Building bravery

The rehoming team at Redwings Horse Sanctuary spends lots of time desensitising ponies to many different objects, some unusual and others essential to their health and welfare. They do this to boost the ponies’ confidence and make sure they’re prepared for things they might face in their new homes. So, how can you do it, too?

Dressing up 

Getting ponies used to wearing rugs and boots is important for their welfare because they protect ponies from bad weather and injury. When introducing your pony to these types of objects, gently rub them over his body so he starts to understand they’ll be attached to him before putting them on and securing them. 

Did you know?

The more your pony trusts you, the more confident he’ll feel about approaching new, unusual objects so spend lots of time building your relationship.

Checked out 

Some ponies can be really nervous with the vet or farrier, but making sure yours is happy with being handled and treated by other people will make life so much easier! If possible, get lots of different people to handle your pony on a regular basis.

To get him used to having his heart checked, you could buy a toy stethoscope and practise placing it on his neck, back, and then, as he feels confident, behind his elbow where the vet will listen to his heart rate. 

Top tip

Allow your pony plenty of time to get used to new objects he’s facing – rushing him might knock his confidence, so expect the process to take a couple of sessions.

Under foot

Being able to cope with varying terrain means you can enjoy riding even more because your pony won’t be fazed! Your hacking route might take you across a wooden bridge, which can be spooky for a pony. 

Although you can only desensitise your pony to the things he sees from a bridge, such as the cars passing underneath, by actually riding him over a bridge, you can get your pony used to the sound of his hooves will make on it in the safety of the arena by using a large wooden board.

Stranger things 

Desensitising your pony to objects he might not come across on a regular basis is a good idea because it will do wonders for his confidence when you’re out and about. For example, you might be hacking on a rainy day and come across a dog walker holding up an umbrella. The best thing to do would be to ask the person to stand still and close the umbrella before you get near, but familiarising your pony with these sorts of objects beforehand will mean he’s less likely to spook if they appear unexpectedly. 

Let’s get started

It’s really important to wear your riding hat, a pair of gloves and sturdy boots to keep you safe when handling your pony, and have an experienced adult on hand to help. Pop on all your gear before getting to work, then when you’re ready…

1. Place your chosen object on the floor in the middle of a large, secure area – the school is the best place – and lead your pony in.
2. Walk him around the edge of arena, allow him to stop and look at the object if he wants to.
3. Start to decrease the distance between your pony and the object – keep him walking forward positively but calmly.
4. When you get closer to the object, halt your pony in front of it and allow him to have a good look and a sniff.
5. If your pony tries to take a step towards it, let him but if he shies away, use your voice to calm him down and ask him to halt at a distance he’s comfortable with, then bring him closer again.
6. The next step depends on the object you’ve chosen. If you’re walking him over tarpaulin, for example, keep encouraging him to step forward and try to get to the point when he will walk over it happily, halting for a few seconds if instructed. If you’re desensitising him to an unfamiliar object, such as an umbrella, slowly pick it up and keep it low and facing away from your pony, then gradually bring it closer as he feels more confident. 

Happy days

Make sure you reward your pony every single step of the way – you could give him a scratch on his wither, his fave treat or tell him ‘good boy’ – as it’ll supercharge his confidence knowing he’s done a good job.