Bust those spooks

Spooking is a deeply ingrained natural instinct that evolved to help horses survive in the wild, and constantly looking out for danger and running away at the slightest hint of it are an excellent defence against predators. In order to be aware of danger as early as possible, horses have evolved extremely good eyesight and hearing – much better than our own – and spot things we don’t, which may be how the term spooking originated – reacting to things that are ‘not there’.

The horse’s viewpoint

What seems dangerous to horses isn’t the same as it is for us because, as prey animals, they feel threatened by different kinds of things.

Very quiet, seemingly harmless sounds could, in their minds, be a predator creeping through the grass. Similarly, to them, the glint of a shiny object could be the light catching in a predator’s eyes just before it pounces.

For horses, novelty and the unknown can mean danger, while any unusual movement could be a predator sneaking around. This is why horses are spookier on windy days, and flapping plastic bags are particularly scary, as they combine unexpected movement, rustling sounds and glints of light.

Did you know?

To a horse, a hose looks and sounds rather like a snake, and anything unexpectedly approaching at speed, especially from behind, could be a predator attack, while a moving shadow might be a big cat about to leap.

Top tip

When schooling in an enclosed area, flex your horse’s neck away from the spooky object to maintain or increase the inside bend and also stop him learning to spook to have a rest.

Innate reaction

Every horse is an individual when it comes to spooking. Many simply slow down a little and peer, before moving gingerly past the object. Others might stop suddenly with a little hop and only go past sideways with encouragement, whereas some will leap three metres to the side, spin around and gallop off. Most spooks are momentary and involve relatively minor movement.

However, more significant spooks can lead to serious accidents with injuries to rider, handler, horse and others.

Did you know?

It’s impossible to prevent spooking, but with experience, training and appropriate riding techniques, the risks can be minimised.

Top tip

Be aware of things that may spook your horse and be proactive to bring his attention back to you as soon as it’s lost.

Discover how to deal with spooking in August Horse&Rider, out now!