How to deal with a spooky horse when schooling in an arena

by Alison | Feb 8, 2021 | Horse Riding, Rider Confidence, Rider Mindset | 0 comments

Understanding how we process sensory information can significantly influence how we experience nerves, anxiety, and fear when riding our horse. We use our ‘internal representational systems’, which refer to the primary ways we perceive and internalise our experiences through our senses, to make provide information about our experiences. Our mind filters and uses this information to make meaning of our subjective experience, as a point of reference for the future.

Our internal representational systems are visual (seeing), auditory (hearing), kinesthetic (feeling), gustatory (tasting), and olfactory (smelling). The processed information from each of these senses will impact how your unconscious mind processes your world and have an impact on how you feel about yourself, your horse and riding.

Visual (Seeing)

If you tend to think in pictures, you might visualise potential problems while riding, like imagining a fall or picturing the horse becoming spooked. These vivid mental images can make you feel more anxious. To manage this, you can refocus your mind on visualising exactly what you actually want to happen, in as much detail as you can. Your mind really doesn’t know the difference between what’s real and what’s imagined, and will respond to precisely what you tell it! So using this to your advantage and use your brilliant imagination to create a visualised scenario where things happen exactly as you want them to, and where you manage any surprises with ease and confidence.

Auditory (Hearing)

If you’re sensitive to sounds, the external noise of the horse’s hooves, your horse’s breathing, or sounds from the environment will all add to how you experience riding your horse. Internal sounds, such as your self-talk are also an important factor, since we often don’t realise quite how we speak to ourselves in our mind! Listening to calming music (where it’s safe to do so, obviously!), and positively managing your self-talk before and during your ride will help boost your confidence.

Kinaesthetic (Feeling)

If you are someone who is highly attuned to your feelings and emotions, you might be acutely aware of every physical sensation in your body and how it makes you feel. You might be aware of a knot in your stomach, tightness in your throat, or a very real feeling of having your legs turn to jelly! These type of physical sensations quickly transmit an alert to your mind, triggering nerves, anxiety and even fear. Practising deep breathing or other relaxation techniques can help you manage these physical sensations and reduce your anxiety.

Gustatory (Tasting)

As riders, the sense of taste is one we don’t often think about, and it’s closely tied to memory, where certain flavours can trigger emotional responses. I know of riders who chew minty gum before they ride (never chew gum while riding, as it is a choking hazard), and that minty sensation on their tongue can anchor feelings of readiness and confidence. Being mindful of what you eat or drink before riding and choosing flavours that you find comforting or refreshing can help trigger a shift in how you feel.

Olfactory (Smelling)

Certain smells can evoke powerful emotional responses. I don’t know about you, but I love the slightly warm, sweaty smell of horses who have just worked (that sounds weird, doesn’t it?!). As a child, I dreamed of the smell horses, of leather tack, and even now the first fly spray of the summer brings a reminiscence of happy hacking days. Find those smells which make you feel good and remind you of happy times, then make use of these whenever you can.

Recognising which of these sensory inputs resonates with you most will provide you with simple tools to improve your riding confidence. By consciously adjusting how you seek out and use these sensory inputs, you can help yourself feel more in control and less anxious while riding.

Preferences

While each of us might have a preference for one or more internal representational systems, such as visual, auditory, or kinesthetic, it’s important to note that we don’t exclusively use just one; our mind gathers and uses information from all of them. Think of it like having a favourite tool in a toolbox; even though you might prefer one tool, you still use the others when the situation requires it.

For instance, even if you primarily process your experience in a primarily visual way by imagining scenarios and pictures in your mind, your mind will still also pay attention to what you hear, the physical sensations you feel, the tastes and smells that surround you. Each sense provides a different piece of the puzzle, contributing to a fuller understanding and experience of your environment.

This means when you’re riding your horse and trying to manage anxiety, even though you might focus on using your preferred sensory channel, such as visualising calm and successful rides, you’ll also benefit from tuning into the sounds that calm you, the feel of the horse beneath you, and even calming scents or flavours. Using a combination of all your senses can help create a richer, more grounded experience that can be more effective in managing your nerves.

Simple Tips

Visual

Focus on shifting your mindset by vividly imagining positive outcomes. Instead of letting your mind linger on potential challenges, picture yourself riding smoothly, handling challenges with ease, and finishing your ride successfully. This practice of visualisation can help build your confidence and reassurance.

Auditory

Integrate calming sounds into your daily routine to help soothe your nerves. This could be as simple as listening to the radio while you tack up, or repeating positive affirmations to yourself such as “I am calm and in control” or “I trust my abilities and my horse.” These auditory cues can help create a mental environment of calmness and positivity.

Kinesthetic

Use physical relaxation techniques to reduce anxiety and physical tension. Before riding, try doing some gentle stretches, deep breathing exercises, or progressive muscle relaxation—where you tense and then relax different muscle groups. This not only relaxes your body but also prepares your mind for a more comfortable and focused ride.

Gustatory

Choose flavours that evoke a sense of calm and enjoyment for you. This might mean having a peppermint or a piece of dark chocolate before you ride or sipping herbal tea like chamomile which is known for its soothing properties. These tastes can trigger positive sensory memories and help calm your nerves.

Olfactory

Introduce a comforting and familiar scent into your riding environment. This could be applying a dab of lavender oil on your wrist or adding a few drops of tea tree oil to your riding gear. The smell of chamomile can also be soothing. These scents can significantly enhance your emotional state by triggering positive associations and reducing stress, creating a more relaxing atmosphere for both you and your horse.

