'Despooking your spooky horse'

Despooking your spooky horse

By Lizzie Botticelli at 04/17/07 21:58

Horses tend to shy away from things that startle them, especially things that they are unfamiliar with. Young horses that have never had, for example, a plastic bag blow against their legs may go into orbit the first time this happens to them.

It takes time and patience to get horses used to situations and things that they are not familiar with. You must not force or reprimand your horse for shying from an obstacle on the trail or something that spooks him, because then he will ALWAYS associate that obstacle or item with punishment (pain) or negative feelings.

You should quiet him the best you can, move away from the object and let him try again, each time letting him get a little closer, until he will make contact on his own.

Be patient, and before long, your horse will be bombproof!

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I bough a horse at a flea market. The owner told me that it was very calm when riding him but the horse needed a lot of food he was super thin. I started to treat him but is super spooky even with birds, dogs, etc. I ride him with no problem but is something flies infront of him or a dog barks holy god he stops and backs off. How can I help my horse from being spooky. Thank you for your help

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