Mental Wounds
November 29, 2011
Handling a horse scarred by fear and pain.
Dealing with a horse with mental wounds can be stressful and dangerous. Journal photo.
By Dr. Jim and Lynda McCall in The American Quarter Horse Journal
The Problem:
Three weeks ago, I purchased a 5-year-old gelding through an auction. He is very frightened and spooky at any odd noise or object and shows signs of being barn sour. I haven’t taken him more than 200 yards from the barn because he gets very agitated. He once started to rear with someone in the saddle.
Yesterday, when the vet was checking his teeth, the vet discovered an old injury where the tongue appears to have been cut and healed. When we reached for his tongue on the side of the old injury, without warning the horse reared and went over backward. When we tried again, the horse tossed his head as if to warn us he would do it again.
Is this horse too unpredictable and dangerous to make a safe trail horse? Can this pattern of extreme fear ever be changed?
L.D., Niagara Falls, New York
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The McCalls’ answer:
The answer to this question centers around L.D.’s definition of the words “unpredictable,” “dangerous,” and “safe.” Horses are big, powerful athletes that can react faster than humans. This makes them inherently more unsafe to be around than a goldfish.
Each and every one of us that works and lives with horses assumes a certain amount of risk of injury from our horse companions. Deciding which horse presents more of a danger than we are willing to assume is a very personal choice that everyone has to make for themselves.
We believe that unpredictable horses who flip over without warning present too great a risk to be called “safe.” It is hard, however, to tell from the brief description in the question if this horse falls into that category. To assess the risk, more information is needed:
Exactly how did the horse rear? Did he rear up to escape from the man’s reach? Or did he go up in terror to escape the world?
Exactly what happened when the vet reached for the tongue that caused the horse to flip over? Was the horse forced to give his tongue? Or was it pried gently out of his mouth?
What is the length of time between stimulus (reaching for the tongue) and the response (flipping over)? Did he lift off the ground several times before flipping over? Or did he flip over in the blink of an eye?
The answers to these questions should help L.D. assess the relative risk of owning this horse.
Fortunately the second question – “Can this pattern of extreme fear ever be changed?” – is easier to talk about. The answer for such horses is usually a qualified “yes.” Through tender loving care and desensitization techniques, most horses will respond in a positive manner.
The reason for the “qualified yes” is important to understand. A physical wound, like a cut tongue, leaves a scar that is nearly impossible to remove. Likewise, a horse that has undergone severe mental trauma will be mentally scarred. A similar situation may trigger a flashback, causing the horse to express its original escape behavior. This mental wound makes it difficult for the horse to ever completely trust a human again. Knowing this, it is equally as difficult for the rider to ever be completely confident in this horse.
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Time, patience and consistently demonstrating the correct response heals a lot of problems. But the ultimate answer to L.D.’s question centers around her needs and skills.
Our definition of a safe trail horse is one that can be trusted. A horse that the owner can ride without fear while enjoying the companionship of other horsemen. A horse that will, willingly and safely, carry his rider over all kinds of terrain so that the beauty of the outdoors can be experienced.
If L.D. bought this horse because she wanted a challenging training project, our advice would be to assess the risk and decide if you have the skills to fix him. If the horse was bought to be a trail horse, sell the horse and find one that won’t take lots of training before it is ready to “try” and become a trail horse.
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23 Comments on “Mental Wounds”
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November 29th, 2011 at 2:52 pm
I like the “qualified yes” response. There is no set rule in dealing with horses. The worst horse that I ever owned could not be bridled because of old ear injuries. She screamed and threw herself down when tied to the trailer if her buddies left. She flipped over backward when you tightened a cinch. Getting the picture? I figured out that she was burned out and never looked back. Pulled her bridle off and team penned on her with a baler twine. Put a snap on headstall on her and my autistic daughter learned to ride on her and took her to 4H. You simply have to weigh the pros and the cons and decide what you can live with. Regards, DJ
November 29th, 2011 at 2:56 pm
Oops – forgot to add that the reason I kept her is that she was absolutely unspookable as a kids horse, as well as stunningly beautiful. As the quote from the movie “Seabiscuit” goes “You don’t throw a life away just because it is a little banged up …”
November 29th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
I cant say I agree with DJ. Some horses can be saved from trauma and others need professional intervention. Extreme fear from previous trauma can make a lethal combination with an inexperienced handler. We wish we could save them all but some “banged up” can be extremely dangerous.
