Comments on: Trail Problem Solver: Spooking

By: you don't

you don't — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 09:21:43 +0000

It’s so true, my horses are outside 24/7 and they don’t spook at much. When they do, it’s just a little hop to the side.

By: Gee and Haw

Gee and Haw — Mon, 03 Jun 2013 06:13:26 +0000

After reading through all these trail problems, the main idea is to stay calm, which will help you and your horse,

By: Galadriel

Galadriel — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 19:21:40 +0000

Good advice. Another thing that I do is have a word, “calm” that I use to assure the horse that it’s not a problem. When he hears me say that he’s like, “Oh okay! It’s fine if you say so.”

By: PKL

PKL — Sat, 01 Jun 2013 15:45:01 +0000

This is exactly the problem my horse seems to have.

By: Doris

Doris — Sun, 05 May 2013 14:36:40 +0000

I have a pretty solid 21 year old paint who has seen almost everything, but will occasionally still spook. One of the worst ones was on the way home from a long trail ride. The round bale that was fine on the way out, was terrifying on the way back. He jumped sideways about 6 feet. I have heard this is because of a horse’s so called split brain. What he sees with one eye and that side of the brain is news to the other eye and that side of the brain. Can anyone confirm?

By: Peter

Peter — Thu, 27 Sep 2012 21:03:39 +0000

I have a mare that spooks at nothing and even things she has seen many times. She has good days and bad days. She doesn’t take off or bolt but shakes and/or grounds herself. She’s ten going on two, never bred, kept in a 1/4 to 1/3 of an acre with two other horse she has been since birth. She gets separation anxiety, especially when separated from the other mare. The gelding gets it when we take his girls without him but not a spooky horse.

By: Vicki

Vicki — Tue, 26 Jun 2012 18:41:06 +0000

This is more of a question then comment, hope you can help me. I am taking lessons to learn how to ride ( for pleasure riding ). Everything was going fine when all of a sudden the horse I was on bolted, that’s what I was told he did. When that happened I ended up on the ground, yes I had a helmet on. Since I am learning and don’t have the riding experience what can I do? Yes my instructor made me get back on and I am glad I did. Help. Vicki

By: S. Kenyon

S. Kenyon — Thu, 21 Oct 2010 05:50:59 +0000

So many great tips in this article that are so important to remember.

By: Donna

Donna — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 17:02:46 +0000

Excellent article. Very helpful.