Ty's Horse Journal

The Spooky Horse
 
Having grown up on a farm I remember those nights or evenings that I would be outside either doing chores or just roaming the woods. I can still feel the creepy feeling that would overcome me, as if someone were watching me. The situation was always the same, darkness with lots of wind. I can remember feeling as though someone or something could jump out and get me without giving me any warning. I was on edge, senses heightened. I always thought that I was hearing things, when I knew it was nothing, but nonetheless, it really bothered me.
 
When I’m working with a horse that is just a little jumpy, I am reminded of those nights and it helps me understand a little of what the horse might be going through. I can see the uncertainty in the horse and become aware of its heightened senses. For instance, a twig breaks and the horse nearly jumps out of its skin. When fear starts to take over in a horse, it’s senses are heightened, and it seems as though the littlest things can set him off.

I often hear riders speaking to their horses at this time of uncertainty, explaining to the horse with annoyance that there is nothing to be afraid of and for the horse to quit acting up. They think that their horse is full of nonsense. Nonsense?!...only to the one who can mentally convince himself with one logical reason or another that there really is nothing to be worried about, but I guess the horse doesn’t use this same type of logical reasoning that we do, does it. The horse is responding to its instincts and trying to save its own hide. And there we are getting in the horses way to take care of itself. So the horse is left with a choice, listen to its instincts or listen to you. What will it choose?
 
So, what can we do about this issue? How can we help our horse through those situations? Well, it all starts with our horse's mind. It is worthy to note that most horses that earn the title of a "spook" are horses that are rarely attentive or responsive to their riders, or they are not comfortable taking direction from the rider. When he is scared of something, he is completely focused on what's scaring him. He's definitely not paying attention to you. However, if you don't have something to get your horse's mind back, then you are...what's the saying...up a creek without a paddle. You become a passenger.

To give you a better idea of what it is that I'm talking about, I'll share my experience during one particular ride many years ago on my horse Anikan. It goes something like this...

Once upon a time, on a sunny afternoon, in a distant land, I was enjoying a ride on my proud and mighty mount, Anikan. Yes, this is a true story...keep reading. As we were making our way around the hedge-enclosed pasture, a giant monster with a bushy tail and a couple of buck teeth twitched (or maybe it sneezed) within the hedge row. We humans refer to this monster as a squirrel, but to Anikan it was a 20ft horse-eating monster. So Anikan responded like anyone would to a 20ft monster; he put every ounce of effort into jumping sideways. It was an impressive display of effort. If I was half as good at getting my horse to put forth effort as that squirrel was, I could do anything with my horse. I might add that I was riding bareback.

Well, this story does have a happy ending, because Anikan and I had put in a lot of time getting him to respond when I touched a rein prior to this happening. And when I say a lot, I mean A LOT. If anything ever bothered Anikan, I would pick up on one rein and ask him to turn. This helped to get his attention back on me and if he's thinking about me, he's not thinking about anything else. So, just as Anikan was conditioned, I was, too. Just as quick as he jumped sideways I instinctively picked up on that rein. He moved himself right back under me and settled. And after my heart stopped pounding, we finished our ride.

The moral of the story, if you missed it, is to avoid parts of the country that having sneezing squirrels. Or, if you like riding in those parts, as I do, spend some time getting your horse's mind aligned with yours. Then, when the time comes and you need your horse's attention, you'll have a tool to get it. However, it is my prediction that if you spend some time getting your horse's mind aligned with yours, he will lose his title of a "spook".