Addressing the Spooky Horse

This episode is back from Season 4 of Ridin' Horses with Kerry Kuhn. Kerry talks about the mindset we should have to help our horses build a new mindset towards how they respond to things that initially bothered them.

[@tinyliny4ever]

Thank you for addressing this. Almost no one does show this often neglected concept; Can the horse deal with the something scary WHILE moving? Glad you have addressed this. May I humble say that you need not push her on her hind end to stop/disengage her (bending over and looking at her hind end) when trying to reward her. This well end up being the last thing in her mind; her moving away / fleeing from your body pressure on her hind end. Instead. do nothing. . . . . LET her come down from her fleeing mentality, by releasing any kind of pressure as soon as she shows that wee bit of relaxation you are looking for and then waiting and letting her figure it out on her own.. Because, when you push on her hind end, you are taking her choice away from her. Ok. I am a nobody, and you can laugh this comment off. as you wish

[@robbiemayes8252]

I like you said Gods design. I subscribed because of that.

[@mjdevlin8189]

Great video Kerry You showed me how true this is Made a huge difference in my young horse

[@meganpahl3612]

That is another thing, this mare does the same thing when I swing and cue with the whip, she stops and directs her full attention on me waiting for a command; however, never wants to keep moving. Lunging is a nightmare and even trotting along side me. She wants to be close to me instead of moving away.

[@shannondailey3316]

Thank you! I bought a 14 yo that has some major spooking issue (to the point I got thrown and broke 3 ribs and punctured a lung). I've done a ton of desensitizing from the ground but was having issues when he was moving and this never occurred to me. It makes perfect sense! This mare in this video reminds me a LOT of Makani and how he reacts. I'm still having 2 issues: When he's moving and something touches his flank/comes from behind and loud 2-stroke "popping" motorcycles and I'm not sure how to help him with that. I live in an urban area and we encounter motorcycles, golf carts, cyclists as well as loud cars/trucks getting to the horse parks. It's a lot. Love this video and I will definitely start incorporating this into my groundwork days!

[@homeedconnect]

This is SOOOOOO helpful! Thank you!!! I'm thrilled to have this technique to help my new 10 yo sweet, scared QH! I've been doing the horse thing a long time and nobody suggested this to me! Makes SO much sense! Blessings!

[@1sacoyle]

Today while i was free lunging my 17 yr. old Haflinger gelding one of my cats darted across the barnyard on the other side of the fence just as he was moving in that direction. He did a drop spook turned and bucked before taking off in the opposite direction. Never stopped moving his feet.

[@janetcurry7931]

Love it. Love it. I so agree with you in everything you say. Thank you.

[@melissaweaver1189]

I just found your channel. That could be our haflinger that you are working with in this video. She acts just like that. I believe she has abuse in her past and she's extremely spooky. I have to admit I was desensitizing her by having her stand still. But no more, starting tomorrow. There will be lots of changes in her training. Thank you for posting this. ✝️📖⚖️⌛️❤️

[@kimbrandt6090]

You are describing me. I always expected my horse, a steady Eddie, to spook in place until he didn’t. He bolted, and I have some broken bones (just wings of vertebrae thankfully) in my back.

[@meganpahl3612]

The good Lord blessed me with the opportunity to give my little girl her first horse. I have been riding and rodeoing for over 40 years yet, the mare we have is incredibly spooky. She does not care if I wave or touch her with noisy objects because she trusts me but even though she is used to the highway, tractors, dogs, chickens, and cows, she spooks at the slightest sound of wind blowing through the trees. I have been desensitizing her to her surroundings for several months now, so she should be used to this by now and isn't. I need to make sure I have her well trained and calm before I let my daughter ride. Advice?

[@evansveilleux5168]

Very useful

[@hollygossettdvm3302]

So what can we do habitually to desensitive. I thought that was a great point about standing still versus moving. My mare is 100% fine standing with string, flag, barrel, etc., but introduce the element of movement and all ____ breaks loose. So, what would be the daily tasks to reduce this? She is spooky on the trail, usuall a shudder but has been known to spin 180 and mini bolt and she'll sidestep at the canter a good 10 to 20 steps if something comes out behind her. She spooks at birds coming out of the grass in fields. As an eventer, this is challenging. I would love a daily program to help her calm down while moving. Thank you!!!

[@9g849]

1:31 ya right, that move right there makes a real "spooky" horse bolt. Any videos of a spooky horse?

[@lindahollister5530]

She's a pretty horse❤.

[@naunettemartin7450]

Can I ask you how do I have confidence win I ride my horse and I'm having a hard time a toke a fall off my horse and I want confidence win my horse and can you do a video on conference win you are ride ing with confidence thank you

[@loiscallaway3076]

I have a 9 year old gelding that I can not get him to canner without a light buck any advice would be greatly appreciated thank you in advance

[@loiscallaway3076]

Hes quarter horse bloodline me quick too, 15.75 hands 12/1250 lb

[@BmxStudd]

So in this video you talk a lot about the concept but not what to do to apply the concept. Just constant ground work with sone form of objects is going to fix the issue?

[@laurabean5816]

Wow! Great training, Thanks. Every trainer made me keep the horse still. Thank The Good Lord for KZbin and I found a good Christian trainer from it!