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I'm working with a horse named Toby right now that has fear issues. He has been owned by several people and abused before my trainer bought him so he's scared of being touched and he's afraid of people. A 19 year old girl named Carly was riding him in Gymkhanas about 5 times a year, but that was it. She only came around to practice for the competitions once in a while but she never tried to bond with Toby and if he misbehaved she would yell at him and hit him, which messed him up even more. I remember watching as he would pull back on his leadrope while tied to her parked trailer, and pulling back when she was grooming him. When she rode him, sometimes he would get scared and spin out (literally) from underneath her which made her mad. After that he wouldn't let the farrier touch his legs or feet so everyone just gave up on him and he hasn't had his feet trimmed in about 7 months! Anyways Carly stopped riding him because of his hooves and my trainer put him in a pasture and later a stall. He wouldn't let anybody come near him, and he especially wouldn't let anybody catch him. Two months ago my trainer told me I've come a long way with horses and that now I'm experienced enough to ride Toby but first I have to work with him because we have to get his feettrimmed before I ride. I started feeding Toby treats in his stall, even though he was reluctant he started looking for me and watching for me. Now he loves people (especially me) and he rushes up to greet you. He now (after spending tons of time working with him) he picks up all 4 feet, he lets me touch his ears and all of his body, & he lets me open his mouth which will lead up to bridling him. I'm very proud of him because he's made excellent progress. Befor his "therapy" he wouldn't let anyone near him and now he's like a new horse! We're still working with him which will take time but he's getting there.
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