HORSIN' AROUND WITH VAN HARGIS
"Controlling Spookiness"

Today, we're going to talk about the basics of spookiness, what causes it, and how you can help your horse overcome it. We'll work both from the ground and from the saddle in approaching objects that might frighten your horse. It is especially important to work with your horse to overcome being spooked by unknown objects and situations because a horse who responds unpredictably can hurt you.

You want to teach the horse to trust you and rely on you; to understand that you're not going to lead him into a situation that will hurt him so he will listen to you, do what you ask him to do, and react predictably to new things.

I have a simple tool I like to use to begin training a horse that is afraid. I use a riding crop with plastic bags tied loosely to the end of it. The purpose is never to hit the horse, but to use the crop as an extension of my arm so I can bring the object closer to the horse. The bags make a crinkley sound that provide a controllable "new" situation.

Do everything in this lesson on a gradual basis. If the horse shows fear just looking at the new object, let him see it, then move it away. If the horse shows curiosity, let him smell it and see that it isn't going to hurt him. If the horse feels he needs to get away from the object, that's okay. That's instinct. Move the object away, then bring it back. Again, we're using a system of pressure and release. Bring the object toward him slowly, then take it away. Your object here is not to spook the horse, but to educate him. You may have your horse on a trail ride some time and encounter a plastic bag blowing in the wind and making noise. You don't want your horse to be easily spooked by such things, so we work with the horse ahead of time to get him used to encountering new objects and situations.

As you introduce new things to your horse, he learns to trust you; he learns that when you're with him, you are in control and he can rely on you to watch out for him. If you continue to show the object to the horse, bringing it toward him and taking it away, he should pretty quickly get the message that he's not going to be hurt, and he'll probably begin to show curiosity about the object. Again, let him smell it, look at it, and begin to touch it to his body so he understands that even when it touches him, it won't hurt him. When the horse accepts the presence and contact of the object, he's letting you know he understands the object will not hurt him.

This should be done on a slow, gradual basis. Continue the process of pressure and release until the horse is no longer afraid of the spooky object, and doesn't pull away when you rub the bags against him.

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In the saddle, I see a lot of folks who encounter an object on the ground that's spooky to the horse, and they try to make the horse ride past it and force the object upon the horse. I think it's a better idea to let the horse know they have an escape route, however, you need to determine that escape route.

In training, I like to place an object that is new to the horse (for example, a folded plastic tarp) on the ground. As I ride the horse around the pen, we encounter the tarp on our path.

The horse will show curiosity, and perhaps fear toward the object. I'll loosen up on the reigns so the horse can investigate the object -- look at it and smell it. When I see his ears come back up and he brings his head back in line, he's telling me he's identified the object, and understands it won't hurt him.

When I know he's not afraid of the object, I'll have him walk past it. Just to reaffirm the lesson, I'll walk him up to and past the object again. He should walk right past it without showing fear. If he does show fear, that's okay. Just back up and do the process again until the horse is comfortable and understands that the object won't hurt him, and you are in control.