[Cayenne_spice]

ok this is crazy my arab is scared of the weridest things!!! so i love to go and long trail rides with him i think the last one i went ion was 8 miles but he shys from the wierdest things, the worst is people gardening he will just stop and not move at all it takes at least fifeteen minets to finally get him moving and anything pink or bright red he shys from, oooo and GOATS!!! those are REALLY scary, is this normal or do i have a coward horses lol J/K horse_on

[Blistering Winds]

Goats especially make most horses afraid. The smell of them sets them off. I've seen the BEST trail horses, quiet as can be get set off by a goat, even just their smell. My mare was excellent...but if you get within smelling distance of a goat, man would she roll her eyes and totally balk at going that way....

As for the other stuff.....work with him at home. If he hasn't been exposed to them that much, it is normal for them to be "coward" to some things until they learn it won't eat them.

[bay_blnd jmpr07]

i read in an article that arabs are the worst trail horses because they are always in-tune w/ nature and always alert. they are ready to get-up-and-go when needed. but i don not agree w/ this article. yes, sum arabs r very spooky, but others are the quietest things ever. Fiona is Oldenburg/Arabian and many ppl thought that she wouldnt spook at a plank jump because she had Oldenburg in her, and then spook when she heard a loud noise. but she is the opposite. she is afraid of plank jumps and will only jump one or go near one when i talk and am on her. and shes dead quiet w/ very loud noises.

running_ Tiny running_

[Blistering Winds]

I'm sorry...QH's are supposed to be the most laid back of all, and some I wouldn't ride myself let alone a little kid.

HORSES period have the tendancy to spook. No matter WHAT breed they are. Unless they have been through BOMB PROOF training, and even then I won't trust them 100%. 99% is the farthest I'll go in trust.

[Midnight Felicity]

I knew a horse who absolutely hated PIGS, my horse hasn't see a pig, goeat, or any of those "horse eating" monsters yet, lol.

[Blistering Winds]

Should see mine...OMG..it's a PONY...AAAGGGGGG RUN.....

We were running a barrel race at a playday...doing GREAT...got to the 3rd barrel, DEAD slide stop (which he never does), Complete heal roll back and a BOLT back to the finish..though we never reached that 3rd barrel.... When he stopped, I looked back and a **** pony was sitting on the other side of the fence....PONY!!!! JUST a little version of a horse......

[Jumpers]

That's funny about your horse and the pony! One of our mares is totally in love with colored horses. Any time we're at a show she becomes completely fascinated with paints, duns, apps, etc. She just stares at them with this longing look in her eye and if you let her she'll walk right up to them and snif them all over. She's so funny!

But anyway - you should definitely get your horse accustomed to more oddities at home before setting out on long trail rides. You don't want to be 2 miles from home - horses spookes - riders gets dumped - rider gets broken foot - rider has to ride back home with torturous pain from broken foot (I speak from experience! LOL)

You can throw frisbies over their head, make them walk on brightly calored tarps, walk them up to a tractor or lawnmower that's running, invite the neighbor over with her dogs, set up some plastic flower pots filled with brightly colored silk flowers (pink in this case), hang coats or hats over the arena or pasture fence, etc. Antyhing SAFE you can think of to expose the horse to as much as possible.

Also remember that most horses who spook at something would not spook at that same object if they had another horse with them. It may help to just go out on the trail with a couple other horses for support.

[QHlover]

Two words: PREY ANIMAL.

[QHGirl]

I heard (keep in mind this was a long time ago) but I heard that horses are scared of pigs because they are in the same "family" as Bears. Or a close relation that their smell they put off is a "danger" smell. BUT I could be wrong on this, that is just what I heard.

Oh I had a LOUD paint, that never was around paints, when I took her to her first paint show, she flipped out at the paints. She stood and stared at them and then when they would move, turn and bolt the other way, now keep in mind at other shows she was fine, but paint shows she hated. It took a long time to get her used to it but she eventually did realize those were her "kind"!!!

Oh and my gelding hates ponies and Palamino's, when one comes up on the rail to go around us, he pretty much tucks his tail and is about ready to blow..... Not sure about that one wink He is a little better, but it still is funny!!!