November 29th, 2011 at 5:14 pm
Time, kindness and great patience can heal eventually. You may want to hire an experienced trainer who has dealt with difficult horses and who has a quiet and calm approach and who is willing to put the time into desensitizng this horse. He may just deserve a break in his life. Five years old and crazed by fear is a tradegy in itself. Maybe it’s not too late to save him and give him a chance before he gets into the wrong hands.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:44 pm
I had gotten a 10 year old AQHA gelding. He had been miserably beaten within his life. I took him into a round pen to lunge him and instead of lunging properly he reared and broke the round pen panel in fright of the whip and confined area. I then decided I was going to spend the entire year I planned to show him in local shows was going to be dedicated to rehabilitating him. I took the whip outside the pen and begun the small process of rubbing him down every day with it. He eventually begun to trust me enough to start lunging. I fed him constantly in the round pen to make it a “good” or “yummy” space. HE got fine with both, but if you still put them together he would flip out. I believe that all horses can be rehabilitated to a point but not all can be “saved”.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:55 pm
I bought a horse 15 months ago from a woman who was scared of her. She would not load (broke halter and flipped out of the back of a trailer when made to load), would not cross water, a ditch, or up a bank. She spooked and ran away with me, would not stand for me to get in the saddle, tossed her head terribly, and tried to pull her bit out of her mouth with her foot. The woman would catch her in the pasture with a pale of feed. I was told not to take her tie down off, run her, or ride her bare back. After lots of riding, running, and time, she is my baby. She is the lead horse on trails, crossing ponds and creeks, loads in anything, and is learning barrels. She comes when I whistle and will follow me in the pasture. She had to learn to trust me and I put a lot of time in on her daily, even if it was just a brushing or leading her around. It was well worth the time and effort.
November 29th, 2011 at 6:57 pm
I have to say that I feel for you. I have the same problem with a 2 year old mammoth jack. He is scarred of every thing and as far as I can tell he has never been hurt. I think that it is a mental situation. If I do every thing the same every day he is fine, but if I change things up like walk in his pasture he just freaks and runs around like he has never seen me before in his life. I have to stand there and let him come up to me and that may take 5 minutes or over an hour. I think he is afraid of being alone. I did have him in a pasture with a mare, but he acted the same way. When I do get ahold of him he is as gentle as a kitten. He is scarred of the wind, noises, people, just about every thing. I am at my wits end and don’t know what to do. I bought him when he was a year and a half old and I plan on using him as a stud, but if he keeps acting like this I don’t know what to do. I’m not going to give up on him, I just wish I could get in his head and see what is the matter.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:34 pm
2 years ago I had a horse come to me as his last stop, after a few so-called trainers the horse had become extremely dangerous, I was asked to go and get this horse for the owner and it was the longest day of my life. To make a long story short, the horse kicked the window out of my trailer, he struck, kicked like nothing I had seen before, bit, would attack ( and I do mean attack). His owner said well don’t bring him here…..What had I got myself into…….owner refused to have a vet check him, she said she was not sticking any money into him…..but she had sold him for 10k, and he was given back because he was deemed untrainable…..So I called the vet out and I paid for him to be examined, had his teeth done, and that is when the vet suspected a broken jaw…. I just knew in my heart this horse had to have been injured and in pain and he was…..because of stupid people….to make a long story short…..I can say after a few broken bones and numerous close calls to having my life flash before my eyes it took 2 years of gentling and reassuring over and over and many sleepless nights and very long days……I am happy to say, I now own him because they did not want to pay for the time and training, etc. It has been the one of the most rewarding experiences.( crazy….right?) This horse taught me so much and in return I never gave up on him…..My husband would scream to get that animal off of the property….he is going to kill you…..my reply was always “there is a remarkable horse in there, I just have to help him” I told him if that horse kills me then I died doing what I love to do, but this horse is not leaving this property as long as there was air in my lungs. People are the ones who did this to him…if I could not get through then I would have him put down. After 2 very long years he has bloomed into one of the best horses I have ever owned, he will carry me through anything and go anywhere I point him and he does it with the most laid back attitude….. but I do have to add that he is still unsure of some strangers…..he will step closer to me or step behind me, when he is feeling unsure. He has moments just like any other horse, but he knows I will always have his back…….Having the knowledge and savvy to reach one is the difference.
