INTO THE GREAT UNKNOWN OR TO BOLDLY GO WHERE HORSES HAVE GONE BEFORE

    Now don’t let the title scare you, this article is just about potential problems that may take the unthinking by surprise. Here we will look at some of the things that you and your horse may find strange, different and possibly scary. Many of these may be familiar or even no-brainers for some or even things that your horse has already adapted for without you noticing. By no means can everything be covered but here are some you may find useful.

   Wide open spaces….a horses favorite habitat right?.. Hmmmm,,, it is funny to think that an animal that is uncomfortable in enclosed areas ( claustrophobia ) may have an issue with open areas ( agoraphobia ). It is all relative to what your horse is used to and has accepted as his comfort zone. It may not always be a spooking issue. One horse may look at it as his gift from God and his right to run through it at top speed regardless of what you may want. Another might look at it from another angle as in Dorothy…( Lions and Tigers and Bears ...OH MY! ). Horses can be like kids in that it is what they believe or imagine that dictates their actions and reactions. Your best defense is to know what your horse will react like before you get on a trail the first time. How you do it has many opinions, some good, some bad but mostly share the common link that what may work on one horse is not true for every horse. You may have a horse that was born and raised in a corral that just loves plodding through the great unknown, and was a great ride the first time out, where your other half’s horse tried to run back to the pen or even flip over and cry uncle, while your kids horse saw it as the pearly gates in the distance with a limited admission and was determined to be the first one there.

   For myself I find that using whatever confidence they have in my presence near them as a buffer I tend to take them for a walk. I am in their sight, they are used to answering to the lead line and especially if scared will want me to protect them ( Hey, I said they were like kids, not geniuses ha ha). What this does, for me, is allow me to evaluate their action ( somewhat ) while I have more control. At first it may be to the end of the driveway, letting them eat grass etc beside the road in front, or a little bit down the street, over to a neighbors place ( if they have horses the better ) , or just to the nearest open field. How far and how soon one step to the other depends on their reactions. Some issues I prefer to deal with before this point. Motorized vehicles for instance. I have been known to park a car or my diesel truck, lawnmower etc right up next to the corral and at points drive them by. It may not solve all vehicle issues but at least makes them more familiar.

   At this point many people feel their horse is ready to be ponied into the great outdoors.. While not part of my regimen and having a disadvantage in this area I do see merit and added advantages to this. I would definitely have another rider or two along for this and make sure the leading horse is well used to it. Some of the old cowboys would have a rider on the ponied horse with reins etc and have a lead attached. There are many different techniques and habits.

   For the first solo ( read: unattached ) ride I might just take a short ride to somewhere the horse was used to such as the neighbors place I lead him to. A part of this is that in the event of loss of control ( seat, dignity etc ) the horse would go either home or the neighbors. I would also try if able to have him follow another horse they were used to. After the time that they did well in this I would then try the same completely solo, or at least have the other horse far enough behind not to be noticed. NOTE: having him far in the lead might spur your horse to want to catch them right away. This is just my way which is only one of countless ways. Many people have never taken these steps and have ridden many miles with groups of familiar horses without undo concern.

GHOST WRITER GORDON WIKS
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