At 05:15:32 on 07.02.11, xXxViolet_EclipsexXx wrote:
Hi everyone :) So lately I've discovered that my "Achilles heel" with riding is that I don't specifically know how to deal with a horse or pony that spooks on me (for whatever reason). Of course it's scary, but the thing is that my instructor and fellow equestrians at the barn don't talk about the subject too much. The only thing I know is clear is that you *have* to try to stay in control, physically and emotionally. But does anyone else have any more specific tips on how to handle a spooked horse? Thanks

At 18:27:03 on 08.02.11, chica wrote:
Well it depends on if you horse has already spooked or if you thing it will spook,do you know what would scare you horse enough to spook? or the signs that you horse is scared of something? and i mean the small signs,before the loud snorting and anything else you horse might do before it takes off on you.Like the flick of an ear or maybe a small sidestep? or just tensing up.Of course when you horse does take of the best thing to do is a circle ,because lets face you are not go to win a tug-of-war with an 1100 pound animal.Also i find if you horse it scared talking to it in a firm voice(not a baby voice that just get them more excited!) and telling them that there is nothing there and to just get on with it(not in a mean way just be firm),also wiggle you fingers on the reins to distracted the horse...or you could try singing softly that sometimes works!it also helps you to stay calm.

At 19:47:38 on 20.02.11, JessAndGrenville123 wrote:
Keep calm, relax, breath, give your horse time to have a look at whatever it is and ask to move forward and repeat until you get past the scary object lol. I find its good when gren spooks i think to myself 'stop being stupid grenville its just a ....' lol and it works me making little of the object transfers to him and he walks past it, also if your horse jumps or bolts at something keep calm and half halt and carry on like nothing happened :)