November 29th, 2011 at 7:57 pm
I have found that people usually dont have a horse problem, its horses who have people problems. Most problems can be resolved to a good degree if, and its a big “IF”, you have the facilities, training, experience, time and patience to work on these animals because they require a lot of attention to fix their prior people problem. If your looking for a backyard trail horse to use weekends I would pass this one on to a pro and buy another horse. If you have all of the required skills and location then this would be a worthwile project. Document it with notes,video and pictures and you would have a good story to sell later with the horse.
November 29th, 2011 at 9:08 pm
Clinton Anderson has a registration form for training dangerous horses. Check out the Downunder Horsemanship web site and look for the link. He has a Fundamental Course, Intermediate Course, and Advanced Course. Check his method out. Might help your horse.
November 29th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
I’m not a professional trainer, but I think it’s pretty well common sense that the horse reared because he had clearly experienced pain with someone messing with his mouth. He may have had an incredibly severe bit in his mouth and an idiot in the saddle. If so, it’s not surprising to read he has other issues as well, which is all part and parcel of suffering abuse from an inexperienced, or cruel, horse person.
He needs daily desensitizing, through kind and gentle handling. Let him get to know you. You may need some help from a professional trainer, but have him train at your place. There are many trainers out there who’s methods are questionable.
Good luck and try not to give up on him, hard as it may be. You could wind up with a great equine life partner.
November 30th, 2011 at 12:16 am
I believe Sandra is on the right track with Clinton Anderson, or any other reputable resistance-free trainer. Monty Roberts was the first I saw, and the miracle he brought about in a sadly abused rescue horse was the most moving event I have witnessed. Lew Sterrett is also excellent. You have to gain their trust before you can begin the rehab, and you have to be committed to the horse once you start, it is not a quick or easy process. Given all that, I wish you and your horse the best of luck, it is rewarding beyond belief when it happens. I know…
November 30th, 2011 at 3:24 am
Tis isn’t a physical problem!
With the gelding from the auction is nothing wrong . He is just misunderstood. This is a typical right brain introvert horse. First they freeze and than they explode. The cure for this is time. Introvert horses think for them selfs. They don’t let you force them. If you try to do that they protest in all the ways they can think off. If you count to ten after “asking’ something of him you will get reaction. Act after the liking of the lips. That means he accepts and is willing to do it for you. The Barn sour thing and the backing up is also typical for this horsenality. If they don’t want to leaf the place with you that means they don’t feel safe with you. They want to stay were they feel safe and that is with other horses. Most people think they are mean and unwilling because they don’t look afraid, but the are! That’s why they call them introvert.
Start doing ground work with the horse instead off climbing on him without asking. You have to billed a better relationship first. Then all the problems will all solve.
November 30th, 2011 at 6:59 am
I just loved reading everyone’s comments and seeing the goodness, not just in the horses, but in some pretty darn good people too. I have a 9 year old mare and she was totally green when I received her at the age of 7 from an elder relative who could no longer care for her. It has been a tremendously rewarding experience and despite several people saying I would be better off selling her and getting a more gentle horse, I’d never give her up. I suspect she will always be a challenge, but as pointed out, that is a decision each of us has to make. I also had the help of two excellent trainers to bring her along.
