Scared horse

[@lazygardens]

She KNOWS they are the world's only carnivorous horse-eating cows. Listen to their blood-curdling moos. Her sudden change of body language when she realizes she can push them around is great. And it was like a light went off in her head: cows are horse toys.

[@tree4408]

Too funny. I have never seen a horse afraid of cows. But, the game became fun when she found her power over them.

[@squeezebox7458]

You are so gentle with her even though she's scared out of her mind. What a great way to build confidence in a scared horse. Nice job!

[@allysondoerfler8688]

There were a couple of huge white turkeys in the area of the barn, and they would puff their feathers and walk towards my mare. Pretty intimidating. She wasn't that afraid, but her eyeballs were out on stems and her nostrils flared. I did the same thing - I lead her while moving the turkeys away and she got the idea.

[@valeriefreund9571]

That was a terrific, realistic, unplanned video! We all have those situations, it was nice to see your response to her antics.

[@patriciafarran9742]

That was very satisfying to watch! This mare was planning her escape to reluctantly following your lead to almost instantly becoming curious then not afraid at all but actually following / pushing the cows. Bravo! 👏👏👏

[@saspinks3001]

Wow - I thought she was going to blow & go over the rail. Fascinating to watch her mind switch gears! Great example of "working with the horse you've got".

[@Lorgayle1]

Every horse needs you as a friend.

[@wakingohiomama9110]

She is so so beautiful and the way you handled her fear was amazing!

[@erynd2524]

I think that was a smart idea to introduce her to the cows before you attempt to take her into a herd. The way she was carrying herself in the beginning had me thinking she would blow up and throw you off out of fear.

[@MP-bx3uj]

Wow! I haven’t seen a horse so scared of something for such a long period of time, and then such a surprising solution! That was great! 🤯

[@tracyskott3108]

Just beautiful handling!

[@fallbrkgrl]

It really is amazing to see them change so quickly, once they realize that they can move the cow... interesting. ❤️🌵☀️⛈️🌈☮️🐎

[@kidstuff44555]

I had a QH who was really scared of cows, and I didn't realise until we were out on a trail and saw some in a paddock. He literally had a melt down and wanted to bolt home. I don't have cows on my property to get him used to. My next horse had grown up in a paddock WITH cows. So that was a bonus

[@donnac.1609]

Horse training is slways an adventure! Each horse has their own take on things according to the experienes they have had. Add in bloodline/breed and you never take anything for granted. The mare was truly scared and I'm glad you were able to work her thru it......Just goes to show how you need to be able to give a horse the proper time to work thru issues....and the ability to manage it! This mare definitely has a spicey side! If she is headed for cow work I bet she will like it!

[@kellylee5235]

Just want you to know…watching you work with horses makes me realize why I had so much trouble with my horses in the past …until now. You are an amazing horseman. Your expertise and these videos along with my now forever horse has gotten me through a very tough loss in my life! Horses are therapy and I thank you.

[@MarkandSueSiemonsma]

I just relived an experience like this! We were on a trail in forest service and a bull, calf, and cow came to drink in a pond. I was already off but my horse was almost that nervous seeing cattle for the first time. The other two horses have been with cattle on a trail before so they didn't panic. We were in a wooded area but I could let him move. We waited a bit before we headed the other way. Didn't know the cattle so we didn't take a chance especially with a bull in the group. I got on after we put distance between us. We all survived the experience safely. Did we do the right thing? Maybe we missed a learning opportunity but it didn't seem like it at the time. It was cool to see this horse feel bold once she was able to "move" the cows. It happened almost instantly!.

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

Not knowing the cattle you did the right thing. Many bulls can be very aggressive.

[@MarkandSueSiemonsma]

@@timandersonhorsetraining Oh good. Thanks for the reply. I don't know much about cattle behavior but I'm learning a little bit watching your channel! Need to find some under a controlled situation so my horse won't have another panic episode. Have to say my heart rate went way up just watching the horse look for a way out of your arena!

[@allic8571]

I think she has an Arabian soul in a Quarter Horse body!

[@CA164530]

What a beautiful mare….❤

[@meycoe]

lol poor Maria! that look of horror. Glad she got over it :)

[@pjk1714]

Perfect example of tackling fear.

