Desensitising Jodie | Spook-Busting | Training Horses | Groundwork | Training my Horse |
Channel: Adventures of Jodie the Shire Horse
Date: 2021-02-12

Jodie is spooked by a metal tape measure.  In this video I demonstrate how I go about desensitizing Jodie to get her used to the sound, feel and sight of an unusual object.  I explain the process I use for  training Shire Horses, Jodie in particular.

During recent building work, undertaken behind Jodie's stable, I found that she reacted to the sound of a metal tape measure.  It was quite a reaction, uncharacteristic for her.  This then became an ideal training opportunity.
As a reactive horse her response in the school was a lot less than I anticipated, judging by her initial reaction in her stable, however, she was still tense and unsure.

Using a loose line I give her the opportunity to leave me and walk away from the scary object.  The only pressure I applied to her was the incremental pressure and release of sound, feel and sight of the tape measure.  Gradually I applied more pressure as she got used to the 'threat' of the tape.  My body language, voice and movement remained calm and relaxed throughout, as did my breathing and heart rate.  I went at the speed that Jodie set.  In total it took 10 minutes to spook-bust her fear of the tape measure.