My horse is frightened by running water
Today’s horse training question comes from Ellie. She writes: “My mare Misty, a 6 year old, always spooks when she hears the sound of water. I’m trying to teach her not to so when she is older I can ride by rivers. What should I do?
Ellie, thank you for your question. Here is what I would recommend: teach your mare an exercise, any traning exercise, in an area where she is comfortable and calm. This could be your arena or her pen at home. Some exercises I like are training your horse to longe circles around you at the walk and trot, and change directions, on a lead rope, or training your horse to trot “S” curves under saddle, softening their nose and bending their neck nicely in both directions. Any exercise that you are comfortable with and can teach her well is fine. Then, once she knows the exercise flawlessly in her safe environment, take her to an area where she can hear running water. Immediately start practicing your favorite exercise. What you are doing is taking the security of a known area, associating that feeling with a training exercise, and then taking the exercise, which is now comforting and reassuring, in to a new environment. I like to work at a trot or jog if I’m trying to get my horse’s attention on me and they are distracted by something that makes them nervous. I find that having their feet moving faster than a walk helps me get their attention since they have to concentrate a little harder at the faster speed. Let me know how this goes for you, and if you have further questions please submit them!
