses stall (slip knot). Should I try a different technique with rope or knot style? TY

[@rachel4967]

Scott, I recently came in the possession of a 12yr old mare with double vision. As a foal, another horse kicked her in the face which caused her right side of her face to be sort of "dented" inward (her socket and cheek piece). Kicking and biting are her first defenses for almost everything. Many of your exercises have helped me a lot!! Anyway, if you were handling with a horse that had double vision, would there be any different kinds of approaches you would take with them through some of your exercises? Such as the horse-eating-plastic-bag, fly spray or saddling? Thank you!

[@SecondChanceEquine]

Hi Rachel. Not to be cute, but we need to see the world thru the eyes of that particular horse. If it sees everything in its world as double it will adjust to these situations in the same manner. I would follow the same protocol as any other horse I worked with. Find a starting point, once the horse is relaxed remove the pressure and reward. Horses learn at different paces so teach accordingly.

[@singerandhorsefriend]

I did this with my horse to, but I did it a bit different. I walked over the tarp and he followed me when I tried it the sekond time. Now Ican ride over it.

[@horse7801]

Any tips on how to get them adjusted to large dogs? We have some that would never hurt a horse but will probably spook our first horse living on our property.

[@horse7801]

I've had horses before but not on our property.

[@xSomethinglikethis]

I have a question.. My mare is still freaking out every time i try this. At the end of a session she deals with the scary things. But if i try it a day later she will freak out again. Do i have to repeat it over and over again until she's one day not scared anymore?

[@twogirlstwohorses808]

How did you train her for the farrier?

[@SecondChanceEquine]

When you take your horse thru these exercises some things just fall in place. A respectful horse will stand and trust you to work on its feet. If he doesn't he showing you holes in your training. However, if you have an issue with the feet, start with handling them with a rope first until you can pick them up safely and then proceed to handling them with your hands. Start slow and gently. Find your starting point that the horse can handle without freaking out. Move forward from there. once you can handle the feet without the horse resisting you, start to tap on the soles with your pick or rasp. Make a game out of it. Go to the barn with the intention of just working on the feet, remembering to release the pressure when the horse relaxes. It's not hard to do but it may take a little patience.

[@twogirlstwohorses808]

Scott Downs Thank you! Im 13 and My sister Is 11 we want to rescue a horse, we have handled horses a lot at community events lessons and on trails do you think we are capable of traing a rescue?

[@SecondChanceEquine]

The 3 root causes of bad behavior are pain, fear or disrespect. What is the horse telling you if it is skittish? Is it fearful or just unhappy you are asking to ride his? Either way we need to calm his mind and give him confidence that he is safe and we know how to be a GOOD LEADER. The horse needs to be able to trust us. To the horse it is a life and death issue, something it will not take lightly. I can't tell how well you have done your homework on this horse...I take that back, your horse is skittish, therefore you need to go back to basics. Most people do not ask enough of their horses or demand the respect that is necessary for the horse to feel confident in the leadership being offered by the person. I would go back to the groundwork. I would sign up for a clinic with your horse where you can get instruction and some hands on experience. Meanwhile here is a tip: Horse can only think about 1 thing at a time, therefore when riding him give him something to be thinking about all the time. Ask him for his head, side pass him, take him around obstacles, change leads. He can't be thinking about scary objects or shadows if you are keeping his mind on what you are asking. This also elevates you in his mind as the leader because you are moving his feet which translate into you being the dominate leader, which transfers to confidence in the horse's mind. Until your horse is confident and calm he is dangerous. This is not his fault and can be corrected with the proper management. Good luck be careful and let us know how things work out. God bless.