Helping Overcome A Fear of Show Jumping Poles Demonstration

Join Dr. Rosie Jones McVey and Kelly Marks in this insightful video as they work with Ivor, a lovely Irish Draft horse who’s developed a real fear of poles. Despite being bought as a potential hunter, Ivor refuses to go anywhere near poles, even when they’re simply lying on the ground. This video demonstrates a gentle and effective approach to help Ivor overcome this fear so that he can eventually progress to jumping show jumps.

You’ll see how the approach focuses on a gradual introduction to poles, completely avoiding any pressure. The key is to allow Ivor to get used to being near the poles without any expectations or force.

Positive reinforcement plays a huge role. Every time Ivor does something right, no matter how small, it helps build his confidence and trust in the handler. You’ll hear plenty of verbal praise.

Rosie and Kelly are adamant about avoiding force. They explain that forcing a frightened horse can actually make their fear much worse, potentially impacting other areas of their life. You’ll also see how they carefully observe Ivor for signs of progress. Something as simple as putting her head down is a positive indicator that he’s starting to look at and accept the pole. The video also touches on considering the next steps in Ivor training, such as introducing a saddle to assess whether a rider would feel safe around poles.

A core technique used is the “ask, release, ask” method. This involves asking Ivor to do something, releasing any pressure the moment he responds correctly (even slightly), and then asking again. Patience is emphasised throughout.

Key Takeaways:

• Overcoming fear in horses requires a patient and gradual approach. It’s crucial to avoid force and instead focus on building trust and confidence through positive reinforcement.
• Introducing potentially scary objects or situations in small steps, starting with absolutely no pressure and allowing the horse to investigate at their own pace, is a very effective way to reduce anxiety.
• Simple changes to the horse’s environment, such as placing food near the feared object, can help with desensitisation by making the object more familiar and less threatening. Topics: