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>>Does anyone have any advice on de-spooking a mature >>Friesian? I know some horses are naturally spooky, but >>I am hoping that is not the case with my Friesian. We >>have been doing lots of groundwork and working on >>spooking in place, but I am afraid to get back on him >>since he spooked and bolted. >I know how you feel. This is also a fear of mine. I >have a young Friesian (4 years) and although he has >never bolted with me on him I always have that fear in >the back of my mind. I only ride mine in enclosed >areas for now as I don't have any one in our barn that >has a mature bomb proof horse to go trail riding with >anyway and I don't think it's a good idea to trail >ride alone on a young inexperienced horse. From what >I've heard and read, there is no way to desensitze and >expose your horse to every thing they will ever come >in contact with when you are riding them, so you have >to build a trust up with your horse so that when >something does spook him he can look to you for >guidance. Did he actually run away with you and you >were not able to stop him? You should check out some >John Lyons or Clinton Anderson tapes or books. They >may be helpful or at least teach you to train your >horse to disengage his back end so that if he does >take off with you you at least know how to slow him >down untill you get control of him. I am learning all >of this myself with my young horse. My last horse was >a Morgan that was bombproof and I would go out >trailriding by myself bareback all the time and never >had to worry about her taking off with me. I hope to >get my Friesian there someday and be able to take him >on lots of trail rides as I think it is beneficial to >both horse and rider to trail ride occasionally. "All >work and no play makes Jack a dull boy" if you know >what I mean. Hope this helps.

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