Fear in Horses - Part 4 - On the Trail

[@marybethgreene3113]

I did attend RTTH in Lexington in March not long ago. You and I will have to talk when I see you in Tennessee. I would like to share with you my perspective of what I witnessed. I do not believe most people think they can really train a horse in the manner presented in the short time as the 4 professional trainers at the competition. It is just that, a competition. With so much good information about working with horses, where connection, communication, and relationship are key principles, I believe horse people ideally want a bond with their horses. Needless to say, RTTH was very interesting, and at least a presentation of what not to do. See you soon!

[@marybethgreene3113]

Also, thank you for doing this segment. I have been waiting for someone to give suggestions for precisely this topic. Thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@PsychicIsaacs]

I just wanted to let you know that although I ride English and not gaited, your videos are so useful, so thank you for making them!

[@IvyS]

Thank you so much! It's always fun to hear things like that!

[@introvertedequinesamsara6593]

Warwickschiller sells a retractable flag that you can use as a target, that you can easily keep in your pocket while riding or just around the barn.

[@Marta-df2hs]

Ivy, this is really helpful information. You mentioned feeding food on the trail. How do you do that when you're on a horse's back and attempting to use clicker or target training and food for reinforcement? Knowing that the horse may be scared one would have to lean over or flex the horse's neck towards the rider to give food. This is sometimes difficult when the horse is in freeze which creates rigidity. What is the best way to do that?

[@Quentin.708]

I just found you i love your videos 🙌 I am working on touching my dads horse now she was bit by a rattlesnake and has never been the same since with maybe what she went through during that😢 As I find myself back home I have been working with her for a month now and she will now eat treats out of my hand yay. She is 30 years old has been with two trainers in the past and I’m not down with anymore poor girl has been through enough. Any clues how to go about touching I can touch her with a treat in my hand but I feel like I’m tricking her and she gets afraid almost like she’s afraid of humans in general. I am definitely going to try clicker training this is amazing stuff. I find myself gaining more and more trust from her each and every day she is such a sweetheart too who has been through heck and back 💕

[@lr5425]

Recently found your channel. I am currently not a Patreon member of any channel. So the question I have is how does one become a member? Also what would it cost? The videos I seen thus far are very good. I own a Peruvian Paso that I recently aqui red this past December. He is a natural at gaiting. He just does it . However I am realizing that he has some issues from mistreatment of his previous owner. He is win a class in a Marinera exposition prior to my purchase. Looking forward to future videos. Thank you.

[@IvyS]

Thanks so much for commenting! That is awesome that he just gaits! I'd be happy to help with any other issues. I don't have a patreon page, but I have a private training group on facebook you can join. You pay just $99 one time and you are in for life. :) ivyshorses.com/product/private-training-group-lifetime-access/

[@KarenBlowKB]

I have a horse that’s great when I ride with 2 or 3 horses but when I get in a group he feeds off all the energy of all the horses around him. And no matter how long the ride or were I put him in the group he will not calm down. I have tried for 2 years to get him use to being with a group and he has not got comfortable with it yet.

[@IvyS]

Yeah, it can be really hard to fix that unless you focus on training during a ride with that many horses. Stopping and letting him calm down every time he gets worried or over threshold. The idea is you don't want him to get tired, you want to help him get calm every time he gets anxious. And that takes time and training.

[@JudyMiller-r4s]

Hi Ivy, What do you do with a horse that is in a rush as soon as you turn toward the barn, will not slow down, but goes sideways, uppity up, and a bunch of fancy footwork when you try to slow down and simply walk? There is no particular fear, but just an anxiety. This horse didn't know how to walk when I got her, and is now about 75% improved overall. I pull and release as much as possible, but she just speeds up as soon as I release and has been more difficult to control with the change of weather. Great topic, BTW!

[@IvyS]

Sounds like you are going to far from the barn. Check out this video. Your horse is telling you that you took them past their comfort zone. kzbin.info/www/bejne/kHbYimaKd7ajhdU

[@JudyMiller-r4s]

She's within her comfort zone here, as she's loose in the yard all the time in this very same area But, when I'm on her, when we start going toward the barn this is what she does. We also have two ponds on our property with paths around them. The horses go around them all the time on their own. The first time I tried to ride her around them, she was awful. This time she acted scared. I got off and walked her back and forth the scary spot 6 or 7 times in hand. Then when I got on her, there was no problem. There was some trauma in her past, and I don't know if there is a connection or not or what it would be.@@IvyS