[QHlover]

You may think it's stupid, but the horse obviously sees something that may threaten his well-being. You have to understand that. Here's an article that might help out:

When I first arrived at the Rocky Mountain Training Center in Larkspur, Colorado, I thought I had plenty of experience with spooky horses. Starting the catty Argentine thoroughbreds for polo had certainly been challenging. Even my own Anglo/Arab had left me in the air several times. But nothing prepared me for the lightning speed that typified the Arabians. These horses could flinch sideways or reverse at a dead run. Without a decent seat and balance to match, it would have been a lot of long walks to the barn. It all really hit home while watching a video of the finish of a hundred-mile endurance race. Coming down off the mountain at a moderate pace after a hundred miles I witnessed mature horses still spooking! Then and there I committed to making a project of this phenomenon, common to all and chronic to some. By Frank Bell

Self-preservation is clearly the reason for spooking. If we were to take that away, we would be riding very dangerous animals. That self-preservation is what allows us to trust our horses in umpteen dangerous situations. That same horse that spooks also takes us across fields filled with boulders and leg breaking holes. Is it fair to get upset or beat that same animal when he is legitimately afraid? I choose to respect it, once we have built a working rapport. Most importantly I want to help the horse overcome those dangerous spooks.

Nurturing the Horse

I view this topic much like child rearing. Though I have no children of my own, I can certainly imagine nurturing a child through a scary situation. And I sure wouldn't get upset or scold a child for being afraid. Instead, I would be right there to support and help. Well, to me it's exactly the same with a horse. From the moment I make first contact with that horse, I am building a mutual level of trust and confidence, not dominance. I want that horse to look to me when bothered, because he knows I'll be there to help.

To develop this mutual confidence, we need to be friends first. I search for those places they all love to be scratched, rubbed stroked etc. I call it search touching. I try to kind of put the horse in a trance by zeroing in on just what feels best to the horse. It's a searching process and the horse will tell me when he really likes something and conversely, when not. I then deliberately ask him to get into vulnerable positions. A horse's head with his nose to the ground or touching his side is a trusting, relaxed animal. There are too many of these positions to list, so get creative. When the horse is working his mouth and licking his lips, he's getting relaxed and it's sinking in, a great sign. Just think about the horse that can, at a suggestion, bend his head around to the girth as the handler covers his outside eye. This is big league trust. The rest of the world does not exist. 'Just the two of us. We can make it if we try.' This is the safe loving place I want the horse to be completely comfortable with. We will regroup there whenever necessary.

Confidence Building

Once the horse understands this nurturing concept, it's a building block process of finding those uncomfortable places and patiently helping the horse through it. Can he tolerate the lead rope doing circles over his head, or around his legs first while standing, then moving? When saddling, bring the blanket or pad up the neck over his head. If he handles that, leave it over his head blocking his eyesight, first momentarily, then longer. Now take a discovery walk and deliberately find something scary. When he puts on the brakes, stroke his neck, talk soothingly, and ask the head to drop, then to the side. Reinforce the earlier maneuvers that developed the initial trust. Help the horse learn that there is nothing to be afraid of. Search for discomfort, don't avoid it, and then nurture through. Watch for the mouth working; it's a sure sign that he is understanding this process.

Once in the saddle, again reinforce the bending and lowering of the head, and then go to work finding something that does spook the horse. The second it happens circle the horse back to that safe loving place where we regroup, even if it means backing away from that spooky object. Be patient. Spend as much time as it takes. Once quiet, encourage forward movement to the point of the horse getting uptight again. It will be a little closer than the last time. Nurture, relax, back away if necessary, then move forward again until right up to that horse-eating rock or puddle or stump. Stay with this process until you can walk right up to the scare, walk by, take a sniff etc. As the horse builds confidence, so will you. Constant soothing talk, neck stroking, and leg encouragement will help and give the horse the confidence and encouragement necessary to build onto this process. This is the classic advance/retreat principal. You'll find yourselves feeling of each other, much like walking a child across the street for the first time. A firm handhold at first, then walking side by side, and then one day that little person will walk across the street alone with you watching. Baby steps.

Once you've worked this process deliberately enough times, your horse will know that when afraid you're going to work through it as a team, no matter what. We are going to walk up to that thing quietly and check it out. When this is working well, speed up to the trot. As the horse tightens up, stroke, provide leg support, clucking, soothing words. Divert his attention by tilting the nose to the opposite side away from the scare while bumping with the lower leg or stirrup thereby pulling that attention away from the problem. Once past, release all pressure and reward heartily. Make a very big deal out of this success. Horses do understand this. It's the same process at the canter. But don't be in such a hurry. If you can't get it at slow speeds, don't even think about moving up. Remember, the long way is the short way; it's all a matter of supporting the animal.

>>I know it's long but keep reading<<

Imagine a huge fire consuming a house with a group of horrified people watching intently. Now the fire truck is heard approaching. Now it's here, sirens blaring loudly. Where is your attention? The point: Pull the horse's attention away from the scare, now! Get as aggressive as deemed necessary, but change the horse's mind.

Another effective approach is using the circle to get closer and closer at each pass. This requires serious leg and body support while approaching the object. The circle should begin by pressing the edge of the comfort zone, then get progressively closer and closer while supporting the horse. The horse gets plenty of relief in the rest of the circle, then is supported through the challenging area. This approach is also useful for developing water/mud confidence.

