Shank Tom Thumb

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SS Long Shank Tom Thumb Copper Rollers Bit Horse Tack
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US $22.75

Leather Horse Bridle w Reins Long Shank Tom Thumb Bit Light MADE IN USA
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Showman 5 Tom Thumb Short Shank Bit Horse Tack
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Follow Up: Why does my new tennessee walker spook on the trail?

This is a follow up; My new, six-year old walker is extremely dancy and spooky on the trail-WAY too hyped up to do anything with him! He's OK in the arena (he spooked once because there were men walking around in the woods that bordered the arena)... but his behavior on the trail has gotten crazy dangerous (I have had the horse for a month, and to my knowledge, have not caused any of these bad habits) I just switched his feed to seniorglo to try to curb some of his energy. I ride my walker in a five inch shank Tom Thumb Bit with a new abetta endurance Saddle. I think the bit may be too harsh... any suggestions? I have never allowed him to be barn sour, he just does it out of spite, I guess (I always turn him back up the trail and work him when he tries to bolt, but lately he's gotten too spooky to do anything with!) Because he's too dangerous to ride, I'm just walking him up the trail and cocentrating on ground work. I can't really afford a trainer (I'm broke now) HELP

I had a couple of mares that did this over the years. It is not pain and it is not the bit. If anything the bit is too light for a walker, but if he stays in his gait then go for it.

I will hazard a guess. He has become alpha horse. Unfortunately it is the job of the Alpha horse to look for trouble. Whether this is the alpha mare or the lead stallion (or gelding) doesn't matter it is their job to watch for and spot danger and get the herd out of there by leading the others away when they spot danger. If he has become top horse this is the problem.

Here is what we did for the mare that became extremely bad about it. Before she became top mare she was perfect. Unflappable and totally confident. But when we sold the alpha mare, she went from being unflappable and confident to being a basket case (over about a two week period). The only thing that I found to help (all the trail miles in the world weren't helping her since she already had over 500 miles on her) was that every time she jumped I yelled at her, popped her with the spurs(one of the few horses I have ever had to use spurs with) and then I would make her go over to the object she spooked at and sniff it. No lolly gagging to get there either. Walk over immediately and sniff. It still took two months to get her over it, but she did stop flinching. The man that bought her will not part with her for money or gold so I guess it worked well. I have never heard anyone brag up a horse like he does her.

When I first answered this I took you for someone else whom I knew had a lot of experience (i read you name on the main questions page and it was cut off at silver...).

There is one more thing that could have cause this reaction. Have you been tensing each time she spooks. This will cause her to spook worse and worse because every time you tense it tells her there really is something to be afraid of. If you are tensing and tightening your legs, then you are creating a basket case horse. If you remain relaxed, and it is the horse then I would hazard he has not only become alpha horse but it is his first time as such and he has not learned to handle it yet. He must learn that while riding it is YOU who is the alpha. As I have said I have had a couple mares react this way. From talking to the old time horse trainers I discovered it really is typical in younger horses or horses who are not used to being the alpha horse.

One more thing, though I really have had horses do things out of spite, this is not one of those things. I have had them intentionally give me the jarringest, jack hammeriest, ride they could give me because they were mad I did not let them out front (that was a gelding). I have seen horses lay their ears back at a certain person they did not like even though they just met them. But they do not spook out of spite.