Ken McNabb: How to Spook-Proof Your Horse

How do you spook-proof a horse? In short, you teach her to FACE what spooks her.
In this session, I will be using a trash bag to try to spook the horse, and Lisa will concentrate on getting the horse to face the trash bag, and approach it when possible. The horse will find a release when she isn't fleeing. The goal is for the horse to learn to manage her emotions and trust her rider no matter what.
Some things to remember:
- Clenching with your legs or reins, though sometimes an automatic response, will actually make the horse more likely to be reactive and will tend to escalate the situation. Stay calm and stay relaxed, and remember to give the horse a release when they are facing up and going toward the scary stimulus.
- The horse needs your LEADERSHIP to tell her she will be okay. The horse needs to know you are in it together, and that you can take on whatever comes your way.
- Your timing is everything. You must take the opportunity to give the horse rest and release when the horse is managing her emotions.
Trustworthiness
Do you want your horse to trust you? Do you want to be able to trust your horse? Trust goes both ways. If I don't trust my horse, he is going to pick up on the nervousness and he won't trust me in return. So remember to give TRUST to your horse.
Until next time, may God bless the trails you ride!
- Ken McNabb
www.kenmcnabb.com

[@homeedconnect]

I can't help but think this technique is probably more for the rider than the horse. To be able to ride with confidence knowing that you can help your horse through any spook is SO important...and really hard to practice. The rider is wonderful, and the horse is better for it! You go girl! -holly

[@harmonysprogress]

I was thinking that very thing!!! 👍👍👍✝️✝️✝️

[@lcaryfrog]

Whoa! That girl can ride

[@arnethd9730]

That cowgirl has skills

[@seneynah]

Yes she does! I wish I had the seat. I have a little explosive gelding. I have sat some pretty wild bolts but I don’t think I can sit it quite as long as she did, and my horse is much smaller thank God!

[@josiepatrick406]

I feel like this guy doesn't come across as slick as some of the trainers out there but, especially as far as this video is concerned, that really helps to illustrate the concept he's teaching. You can actually see the point where the horse realizes there's a pattern and starts to gain more confidence facing the situation. Two thumbs up for this training video 👍

[@harmonysprogress]

Who's huffin and puffin more, Ken or the horse... 🤣🤣🤣✝️✝️✝️ Bridge

[@jeffmelisasmith3600]

I really enjoy your teaching methods. I have noticed in every video or TV show I’ve watched you mention God in some way. I really appreciate that. Thank you

[@stevenevans8860]

I really like the Ken McNabb methods and the finished product! As soon as I become independently wealthy I’m going to own a McNabb horse!

[@lulee7375]

Great riding by the lady ❤

[@erynd2524]

Exactly! Your word is your bond.

[@variablespeed3298]

Thank you sir, and thank you Ma'am for your hard and dedicated work helping that nice horse become more solid and confident, and sharing this experience with others. Thank you Mr. McNabb for your selfless, inspirational messages to the benefit of others. "God trusts us to be faithful to Him. We can trust God. The difference is, He is always there, right? Sometimes we mess up, He never does. He is always there, we can trust His faithfulness." Amen.

[@rebeccan7276]

Thank you for the great video, I really appreciate your teaching style and methods! I use a slightly different approach to fear and don't focus on any specific scary objects nearly so much, but in the end I think it comes down to the same thing. The rider needs to be confident, trust themselves and build their trust with the horse and the horse will trust you. It's not as easy to train ourselves though!

[@kevinmalloy2180]

Wow what a good rider!

[@michaelc2509]

Another smart de-spooking exercise. Will try this one soon beeeeecause my 6yr old is SPOOKY.

[@qhride1]

My 10yr old qh horse that i bred broke and trained and thought was super quiet spooked for the first time with out warning i was just walking around the arena on a loose rein she stopped to look at something and i faced her in the direction and talked to her and she just spun and bolted so quickly she throw me back out the saddle my head on her bum and feet up by the neck in bronc style bucking and bolting it seemed for ever until i hit the deck hard on my back breaking my back ribs, if i hadnt lost my balance would of been able to get control and she bucked because she couldn't handle me across her back just wish i had someone do this with me years ago! sadly this has knocked my confidence of 40 yrs of riding

[@Piydarija]

big hello from Croatia. Its good exercise to you too :)

[@becomingcowboy]

Yesss!!! So glad for another video from Ken!🐴🎄🐴

[@amyreed3209]

New cardio❤😂

[@colinbateman8233]

Good solid advice thank you for sharing

[@OttersMum]

This looks so fun I can't stand it😆

[@frankb6793]

Thanks for making this video. I was lookong for a solution to spooking and this was fantastic.

[@kalakissa8347]

Love your videos!!! Great you still make em

[@anne-grethemichaelsen5789]

Lisa you are a the best rider!

[@julieammons9016]

Great video and content ❣️ 😊!!!

[@lynd4852]

Wow! Can I do this in my groundwork? Add a tarp to the pasture and drag it with us....beside and behind. Tie it to the stirrup ect. I'm alone most of the time.

[@Francesca1o]

Is there a way to do this without a rider? Some of us are not as proficient riding a spooking horse and would be putting ourselves in a dangerous situation. I liked the video and agreed that we should ALWAYS show our horses that what they are afraid of usually won't hurt them. I always walk my animal up to the fearful object and bang on it. I will move it around if possible and let him sniff it etc. till he is over the fear. Thank you for sharing. I appreciate the work you Do. God Bless You and yours.

