Horses who get scared and “spook” easily can be difficult to ride, but this list of training tips will help to calm down and overcome their nervousness.
By Nicole Fava
As riders, we are taught to recognize the fact that horses are flight animals. This plays a role in how we handle horses, move around them, and even how we ride them. It’s safe to say, however, that some horses are more “spooky” than others.
Whether you call your nervous horse “flighty” or “spooky”, here’s a list of tips that will help you handle them in different situations.
1. Find Trends
Look for things that set your horse off. Perhaps they are constantly fearful of the same things, and you know exactly what you need to work on.
For example, I had a horse that was terrified of oncoming horses, and that was about it. Or perhaps your horse is like my current horse, where they are a bit unpredictable and are set off by different things.
In that situation, you may need to apply categories to your horse’s fears. Are they scared of inanimate objects? Noises? Quick movements? Narrowing down your horse’s fears can help you better assess them.
2. Desensitize
Desensitizing can help any horse overcome fears. Gather an assortment of objects that your horse might find intimidating. Tarps, plastic bags, ropes, flags, noise-makers, balls, balloons . . . these are just some ideas. Introduce a “scary” object to your horse while they are on a lunge line in an enclosed round pen.
If at any moment your horse shies away from the object, keep consistent pressure on the lunge line until they stop moving, then release the pressure when they are still. When my horse investigates an item curiously or tolerates me touching him with it, I praise him and make sure I am applying no pressure to the lunge line.
Always reward your horse when they are brave and curious. Soon enough, your horse should realize that spooking away from something “scary” is not the correct answer.
3. Stay Calm
Emotional horses feed off of emotional riders. It’s that simple.
If you have a spooky horse, being obviously nervous or fearful is going to convince your horse that he needs to feel the same way. For that reason, work on yourself as a rider before you hop on a spooky horse that needs support.
Ride lesson horses, ride a friend’s bombproof horse . . . anything that builds your confidence! A confident rider is most likely to help a spooky horse overcome his fears.
4. Correcting Spooks from the Saddle
When you’re confident and ready to work on your horse’s spooking habits from the saddle, there are some techniques that you can use.
If you notice your horse spooking, it’s acceptable to let them take a good look at what is scaring them. What you don’t want, however, is for your horse to move away from what they are fearful of unless you ask them to do so.
I keep my leg on my horse until he takes a step towards the object, then I release the pressure. Every time my horse turns away from the object or backs up, I put his nose back towards what he is spooking at and kick him forward again. Do this until your horse can touch the object with their nose.
Let them rest near the object and reward them if they can stand close to it without turning away. When your horse is calm and no longer spooking, only then should you turn them away from the object and proceed with your ride.
Some horses will spook yet again when you come around to the object a second time. If I’ve already given my horse a chance to look and investigate, I’ll usually ask him to continue working. If I feel my horse giving the object some “side-eye”, I’ll flex him away from it and leg yield him towards it.
This gives me control of my horse’s shoulders so he cannot spook and shy away from what is scaring him. This is also a method of supporting your horse, and keeps their mind thinking about other things.
Spooky horses allow us to work on our confidence as riders and practice leadership with our equine partners. Because a spooky horse often looks to their rider for directions, they tend to have a strong work ethic and desire to please.
A spooky horse can be a challenge, but when handled correctly, they can be more rewarding than that “bombproof” horse that you used to envy!
