HELP FOR HORSE

Merlin and the pigs!

Merlin is a 16hh Irish Hunter type who is now about 20 years old. He has always had a dislike of going past pigs. Otherwise, he is quiet and steady to ride.

He has had the misfortune to move to a part of Norfolk where you can't go for a ride without passing at least one field of pigs.

On the first ride, we rode straight towards the inevitable field of pigs. Worse still, the track then turned right alongside the same pig field. Not knowing what he was going to do, I couldn't prepare myself. All I knew was - there would be trouble.

As we approached, Merlin went into panic. A whole field of pigs! And he was heading straight towards them. This was Merlin's worst nightmare. Fear ran through every fibre of his body. I sat very still and quiet, to show him that I had no fear - but to no avail. He wasn't interested in what I thought.

As we were out with another horse, he followed along nervously for a little while, until it all got too much for him. Without warning, he stopped, reared, spun round and tried to make a run for it. Continuing the turn, I pulled him round until he was facing forward, but then he started rearing and attempting to spin again. This was one very frightened horse. Nothing was going to make him go forward. The only option now was to dismount.

Taking the reins over his head and using them like a pair of lead-ropes, I led him as best I could alongside the field of pigs. It seemed to go on forever with Merlin prancing and pulling all the way.

Predictably, as soon as the pigs were behind us and he couldn't see them any more, he settled back down again - more or less. I re-mounted. The experience had rattled him.

Merlin's basic problem was that he had always been driven forcefully past pigs - or anything else he didn't like. This approach can work if only used on the odd occasion, but if used all the time, the fear becomes associated with the fight and never goes away. Merlin had to learn that no fight was attached to meeting with pigs.

On the next ride, we took a different route. The inevitable field of pigs lay to the right of the track we were on. This was easier for Merlin as it didn't look as if he had to go straight into them. As we came closer, his reaction was much the same. His head went up and his body tensed. Hoping to prevent him from spinning (the first objective) I shortened my reins and kept a fairly tight control of his head. There was no problem with going forward. he was bunched up and ready to run. Other than keeping his head straight, all I had to do was sit very still and make sure my legs didn't even brush his sides.

The plan was partially successful. He managed a half spin which took us some way into the adjoining field of sugar-beet. Fortunately, we landed on a tractor track. I allowed him to continue on this path, which he was willing to do, albeit nervously. But at least he didn't rear. We were making progress already!

On the third ride, Merlin was in luck. Again, we took a different route. The inevitable pigs were a whole field away. I shortened my reins a little, just in case he tried to make a run for it, and to let him know that I was there, but the precaution was hardly needed. He looked at the pigs with some concern but did not over-react. Very good!

The riding country where Merlin now lives is amazing. You can go out at least a dozen times and take a different route each time. Most of it is fields and tracks. If there is an odd bit of road-riding, the lanes are small and very quiet. For a horse like Merlin, this is very useful. Different rides each time means that he never knows what is coming and therefore cannot anticipate. Each situation is met as it comes.

The fourth ride was a real test. There was not just one field of pigs but two in succession. Happily, the adjoining track was exceptionally wide and with hedges on either side. Although the hedges were bare of leaves, Merlin was quite well shielded, although he certainly knew the pigs were there. Nonetheless, he started extremely well. I felt no need to shorten my reins and left them as they were. Although glancing anxiously towards the pigs from time to time, he walked on steadily enough and with his head in about the right place.

The fifth ride took us back along the route of the second. This time, I put Merlin straight onto the tractor track a few yards into the adjoining field. “Oh thank you” he said, and plodded along, still looking towards the pigs from time to time, but without any need for shortening the reins at all. I couldn’t have been more pleased with him.

As is so often the way, just as you think you’ve got it right, something comes along to spoil it. We were nearly at the end of the field when two men appeared among the pigs. What a shame. Merlin was doing so well, but this was one surprise too many. He leapt forward, but not very far. Luckily for him perhaps, we turned away from the pigs very soon afterwards and that was the end of that.

The sixth ride was another double dose. Two fields of pigs came one after the other. Merlin handled the first field perfectly. He hardly looked at them, his pace didn’t change and he felt as comfortable and relaxed as a normal horse. I gave him nine out of ten for the first field. The ultimate goal was that after registering their presence, he didn’t bother to look at them at all. We weren’t quite there yet, but we were very close.

The second field however, again, was too much for him. His pace quickened and he felt slightly tense. I picked up the reins to give him a light feel on his mouth, but certainly, there was no other adverse reaction. For Merlin, this was a real breakthrough.

This is where we are now. From here, Merlin can only get better. He has now understood that the sight of pigs does not result in a fight. All he has left is a residual fear of what before was a major crisis.

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