Groundwork
Beginner
15 min
Plastic Bag Desensitization
Focus: Confidence, Desensitization, Patience
Equipment: 2-3 plastic bags, Halter and leadrope
Step-by-Step Instructions
- Crinkle a plastic bag in your hand while standing 20 feet from your horse. Let it hear the sound from a distance.
- Slowly approach the horse while gently crinkling. If the horse holds still, reward and retreat.
- When the horse accepts you nearby with the bag, touch its shoulder with the bag and immediately remove it. Praise.
- Gradually increase the duration of the bag touching the horse's body.
- Progress to rubbing the bag along the neck, back, and sides.
- The final stage: the horse stands calmly while you crinkle, wave, and rub the bag all over its body.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
- Approaching too fast with a crinkling bag, triggering a flight response.
- Not giving the horse enough time to process at each stage.
- Punishing the horse for moving away — it's natural for a prey animal to fear crinkly objects.
- Skipping stages because the horse seemed okay initially.
Variations & Progressions
- Tie bags to the fence and let the horse investigate on its own.
- Ride past crinkly bags for mounted desensitization.
- Use bags in different colors and sizes for variety.
Tip: Approach and retreat is the key principle: approach with the scary object, retreat the moment the horse shows any calm acceptance.
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