| In the horse's mind, there is one solution to problems - | | | | making a bad situation very dangerous. A much better |
| run. His powerful legs are a great defense against a | | | | move is to keep gentle contact and use your legs and |
| host of dangers, and the sooner he uses them, the | | | | seat to bring your horse to a halt. |
| more likely he is to get away safely. Unfortunately for | | | | There are rare occasions when a riding out a spook is |
| the rider, this instinct can result in you crashing to the | | | | a bad idea. For example if you are on the trail and |
| ground as your horse races away from a colorful bit | | | | your horse runs through the trees, you don't want to |
| of litter, a sudden sound, or the unexpected | | | | be swept off by branches. In such cases, you want to |
| appearance of a bunny on the trail. Some horses have | | | | make an emergency dismount. This maneuver |
| such well-developed imaginations that they can spook | | | | involves quickly pulling your feet from the stirrups and |
| for no detectable reason at all. | | | | jumping clear. Note that this gets you out of danger, |
| You can help your horse conquer these fears by | | | | but it leaves your horse scared and running. She may |
| keeping their minds focused and providing comforting | | | | run into a dangerous situation or get tangled in her tack, |
| leadership. When you are actively riding, focused on | | | | leading to injury. |
| where you want the horse to go and what you want | | | | Once you get through the initial excitement, you need |
| her to do, your horse doesn't have time to wonder | | | | to work on your horse to prevent spooking in the |
| what dangers might be hiding in the corner. When you | | | | future. What was happening right before the spook? |
| show, through you confidence and awareness that | | | | Where you riding attentively? Was the horse acting |
| you can keep your horse safe, she can leave the | | | | nervous? In these cases, take the spook as a lesson |
| worrying to you and focus on giving you a good ride. | | | | that you should always ride well. |
| Part of keeping your horse working and confident is | | | | The next thing to look for is something in the |
| having a good seat. Solid contact with the saddle | | | | environment. Horses can react to movement, noises |
| keeps your horse in balance and tells her that you | | | | and colors. Walk your horse past the same location, |
| know what you are doing. Just as importantly, if your | | | | watching for signs from her about what might be |
| horse does spook, a good seat gives you the best | | | | bothering her. Keep in mind that the problem may no |
| chance of staying mounted and being able to get your | | | | longer be there. Maybe it was someone with a brightly |
| horse back under control. Practice moving with your | | | | colored jacket, maybe a bee flew by. |
| horse in all gaits, during turns and through transitions. | | | | Once you know what is scaring your horse, you need |
| Check your position, particularly, where is your weight? | | | | to work with her to desensitize her. This may be as |
| Do you tip forward during accelerations or back during | | | | simple as walking around the scary thing until the horse |
| halts? Do you lean into turns? Are you too rigid, so that | | | | sees that there is no real danger. In other cases, you |
| you are bouncing around in the saddle? Being out of | | | | may need to spend quite a bit of time getting your |
| position makes it harder to stay mounted when your | | | | horse used to the situation. Be sure to monitor your |
| horse does something unexpected. In addition, your | | | | horse closely so that you go up to the point where |
| horse feels out of balance which makes her nervous. | | | | she is thinking of spooking, but not to the point where |
| Another thing that having a good seat does for you | | | | she spooks over and over. If you can't get her to |
| during a spook is to give you options for your hands | | | | accept the situation, try getting a trainer who is skilled in |
| and feet. If you are properly seated you can work | | | | bomb proofing horses to work with her. |
| your legs to get a good grip on the middle of your | | | | Every horse has a different tolerance for scary |
| horse. This helps you stay in position and reminds your | | | | situations. Their moods can shift from day to day. It is |
| horse that you are there. Once you have your seat | | | | your job to make sure that you always ride with an |
| and legs solid, there is no need to hold tight reins. | | | | attitude and position that keeps you safe when your |
| Check that you are not pulling, since your horse will | | | | horse does something unexpected. Practice having a |
| instinctively push back against the pressure. If you pull | | | | good seat, pay attention to your horse's mood and |
| hard enough to make the horse feel trapped, she may | | | | keep your head when things go wrong. You and your |
| decide that bucking and rearing are her only options, | | | | horse will be safer for these precautions. |