July 2006

De-Spook Your Ring-Bound Horse

If your horse seems to grab his tail and recite, “I do believe in spooks,” every time you head out of the ring, devise a plan to turn that cowardly lion into the “king of the forest.”

One of the most common reasons riders are leery of heading out of the ring is the fear of shying. But, just as you train to perfect your jog or trot, you can train your horse to accept surprises without the "flight" response. Your reward will be a relaxing trail ride that breaks up intense training programs and helps your horse return to the arena fresher.

To your horse, a backpacker might look like a scary creature from outerspace.

Step One…