Special Situations

There are clearly times when these crafty animals can play pretend and try to get out of a job by acting spooky. This comes down to a judgement call, and determining what is real. When the determination is made that the horse is messing with your mind, it's time to get to work by firming up and insisting, or getting very busy and changing the horse's mind with various maneuvers. Usually there is an abundance of energy to deal with so I'll reach into my bag of tricks recalling just where the horse needs catching up and use that energy to my advantage. For instance the horse may be a little sticky at backing, or backing in one direction, or side passing, or doing any number of simple exercises that lead to the more difficult ones. Put the horse right to work doing these foundation exercises. Circle right, left, go back, forward, to the side, reverse, roll back, step hind quarters over one way, then the next, then the front etc., all the while distinctly aware of that object and inching closer. Now drop the reins while right next to the big scare. There's a good chance that horse will just be so happy to relax that he'll forget about the scare. If not, back to work. This system does wonders for antsy, hyper horses while using that energy constructively.

Sudden sounds and noise are also issues that are easy to address. Very early in my interaction I am desensitizing the horse to this problem by intentionally creating it. From the ground I start by slapping the saddle, first with my hand softly then building to the point of snapping the stirrup leathers hard and even slapping the end of the lead on the saddle loudly. Again, this is a building block process. If the horse is really bothered, I'll be making very little noise while providing much support by constantly stroking the neck. I'll try to stop just this side of trouble. Pause, start lightly and build again. If this is done properly, the problem can be diffused quickly thereby raising the horse's confidence level. The key to success is touching the horse when the support is needed.

On the trail I am constantly working on desensitizing by slapping my leg, reaching out and brushing branches with loud dried oak leaves, twirling my lead over the horse's head and down around the legs and hind quarters. Several dogs are always with me on the trail, darting here and there, appearing suddenly, and making constant noise- perfect. Again, before long it has completely become part of life and a non-issue. Walking between a couple of horse trailers and gradually building to the point of slapping the side of the trailer, first while going by, then while stopped, is a great exercise. Try opening and closing the windows and doors of the trailer, then slamming them. Of course opening gates while on the horse is not only a welcome convenience, but also helps build confidence. Your imagination is the only limit to the number of tasks you can ask of your horse while building him up.

Some years ago a magnificent Argentine thoroughbred stud named Refugi had serious spooks, but was otherwise an elegant, fine moving horse that took fences with unequalled grace. For a couple days he lived with paper feed bags attached to the side of the round pen blowing in the wind. Then the bags were attached to his saddle. Then he dragged them, one on each side. When he had accepted this as part of life, we went back to those same jumps. The blue ribbons that decorate his owner's tack room attest to his success. He is now a relaxed, happy, confident horse that had to sweat a little at the front end to later realize his full potential.

In dealing with these various problems that we all encounter, I'm constantly reminded of the steeds that police use to control unruly crowds and even riots. That didn't just happen. They weren't born that way. Someone took the time and helped these animals learn to tolerate something that most of us will never ask of our horses. The sight of a policeman riding into a bar in Steamboat Springs, Colorado one fourth of July will always inspire me.

Feed and Space

The final two issues that can contribute to unreasonable spookiness are overfeeding and confinement. A good place to start is an honest review of just how much hot food is in the diet. Huge changes in behavior can take place with diet changes. Also allowing that same horse a chance to unwind is not to be overlooked. Horses living out are seldom as wound up as those confined. It's just so individual and requires real observation and empathy. Think like the horse and the answer usually becomes obvious.

Several years ago just after Thanksgiving I worked with a powerfully built sorrel quarter horse at the Marriot Cattle Ranch in Virginia. He was spooking at everything and bucking his riders off. At wits’ end, the manager was ready to sell the horse. Upon inquiry, I learned that he was fed a large can of grain morning and evening while cooped up in a small pen. The grain ended immediately. I gave him a job to do as we worked cattle in the steep hills of Virginia. This clearly took the edge off him. The food issue along with some basic trust building changed the horse's life. Within three days he was carrying rank beginners. Instead of selling the horse, he doubled as a lesson horse. Novices were riding that horse with big smiles. I think the striking sorrel was smiling too!

Review: 7 Steps to De-spooking

Address the feed issue.
Is the horse confined too much? Is he able to get out and be a horse and run wild and free on a regular basis and experience life as horses are meant to?
Learn to nurture the horse. Show him there is a place to regroup when necessary. Help him relax and build trust, first on the ground, then in the saddle.
Learn how to change the horse's mind to pull that energy away from the scare.
Deliberately deal with progressively scarier situations on the ground, then on the horse.
Build to more difficult situations and increase speed.
Feel for the horse. Be observant and patient. Encourage, reward, and give a lot. Keep a smile on your face. Remember, the long way is the short way.