If you’ve been trying to despook him and nothing has worked….you’re not giving him a chance to get used to it. Don’t go at your pace, go at his. That is….there is no set time for this to happen.

How you try to despook him makes the difference of whether it’s going to work or not.

1) you can’t be nervous and scared of what might happen if you are, then you’re better off paying a trainer to do it for you, or at least to give you a lesson and some tips

2) you do a lot…and I mean a LOT of approach and retreat with the scary objects. You don’t want to just flood him by showing him a scary thing and not taking it away before he gets worried about it….or trying to touch him with it right away. do it in steps. a horse that is scared, doesn’t learn. a horse that is given the chance to calm down, learns.

Start by getting a plastic bag on a stick or a whip. Use a long lead line about 12 -14 ft long or longer if he’s really spooky.

Next, lead him by being far in front of him. Wave that plastic back with rhythm over and over from left to right as you walk forward. You’re waving it in front of you. You are walking along. The horse is far behind you.

This will let the horse get used to the noise and the movement of the bag at a distance. And you are teaching him that he’s not trapped. He can move his feet. He’s thinking forward. Following you. Following the scary thing. This makes him feel confident because he’s chasing the scary thing. So, then eventually, he’ll be more curious then fearful.

Keep walking and flapping the back over and over and over….it can be one half hour or an hour of doing this.

If he stops, move side to side to get him moving again.

Once he’s okay, then take up a little of the lead rope, so he’s not so far away. Keep walking and flapping the bag.

Eventually, you want to be right in front of the horse (not too close) and the bag is flapping around you over and over.

Then you start far away again from the horse and you turn around and face the horse while you are walking backwards. So, the horse is walking toward you. You are walking backwards, facing the horse. And you’re flapping the bag around you and then between you and the horse. Make sure you are FAR from the horse again when you start this.

This second part….you are putting the bag between you and the horse. So, he doesn’t have you in between him and the bag. So, he will get scared all over again. But keep him walking.

Keep doing this until he doesn’t react at all to the bag.

Do the exact same two parts of this lesson with the fly spray. But don’t waste your spray, use a squirt bottle with water in it.

Don’t rush him. Let him think about this.

Don’t touch him with the bag or the water until he’s walking very calm.

Don’t use a chain or anything other than just a rope halter and just a lead rope. You never need to use pain (a chain) to force the horse. You want to teach him to trust you because you aren’t going to hurt him in any way at all.

then approach and retreat A LOT to get him used to the bag and the water in the squirt bottle touching him.

Well as for jumping 5 is normally the bare min. age to start with most show wont accept jumpers younger. Just keep on as your doing i have a yearling filly so i know ALL about spooky particualy at flyspray All you can do is gradually introduce him to my filly was terrified of going in a wash stall about a month ago now she walks in without any lure. As a possible alternative to flyspray my riding instructer use fly bands and you can ride and turn them out with them they have one for the nech and also smaller ones for the feet. Also try taking a waterbottle and just start spraying it when your around him not at him to start with but as he starts ignoring it you can move it closer

bring him to a small horse show and just walk him around and let him get used to it. don’t sign up for anything the first time. keep bringing him until he is pretty quiet at the shows. he will be more prepared for the rodeos.

for the spray: get a bottle with water in it. have someone hold his rope. put a chain on his rope and both of you wear gloves. start spraying the water on his front legs, then his shoulder and side, move to his back then hindquarters. than do his back legs. go very slowly and don’t move on to another part of his body if hes still acting frightened. do this in an enclosed area so you can let go if you need to.good luck!

with all the spooking things, its one main thing. TAKE YOUR TIME.
go easy, and just do things one at a time. My mare was terrified of fly spray, and walking on tarps, and blankets.
after 2 days shes fine with both just have treats and act confident. if they trust you alot then they will come around quicker then you think,
with the fly spray id suggest hooking him up to a lead rope, and holding it, bring the spray close to your horse and just let him snifff it then jusdt drag it litly over his body, once he blinks with the eye that you can see. then pull it away then spray, if he freaks out let him freak, a horse never wants to stay close to something, and if they cant get away they never wanna go near it agaiN!.
at the first few times with fly spray you should just put it on a cloth then rub it on him, so he gets used to the stronger smell all over his body!
if this is confusing or if you need any help
just email my yahoo account!