December 1st, 2011 at 10:17 pm
I bought a pony for my grandaughter. The day I bought him I was told he was ridable. He came right to me no problem. I came back 3 days later he was crazy it took me 45minutes to halter him. That’s when the man I bought him from said “we tried to put a bridle on him it took 5 men to hold him down.” My heart dropped. My reaction was not good. I left there crying. I took him home put him in a pen my grandaughter wanted to pet him, that was not possible. I showed her how to feed him and we worked on him together. He comes running everytime she comes over, he can’t wait to see her. She is 11 now and so is he and she puts his halter on and takes him where ever she wants him to go. Love conquers all.
December 4th, 2011 at 11:13 am
I agree too with the “qualified yes” response. In the right hands & with the right work, I think any horse can become a cooperative partner. They will always have their own personality & that may not be one an individual human can get along with well, but the horse itself can find comfort & safety & trust again, IN THE RIGHT HANDS. Spending time with a good clinician to learn how to interact with & build leadership & trust with the horse will tell you if you are up for the work involved. The rewards are immense. The problems were put in there by humans, it can be a long road back. Not everyone wants to do that, so may need a horse that fits their needs better. Education is key & vital.
December 5th, 2011 at 1:29 pm
I very much agree to the “qualified yes“ I bought myself an 11 year old mare she came to me almost starved and with bearly no fur on her . I was told she has no problems and rides well.but once i got her home and gave her time to know me the nics came out…as i was washing her one day out of the blue she reared and kicked me .(darn that hurts)i was frightened of her after that but didn’t give up. I quickly noticed she was terrified of havein her hind quarters touched at all even her tail or hips .so i worked on that first then found me a good trainer to show me the best way to go about helping her and being safe the worst was trying to pick up her back feet since she wouldn’t even let me touch her legs…when the ferrier came the first time to do her feet it was a horrible mess he fought with her for hours all she’d do is rear back and forth fighting to get away …only 2 months later he came back and her feet were both done the easy n safe way my ferrier couldnt believe it since to today im a new horse owner never had one before
December 7th, 2011 at 8:18 am
I currently have a mare that it was my fault she has problems with humans. When I purchased her as a 2 YO, the seller and broker “forgot” to tell me she did not like men – so I sent her to a man trainer. He had done a wonderful job with my daughter’s gelding, so I didn’t realize how mentally sensative this mare was. 8 months later, I took her home scared to death of everything. Seems this trainer believes in sore mouths and sore sides. I leased her to the original breeder (she is by Zippos Mr Goodbar and out of Dynamic Deluxe mare) to give her time off. 21 months later, she is back home and I am the only one riding her. She is starting to relax with the snaffle but this last weekend I put a shanked bit on and it was like starting over again with the fright – only for a shorter period of time. She is going to be really good, but it will take years of slow, patient, work to get her “fixed”. One breakthrew is that now she comes up to us in the pasture to get scratched and to get her carrots. So we no longer have to run her into her stall to catch her. But she is coming along. So the key to this type of horse is consistancy with slowness. PRAISE any time the horse gives any kind of effort to cooperate and be extremely gentle on any correction. I have found that Clinton Anderson’s idea of moving the feet at a trot in a figure-8 really works on her – she just HATES this. But I am not agressive and absolutly under no circumstance will I put spurs on with her. The figure-8 and bending to a stop are as harsh as I get – and she is beginning to understand that this is the only punishment she will receive. She is no longer showing anxiety with riding. Now getting to this point has taken MONTHS and we really did not have a breakthrough until I was able to ride for 5 days in a row during Thanksgiving. So, having said that, the key to these horses is slowness, consistancy, one person and praise for EVERY little thing they do to try to cooperate. Good luck and I hope you end up with a WONDERFUL companion.
