Horses are programmed to react to things around them and move quickly to avoid danger. But some horses carry it to the extreme, shying, spinning, bolting, or rearing when they are frightened. Understanding a horse's natural fear will help a rider stay calm and bring the horse back under control. Most horses are spooky because of a lack of experience. If a horse has never seen a plastic bag rustling in a nearby bush, it may frighten him nearly out of his mind. On the other hand, a horse that has grown up around farm equipment, barking dogs, and other various noisy things may never turn an ear towards it. It all depends on what the individual horse is used to. A horse that has been traumatized at one point in his life by a certain object may never overcome his fear of it. For example, a horse that has fallen or been injured in a trailer may resist loading in a trailer for the rest of its life. A rider that can safely work with a horse through obstacles and new experiences will develop a good sense of trust and communication with his horse, which will lessen a horse's tendency to spook or move abruptly when startled. A horse's eyesight can affect how he reacts. Horses do not see directly in front of or behind them without turning or lowering their heads. Sudden movement around a horse's feet or outside his field of vision will cause him to spook from pure instinct. Even the best-trained horse can still be surprised by a sudden movement or sound from something that is not fully visible to him. A rider's actions can also affect the horse's spookiness. Some riders punish their horses when they shy at something, which often causes a horse to spook worse the next time because his fear was heightened by the rider's actions. Anticipating the horse's spook by stiffening the seat or tightening the reins may also add to the horse's nervousness. It is best to stay calm and still when a horse shies. Allow the horse to turn and look at whatever it is scared of. Give him a moment to snort or stare at the object, and let him continue on at his own pace. A horse may want to walk closer to sniff or examine whatever it is that he is afraid of. Once he determines that there's nothing to fear, he will ignore it and continue on his way. Forcing a horse to pass closely to something he is not ready to accept can result in a mistrust of the rider and a greater fear of trail obstacles. The horse will learn to accept strange things on the trail more readily if the rider does not add to the fear and adrenaline the horse may feel the first time he experiences an object. A horse that does not seem to get over his fear may need more groundwork and trust-building exercises so that he looks to the rider for the support he needs. Understanding the horse and being sensitive to his feelings will help a horse learn that you are a leader that can be trusted. A good rider will also protect his horse from dangerous situations and not ask the horse to attempt something that might injure him. Horses that have been rushed into walking down steep gullies or scary places will tend to be spookier because of it. On the other hand, a horse that has been allowed to stand and look and take it slowly through a rough spot will build confidence in himself and his rider and be much more relaxed and steady. Developing this sense of trust in the horse is the rider's ultimate goal. Groundwork is one of the best things you can do for your horse to prevent spookiness when you are riding. Find objects or situations in which your horse would be uncomfortable and safely and calmly introduce him to them. Just tucking a plastic bag in your hip pocket as you groom your horse can teach him not to fear it. Rubbing him all over with a folded cotton lead rope can help him not to fear being touched. A few ideas for crowd exposure for your horse are taking him along to a show or rodeo just for the trip. Leading or riding around the fairgrounds, other horses, trailers, and busy areas will help him learn to accept the noise. You can also set up an obstacle course with any number of strange objects, a tarp, mud or water, or a flat bridge to cross. Riding next to farm machinery, construction sites, and sheep or other animals are also good bomb-proofing experiences. Don't overdo it. Some trainers use extreme methods of "de-sensitizing" a horse to leaf blowers, pistols, bull whips, and chain saws. However, these things may dull a horse too much, over-riding his natural instincts to keep himself and his rider safe. Think about this - if a bomb literally went off near your horse, would you want him to stand and accept it or move quickly to safety? Sometimes getting out of the way of danger is an important instinct for the horse to keep. The number one requirement for achieving a safe and steady mount is time spent in the saddle. If you have been with your horse through thick and thin, good and bad, easy rides and tough ones, your horse will have the foundation he needs to be able to understand and trust you no matter what comes along. Good steady horses are the product of a lot of miles with a rider they can trust.
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