[@wendyritter7149]

Thankyou for sharing this part of her journey and learning, I enjoyed it emensley.👍

[@marylyncahn102]

Great video! You have to work with the horse you have that day!! What a change!

[@vincentverhoog8312]

Nice horse!

[@CP-rc9sw]

She is sooo pretty. I hope she is not a basket case and comes around!

[@bonniesears5286]

I thought she was going to turn into a hunter jumper horse😶‍🌫

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

She was thinking about it. Lol.

[@dianedoban4834]

Everybody know how SCARY cows are!❤

[@twiggycat1000]

Very eye opening!

[@arribaficationwineho32]

I agree she wanted to jump the gate to get back in the barn

[@finngamesknudson1457]

Would it help her get over her fear if there was another horse there who is unconcerned by cows? Is it sort of the same thing since you are high horse and you are obviously unconcerned?

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

It could but that gets to be too many animals in the arena for me to manage by myself at one time.

[@finngamesknudson1457]

@@timandersonhorsetraining - I posted too soon. Shortly after you had resolved the issue. Your training successes continue to amaze me! You also inspire me. Tuesday I was able to ride my wife’s horse far better than ever before. Seeing trainer ride him first cemented knowledge that we have a rider problem rather than a horse problem. Not that he is always well behaved (he’s not) but he’s primarily frustrated by excessive confinement and riders who give conflicting instructions and get upset when he does what he’s told rather than what we thing we’re telling him. He is very sensitive to seat, to point he can be ridden by competent rider using halter - so inexperienced riders thinking reins to steer or stop, kick to go - give continuous conflicting direction. I’ve been in situations where people speak different languages and need to communicate - so identify with his frustrations. Yes it’s different, but i think it’s the heart of our problem. He needs a leader, but we cannot be leaders without communication. At same time we want to retain sensitivity. Last thing we want to do is turning him into a slab sided automaton.

[@alisalarson4196]

My mare is terrified of cows. Recently crawled u see a fence to get away from them (in the paddock next to hers), and then the next day tried to jump the fence trying to get away. When my mare looses her mind with cows she doesn’t even know I exist and I worry she’d run right over the top of me even though we practice the leading exercises you show for pushy horses all the time. Any suggestions?

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

For horses that bad I do the same thing I did in this video except pony them from another horse.

[@PONYHEAVEN]

Magic

[@shadowdancer1412]

I’ve never seen a horse panic like that over a cow. Our horses are in the pasture with cows until we move them in the spring. 😮

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

This reaction is pretty common for horses that have never seen a cow.

[@PersonalTriumph2022]

How did you know that you would be ok being next to her ? When my horse has any ‘scary’ spooky moments when being led I find the closest safest spot , whether field or stall, and just let him go…I only get him back when he is calm. In this case you went into the lion’s den ! How did you know?

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

Just experience. I've had many like this before.

[@alisalarson4196]

Hi Tim. Same question. When my mare looses her mind with cows she doesn’t even know I exist and I worry she’d run right over the top of me even though we practice the leading exercises you show for pushy horses all the time. Any suggestions?

[@yessabell1707]

❤️❤️❤️

[@kimalbrecht2004]

I've never said this before, but that was stupid to bring those cows in. You should have gotten another horse that knows cattle and isn't afraid of them to show her that there's nothing to be afraid of. You had to close the door at the gate so she wouldn't jump it. That was your clue, to take baby steps. She could have tried jumping out and gotten seriously hurt. It's fight or flight with a scared horse, and she wanted to run away. I trained horses for over 35 years. I'm am not at your level of horsemanship, but I would never have risked a preventable accident. Never.

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

You would have done it different because you did not know what was going to happen. I knew exactly what was going to happen.

[@susankuhlman6514]

What is the rush? Your training timetable is not based on trust. This mare does not trust you.

[@timandersonhorsetraining]

The only timetable that matters is the one in the horse's head. This video is a perfect example of a horse that relied on its trust in me to go to the cows and overcome its fear of them. What you are trying to imply in your statement is not even close to what happened in the video.

[@thedirtprincess3293]

It was so incredibly obvious that when he got her back on lead, and he was between her and the cows, she was relying on his leadership. So. Obvious. All you have to do is watch the horse's reactions and tension. She went from DEFCON 1 to 3 as soon as Tim had a lead on her.