December 7th, 2011 at 10:14 am
I have a coming 8 year old Paint gelding who has done the world for me. I had him in full time training until the fall of 2009. He has won many championships and futurities. When I brought him home, all was good. I started showing the open circuit the next year. Had lots of fun until one day something spooked him in a class. As I was riding on a drape (because I could) he spooked and dumped me. He proceeded to dump me 3 times that year. I wondered if it was something I had done??? So then I was scared of him, what to do?? Can’t sell him like that. Wouldn’t want him to hurt someone. And he has always been my soul mate. So I decided to send him 1500 km away to a trainer I had used in the past. She sacked him out for 6 weeks. Said the horse was so petrified he would just shake and stop breathing. After having him for 4 months I went there to ride and bring him home. He has come around amazingly. All we can figure is that he was abused by the trainer, but with love and affection he has come back to me. I don’t trust him 100%, but have figured out how to work with him. I love him so much, and don’t think I will ever get rid of him. And this past fall, a trainer from Texas was here for some lessons, and absolutely loved him. As well, I have had offers to buy…………I don’t think so!!!
December 8th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
I have a reg. appaloosa gelding who is now 9 yrs old. Bought him in the fall from a trainer for my younger daughter to ride when he was 4. Had him with a “trainer” here that we had been with for several years. In the spring, he fell while on a lunge line and was hurt. “Trainer” never called the vet, even when I asked about it. Said it would get better with rest. Never even knew what was hurting. Well, spring show time came and I watched him go. Every time I asked the “trainer” if he looked off, she said no, just off balance. I wasn’t riding and my daughter didn’t have enough experience to know the difference…we took him to Nationals,where he started having more difficulties. The “trainer”s response was to lunge for hours at a time. Long story shorter, I took him from the “trainer” that fall to a boarding stable to find, unbeknownst to me, that he now had a rearing problem.Every ride was a dangerous rodeo. Got a vet out, that poor horse’s ankle was still sore. These last five years I have spent money to try to heal the ankle, he now has chronic arthritis there and will have a shortened useful life. He no longer rears as much..but that is a habit he seems to fall back on when he doesn’t want to do something. So the point of all this is, that once they are scarred, mentally as well as physically, I don’t think they can ever be totally trusted again. No matter how well they are behaving at the present.
December 9th, 2011 at 10:12 pm
I too believe in humans making problems for horses due to unspeakable “training” methods and my heart goes out to those horses. That said, many here in training their problem horses have shown that they are still taking great risks every time they ride their horses that they may think they have made whole. Please do not use rose-colored glasses-be realistic, use a helmet and never forget an equine’s fight or flight impulse. Jmo
January 30th, 2012 at 8:21 pm
My husband got an arabian as part of a two horse package. No human had touched him in six years. Prior to that he had been abused by a so called trainer. What started out as a project to get the horse manageable(all we wanted was to be able to do his hooves and medical care)ended to be a four year project and one incredible horse. We now have a AQHA mare we saved from a kill pen. She is sweet and has wonderful manners until you put a saddle on her. She flips over. Come to find out when she laided down after being saddled a trainer stabbed her with a pitchfork. Wonderful training method. We have given her a year off and only rode her bareback. She is a work in progress but my husband is going to restart her from scratch. Charmie now trusts us so maybe we can make some progress and give her a new lease on life
March 29th, 2012 at 1:43 pm
After reading the story and responses, I keep coming back to the same problem, again, the “trainer”, or rather training methods. Although I have no soft spot for anyone, trainer or otherwise, who abuses and tortures a horse as part of “training”, the real problem is the owner who is selecting and paying for this treatment. Any trainer who requires you to make an appointment in advance to visit YOUR horse has a reason for it, other than interrupting his work schedule. No trainer has the right to decide YOUR horse does not need a vet. No trainer has the right to abuse YOUR horse. You are paying the trainer, and he works for YOU, not the other way around. Your are responsible for your horses well being. I wouldn’t send my child to a day care with no questions asked, and anything goes. Same for my horse. When you take your horse to a trainer, your need to discuss how the horses are managed, and the trainer need to be accountable. If your only instruction is that “I want him ready to show in June”, the trainer will do whatever is necessary to meet that goal. Owners, you are paying big bucks to have your horse ruined. The horse didn’t pick the trainer.