[@victoriadupre7051]

Yes, play the Touch-It Game on line. Or have a helper walk ahead and away with the scary thing. Also, this kzbin.info/www/bejne/gWaqmmelj8SGbZI'

[@operationNOBO]

Yes, you can accomplish this on the ground, preferably in a round pen without being on them. A flag works well.

[@colinbateman8233]

Clearly explain disengage the hind end I remember a time I was riding a you Philly she exploded and a piece of Sagebrush going in across in front of her not pulling up on the rains was difficult but dropping my hand and talking to her and just hanging onto a main and she just seem to work her way through it I figure it was shit out of luck

[@andywoommavovah7229]

Good morning and Happy New Year! During this video you introduced a 13 day academy. How often do you hold this? I have recently retired from the military and has provided more time for me to pursue a childhood passion with my 14 yr old daughter ( her’s too!!). I am seeking to become a better horsemen and would like to learn more.

[@ankymrn]

Imagine doing this in an English saddle XD

[@spottedhideranch182]

She has a way better seat then I do.

[@sidilicious11]

I’m going to try some version of this with my guy-I-need-to-be-braver. On the ground first.

[@debrabessette2699]

Laughing when I get a glimpse of the turned out horses...they have rheir eyes on that bag!

[@tinabourassa4162]

I am always nervous even with trusting my horse PTSD it is usually at the beginning once riding I am ok. This is something I can't stop or change. Don't know even how or if I will ever get rid of nerves.

[@robinrashida]

need to hit that cardio!!

[@jackiegoins7564]

Amen Aman

[@larissacastro4792]

How can I hire Lisa to come ride my mare?

[@sydneyjae4304]

Where are you located ken?

[@seneynah]

So I get the idea the problem is my horse spooks at the wind and the trees blowing in the wind and that’s about it. No objects on the trail bother him. I know all about investigating scary objects. What do I do about spooking at the wind in trees? I can’t like ride him into a tree you can’t ride them into the wind. I do ride him through the forest in the trees the whole time he’s wanting to explode.

[@Conny226]

How does the lady hold on with her legs ? Only squeeze the knees?

[@christinemiller3061]

things that spook do not occur in patterns, like the bag shaking.

[@seneynah]

Right? My horse likes to spook and explode at wind in the trees how do I stop that when he’s good? This video makes it way too simple. if the horse is afraid of a rock or a log really hard when wind is what sets a horse off.

[@ea8454]

Curious if rider was pulling too hard??

[@01taylorlautnerfan]

Could I do this from the ground somehow with my horse that isn’t broke yet but is super spooky? I am trying to desensitize and teach emotional control before I get back on her to try that first ride again. (We were doing great but then something spooked her and I got tossed).

[@melonandlove6802]

this looks so stressful o nthe horse...

[@lulee7375]

With regards to your disclaimer at the beginning, where are hard hats etc, you mention correct safety equipment, there are none !

[@samgeller1967]

You’re not used to moving quickly are you, you’re huffing and puffing you will give yourself a heart attack! be careful

[@joseluisribas5725]

Horse is good, but your cardio....kkkk

[@bcazz5202]

Let me describe an actual attack by a pit bull on an actual horse and rider. The horse had its head down drinking out of a river. Pit runs out from the bushes and latches onto the horse's neck. The horse, with pit bull still attached, wheels around trying to get away from the pain, and after spinning a few times, the pit loses its grip. It then relaunches and manages to latch onto the horse's skin that runs between the stifle and the flank. The horse begins bucking and kicking trying to get the thing off. At some point in this, the rider is dislodged and is getting dragged by the reins where her hand is caught up. Eventually one or more of her fingers break which allows the reins to slid off (can't remember if it was one or more, she was in a cast for quite awhile). Once the horse manages to get the pit off, it does what any self respecting prey animal does when attacked, it ran like hell over three miles back to the trailer. So, Mr. McNabb - how exactly would you get your horse to run over that pit? And, btw, the pit is way more maneuverable than any horse, and it's bred from stock that was really good at fighting large animals, namely the old bull dogs that worked slaughter yards.

[@caseG80]

Stay clear of water holes with dogs

[@bcazz5202]

@@caseG80 duh. i was in the bushes. never water your horse and never go near bushes. Oh hell, they may be hiding behind something! Never go on a trail ride. Oh, oh, they may be in the barn. Never go in an arena. Your turn.

[@victoriadupre7051]

Wow. Carry a handgun. Just sayin'. Terrifying story.

[@mihakabercic4457]

shoot it

[@jenniferjacobs663]

I did not appreciate your pit bull comment. Every dog/person/horse needs to be judged as an individual. The dog that rushed my horse was a black lab.

[@seneynah]

But the black lab did not latch on with jaws of steel like a pit can. Pits are built different not all pits are mean, but when they are, they do much more damage. Chihuahuas are 10 times more aggressive but they’re completely harmless.

[@darrengreene9018]

get yourself some well deserved cardio bother. hard to be a good horseman being out of breath waving a bag

[@carolynstewart8465]

She needs to improve her posture!