Distracted Horses

Don't try to direct your horse's attention until you've got it.

Often we try to accomplish a task with a horse and are frustrated when it doesn’t turn out the way we want. One of the problems I have been asked about often lately is what to do if a horse seems distracted. That’s a true enough description no doubt so here are a few suggestions on how to overcome the problem.

It helps to begin first by asking why a horse would be distracted and to think about the times when you get distracted instead of paying attention. I know that I am inclined to be distracted when I am bored. If I have a teacher that is tediously asking me to work on something that I see no relevance in, I am likely to tune out and my mind starts to wander. So the simple answer is: if your horse is not paying attention to you, get more interesting. For example if you are quietly walking circles in the arena and your horse is looking out and watching something going on outside of the arena, you might begin to trot circles, change directions, stop, spin, etc in a fairly fast succession until his attention is back on you. Then go back to quietly walking.

Bored teachers have bored students. Sitting in a classroom with someone droning on and on about something they are uninspired about is a living hell for me. I am sure it is similar for some horses. Pay attention to your horse at all times and have an interest in what you are doing. If you merely plod along the trail without communicating something interesting to your horse, he will likely look for something else to entertain himself. Another reason your horse might be distracted is fear. If you were sitting in a classroom and someone official rushed in and said, “there is a bomb in the building!” and your teacher went on chatting about nuclear physics you would be distracted and would be likely to mutiny as well. Now granted, that is an extreme scenario and most of the time what your horse thinks is scary is really nothing. But do try to expose your horse to as many new situations and expectations as is reasonable within a working session and they will quit being so distracted by fear.

An important side note to add here is that a horse does not deduce like a man or a dog. For them it is simple association. For example if your dog jumps out of your truck and you scold it and put it back it will deduce that if it jumps out again you will scold it and therefore it should not jump out. However, if your horse jumps at a plastic bag and you kick him, he will think: plastic bag = kicking, therefore run away. So as a remedy work somewhere away from the frightening object for a bit, then ride closer to it and pet the horse. This process will cause the horse to associate distance from object = work, object = petting, therefore, going to the object = relax. Similarly if the horse is distracted by something it wants to go toward, his pasture buddy for example, simply take the horse to the object it wants to go toward and work it hard, then ride away and relax.

Another possible cause of distraction in your horse could be due to a lack of established authority by you, the rider. It is always best if you have a gentle hand with your horse but your mind and heart need to be totally firm in your intentions and expectations. If you can achieve this balance consistently, your horse won’t challenge your authority. Many distractions can simply be ridden past if you are clearly and firmly directing your horse, saying in effect: “baloney, go where I say go, pay attention to me”. Then when your horse cooperates freely with your direction reward him and soon he will tune out the outside world and pay attention to you consistently.