Spooky Horse Behavior: What Causes it and How to Fix

[@kathybertone8837]

You nailed it, as usual. Your empathy and understanding of horses should be the standard to which we all aspire. And your horses adore you, which speaks louder than any words. Thank you again for YOUR sensitivity.

[@Shadow_vr768]

The treats in the plastic bags???! MIND BLOWN! Why have I not thought of this!

[@VickieMoser-o3p]

My 20-year-old Tennessee walking horse, just started demonstrating over-reactiveness on the trail. Until then he had been calm, easy-going, and non-reactive. I believe the trigger point was when we were riding down a field and 15 kids were jumping on a trampoline. He spooked and went sideways, but didn’t run. After that time, there were instances on the trail where he would freeze and then spin and run. Do you have any advice as to how to get him out of this fear mode? I have had this horse for 10 years. In those 10 years, there was only one other time where he reacted and took off.

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi Vickie and Welcome! It sounds like your horse has been shut down all these years and then woke up when he hit his absolute threshold when the kids were on the trampoline. The level of excitement and movement pushed him past his threshold. This means he's been trigger stacking all this time and because of his kind and submissive nature (the nature of the TW ) he not only kept his triggers to himself, but you weren't aware of the subtle signs of stress. I'm sure he's shown plenty on the trail. An example of a horse like yours who "holds it together" would be slowing down, tensing up but not stopping, and moving like he's taking his time through the woods. So many horses like this are perceived as quiet, calm, and trustworthy but they are ticking timebombs underneath. It takes that one thing that sends them over the edge and when that happens, they are alive and present and aware. Now you have to work with the horse you have and desensitizing him isn't the answer. Rather, rewiring his nervous system so he feels safe and in control is what needs to happen. I'm available for a coaching session to talk more about this and create a plan of action. Please click here to schedule one www.taoofhorsemanship.com/natural-horsemanship-coaching.

[@AmandaHoranGoBookYourself]

But how do you get to that point without flooding? If they run away the first time and you keep at it isn't that just flooding again?

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi Amanda and Welcome! Great question and too complicated to explain here. I will be using your question in next week's blog where I will answer in detail. Please join my mailing list to receive the blog in your inbox! www.taoofhorsemanship.com/help-center

[@seneynah]

I have Arabs drama kings. Seems hardwired or do people train them wrong for the breed? One of my gets flooded really easy. You did not demonstrate how you got this horse so calm around the bag. What does the process look like? Help!

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi Rachael and Welcome! I too love Arabs and am so grateful for their teachings. They are so intelligent, emotionally, socially and physiologically (nervous system). Because of their acute intelligence they don't respond well to traditional handling or training, this includes any training that is too mechanical, repetitive, forceful. And, yes, due to their blood lines (they are the original bloodline, all horses come from the Arabian) and centuries of being treated like a human (they lived with the bedouin families for centuries and were considered part of their family) they understand humans. This is why they 'frustrate" most people. They are too smart and demand respect. Their acute intelligence and nervous system is what makes them appear over reactive or spooky. When you appreciate their qualities and work with them in a way that works best for them, they can get as quiet, calm and confident as any other horse. If you want to learn more about how I develop, train, horses please check out my website www.taoofhorsemanship.com/. I am offering a free 7-day course about my method and how it works for any horse.

[@janicestreet824]

Your information is pertinent and important, and very necessary for all of us. We love our horses however, you take way too long to get to the point, and never answer the questions that you pose in your conversation. You never actually show us what you actually do at the beginning of working with a horse. Perhaps there is a lot of behind the scenes work. I have no training experience, but had a horse of a lifetime for 32 years and I never knew how to train. I only had a heart connection with that horse. I believe the heart connection is the most important thing between a horse and a human. any horse that will stand when a helicopter stops and hovers over you is an angel horse. You can’t train for that kind of situation. My horse saved our lives that day. A horse truly knows your heart!

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi Janice and Welcome! What a beautiful story about your heart horse, thank you for sharing! The heart is where we should all begin and like you I've experienced many extraordinary moments with my heart horses, experiences that go beyond logic, science or rationality and that's what makes them so special and magical. Horses are emotionally intelligent and when we are in heart coherence, they can feel us, the truth of who we are, what we need. This sounds like your late horse who stayed with you while the helicopter hovered. I can't imagine how terrifying this was for all of you and also how special knowing your horse was there fully in heart, mind and body connection.

[@carolmandiann]

I'm not comfortable with the idea that a calmer horse is less intelligent than a more reactive horse.

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi Carol and Welcome! I have found many a quiet and calm horse intelligent and quicker than most when figuring things out. There just aren't as many as the horse labeled spooky. I chose to focus on the more hyper-vigilant, reactive, spooky type horse because that is what we see most of the time. My main focus in this video was give a new and better (for the horse and human) perspective on the behavior, how it forms and why.

[@carolmandiann]

@@TaoofHorsemanship Thank you, Caroline

[@seneynah]

I have a super chill energy saver economy mustang who is very smart! My reactive Arabs are also smart. It’s just genetics. Like saying a quiet lazy person is dumber than a neurotic person. One is just more sensitive and overthinks when not needed. I call my husband my Arabian stallions name because they act the same. He literally paws the air when in heavy traffic I swear. But the sensitive Arab is so much easier to train than my economizer.

[@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress]

22 minutes into a 27 min video you finally get to how to help? I just subscribed - but this doesn't help people - maybe lead with the meat and follow up with details for those FEW people that want or need redundant babbling that over explains ..... you are not the only one - I really want to learn from you - but I work and keep up my little farm .... I need to get the info so I can go out and play it out with my horses ! I have a very smart mare that doesn't respond to physical pressure and who is very reactive .... She has had someone on her back once - and no inclination to buck - but so skittish and dancy she was not safe - the trainer went back to ground work - But I have her back now - can't afford more work ..... and I really need to soak up the HOW TO FIX parts of ALL your videos ....

[@TaoofHorsemanship]

Hi! You are always welcome to move on if you don't like my videos. Subscribers know I talk a lot, and that's my style. I also believe in educating my viewers with as much background information as possible, including principles, concepts, theory, past experiences, etc. In the end, this video isn't going to solve your problems. No 30-minute video can. The first place to start is education. Learn as much as you can and then learn the skills and exercises needed to help change your spooky horse. The first place I recommend is working on your horse's nervous system. All spooky horses have dysregulated nervous systems. Your horse needs a regulated one, it's called the PNS.

[@TwistedRootsVanVelzerPress]

@@TaoofHorsemanship true that - just giving input - some people like to learn and get better - I do in my profession and welcome calm and real critique - I know you probably get more than normal being in a public venue