Day 5 - SCEA Rescue Horse - Desensitizing to Spooky Objects

Second Chance Equine Association - In our training on day 5, we deal with developing a deeper trust by exposing Fancy to a variety of "SPOOKY" objects. The dreaded... plastic bag!

Category:

Pets & Animals

Tags:

• horse
• training
• lead
• round
• penning
• green
• colt
• starting
• pen
• halter
• clinton
• anderson
• rescue
• scea
• second
• chance
• equine
• association

[purplesugar7144]

I see this particular video is 9 minutes long and edited. I was wondering how long you actually spent during this desensitizing session with the plastic bag?

[SecondChanceEquine]

@purplesugar7144 Each horse is different. I have done this with some horses and it took 15 minutes, Fancy was highly reactive and it took about an 45 minutes for her to be completely calm and comfortable. I did a horse this spring that it took me 3 day in a row at about 45 to 30 minutes each day to get the same result. Just find a starting point and go at a rate the horse can handle. It's all fear based, so we need to build trust by pushing not breaking the comfort zone. Good luck.

[laramarsden]

I love your videos they are personal and easy to follow. I do have a question however (and Im certainly not questioning you, I just want to totally understand) I thought the point of desensatizing was that you move the plastic bag towards the horse, and they move around scared as Fancy did - but when they stop and stand still you take the bag away so that they learn to stand when there's danger rather than flee... or do you just stop moving the bag, but keep it near? pls help.. your brilliant!

[SecondChanceEquine]

@laramarsden QUESTION EVERYTHING! Yes, remove the bag completely when she stands still. Approach and retreat, it's all the same just different stimulants. I did remove the bag but because of the time frame of the video I didn't show it as much as I should have in the clips. I should have edited this one better. Thank you for your comment.

[stacieloup]

hi, dont suppose you could advise me a bit more, i tried this plastic bag on the end of a stick with my just turned 5 year old and he went mental, tried kicking out at it with his back legs ad slight rearing then just kept luning in circles around it ad me! obviously something im doinf wrong...iv dont a bit of join up last few weeks and managed to get him to follow me, but i am struggling to get him to obey my back up command by sending waves down the rope he just stands still an ignores me! ha

[SecondChanceEquine]

@stacieloup Most our issues with the horse is out of fear, pain or lack of respect. The striking and running away is the fear issue which Fancy had also. Don't fight it, go with it until the horse calms down. This could take 5 minutes or 5 hours but once you start you MUST finish the exercise. Find a starting point where the horse doesn't explode, walk away from the horse with your body between the bag and the horse, then follow the steps in the video. You can do it.

[alexisfowler93]

Is he a pintaloosa? Gorgeous!

[eventerkatie84]

This is amazing! You're so patient and understanding with them - very inspiring :) x