How to Handle a Spooky Horse

The more time I spend in this sport, the more I realize that the only lasting answer to an issue with a horse comes from first considering the issue from the horse’s perspective.  This is especially true when it comes to the issue of “spooking.’  

Horses survived as a species on their ability to recognize danger and flee from it.  Unlike us, they have evolved as “prey animals” and remain so to this day. By our logic  they have no need to fear new or sudden sights or sounds, we will protect them.  Nevertheless, we have no way to explain this to them. Each individual horse has their  own level of sensitivity (awareness) and reactivity (how they respond). This is a part of  their unique personality. Dealing with a sensitive, reactive horse can be a challenge –  especially when they are young or green.  

We get into trouble when we take the attitude that the horse is behaving badly, or lacks  discipline, when they spook. Do you tense up or jump when a car backfires in the street  near where you are walking? I know I do and it is an involuntary response to something  unexpected and potentially dangerous. It is the same for horses, except the range of  potential dangers is a thousand times broader for a prey animal.  

Punishment is never the answer for a horse that is spooky by nature. It will only result  in a horse that not only worries about the outside stimulus but simultaneously learns  that punishment will accompany it. They react faster and often try to flee, to get away  from the punishment from the rider. In my experience, a sensitive horse will remain a  sensitive horse throughout his life. Age and experience will make him better able to  determine where he should direct his attention and awareness so that he can do his job  without distractions while he is working. A greener horse won’t yet have that ability.  

This is all well and good, but how do you deal with it in the meantime?  

Since horses are by nature herd animals they learn easiest the way they would learn in  a herd. They learn from their elders — especially the herd leader. Unlike predator  animals where leaders are often the most physically strong and dominating, prey  animals tend to take direction from the wisest and most experienced member of their  group. This leader not only tells the group where to go for the best food and water, but  also makes the determination of whether something new or sudden is actually  dangerous or not. Every horse learns to respect the leader’s judgement. If the leader  doesn’t react, the others don’t need to either. The best horsemen know that becoming  the respected leader in their horse’s eye is the key to having their horses become 

consistent, confident and willing partners. They are above all consistent in the way they  interact with their horses and when it comes to dealing with a spook (whether from  seeing or hearing something the horse finds surprising or disturbing) they behave like  the wise herd leader: they pay zero attention to it and continue to do whatever they  were doing. By not reacting, the horse is reassured that there is no danger and thus no  reason to react themself.  

Personally, I don’t believe in ear plugs. Like many artificial ‘aids’ I believe if it serves as  an immediate, and lasting, solution to an issue, go ahead and use it. However, I’ve  found that horses that are hypersensitive to sounds, will only try harder to hear the  ‘scary stuff’ and not be able to hear any cues or reassurances from the rider. Since  sounds will be a part of a any horse’s life, I believe the more the better in training  situations. Don’t try to prevent your horse from moving when surprised by something.  Be sure you are in balance, and don’t yank on your horse’s mouth or catch her with a  spur by mistake. Ignore it and simply direct that movement into something you are  asking for. Depending on your mare’s current level of training, perhaps calmly and  without any hint of anger or punishment, ask for some lateral work that brings her  attention away from what she reacted to. A very green horse can be put onto a circle to  burn off the nervous energy and return their focus to the rider and job at hand.  Remember the less YOU react to whatever set her off, the quicker she will realize that  you have everything under control and that she should mimic your quiet, calm  demeanor and get back to work. This won’t happen overnight, and I realize it isn’t  always easy to control your own energy level and response, but I believe it is the only  long-term solution. The best riders are those that can balance their horse’s personality:  a horse that is by nature a bit on the lazy side will never go well for a rider who is too  easy going and quiet. Your sensitive, somewhat reactive mare needs a rider who is  calm and quiet. Use your voice, very low in volume and soothing in tone, to regain her  attention. Eventually it will only take a word or touch with your leg to keep her attention  on you and not on listening for the next chipmunk to wander by.