By actively engaging these sensory strategies, you can better manage your emotions and enhance your overall riding experience. Each tip is designed to help you focus, relax, and enjoy your time with your horse, making your rides more pleasant and successful.

In conclusion, understanding how your internal representational systems influence your emotions can help you manage your nerves and anxieyt around riding. By recognising your preferred internal representational systems, you can use different strategies to feel calmer and more in control, so you can become a more confident rider.

When a horse spooks it is fair to say that is not a fun experience for most riders. It can catch you completely off guard at the best of times and leave you feeling rather vulnerable in the saddle. This is particularly true if this type of behaviour leaves you feeling nervous or anxious.

Most horses will spook at one time or another whether that be a small shy away from something or a big showy song and dance. All horses react differently when spooking and this can vary in intensity depending on the reason for the spook and your horses fear levels.

Let’s take a closer look at what spooking is, how a horse may react when they spook at something and what our aims should be when this type of behaviour occurs.

What is a spooky horse?

When we think about a spooky horse, there is no doubt about it we usually associate this with bad or undesired behaviour. Spooking, however, is completely natural for horses and their flight or fight response will usually kick in when they feel either threatened or unsafe.

When a horse’s flight or fight response kicks in it can go one of two ways. The instinctive choice is usually to run away or free themselves of the threat. If a horse is cornered however they will not be afraid to stand their ground and fight which can be seen in the forms of kicking, striking, biting, rearing and bucking.

Spooking is usually the result of a horse being genuinely scared of something as opposed to bad behaviour. The likes of a new, unfamiliar object, a sudden noise or movement can all be grounds for a horse to spook.

How do horses react when spooked?

Horses can react in a variety of ways when they are spooked. This will usually depend on how much of a threat the horse feels they are up against in a particular moment. All horses are individual and react differently to situations however some of the most common things to experience when a horse spooks are:

Spinning
Bucking
Rearing
Bolting
Jump to the side
Reversing
Freeze on the spot

There are a whole host of reasons why a horse may spook in the arena. Horse’s are very sensitive to change, new environments and unfamiliar situations and therefore a new set up in the arena such as poles laid out on the floor could cause your horse to spook. It could be that dreaded spooky corner of the arena where the imaginary monsters reside that causes your horse to spook or even an outside, unfamiliar noise that they feel threatened by. I am sure you will have your own unique experiences to add to this.

What is the aim?

When our horse spooks it can be difficult to know what to do for the best and it can be hard to keep our fear and insecurities in check. The ultimate aim, however, is to be able to stay balanced, secure and effective when riding in the school, so that your horse is relaxed, focussed and looks to you for reassurance and guidance.

Ways to deal with spooking

The good news is, it isn’t all doom and gloom and there are ways in which you can help both yourself and your horse with spooky behaviour. The goal is to eliminate the amount or intensity your horse displays when spooking and to help you feel confident, less nervous and more prepared when these situations arise.

Let’s take a closer look at some of the things you can do to help with spooky behaviour.

Security in the saddle

Security is very important for horse riders and maybe the difference between staying in the saddle and falling out the side door. This is particularly true when a horse spooks which can often be sharp and catch you off guard. Developing a balanced, secure, independent seat will make you as a rider more positive, effective and proactive. This type of position is not something that is achieved overnight and therefore you must work on your riding position regularly in the school to build up to this.

Proactive riding

The key to managing spooky and sharp horses is to ride proactively and positively, before the horse ever has the chance to start looking for hidden monsters. From the word go, ride positively forwards while sitting tall with your shoulders back, head up, leg on and quiet hands. Start in the ‘safer’, less exciting parts of the arena, and as the horse stays with you, gradually start to explore the whole arena. You need to be the leader for spooky horses, not the passenger!

Focus

It is so easy for a horse to become disinterested and unfocussed during a schooling session. This gives them a heightened awareness of everything going on around them and an ample opportunity to find things to spook at (yes, some horses actively like to find things to spook at). One of the best things you can do whilst riding in the arena is to keep your horse’s focus on you. Make sure you get your horse listening to you from the offset so that you can stay in control. Your horse will have far less external distractions if they are tuned in to only you.

Plan

Many riders go into a schooling session without having clear ideas of what they will work on with their horse. Having a plan of action for schooling can allow both you and your horse to stay focussed and confident. A targeted, structured warm-up, progressive schooling exercises and a proper cool-down can make the world of difference. Anything but simply walk, trot canter around the outside of the arena generally works well. Use leg yield or shoulder-in to move the horse’s focus away from the spooky object, and keep his focus on you, the rider. Give your horse something to think about.

Variety and Engagement

Doing the same old things day in and day out can get boring for you and your horse over time. Mixing up schooling movements frequently and trying new things can help keep your horse focussed and engaged. You want your horse to feel excited about schooling, not bored and disinterested. Try adding variety and engagement to your schooling by using plenty of transitions, changes of rein, sequences of movements, and polework.

Adapt

Sometimes you will find horses are genuinely scared of a certain object or situation which can often be an ongoing issue. This is something you and your horse will need to work through together by adapting and flexing to the situation. As an example, there may be a spooky part of the arena that your horse has taken a dislike to. In this instance, always start your session away from the scary part of the arena, and progressively get closer to it, one metre at a time if necessary. Baby steps are usually the best way.

Praise and reward

Praise and reward go a long way when your horse has displayed a good attitude or response. We shouldn’t ignore good behaviour from our horse. A pat on the neck, verbal praise or release in pressure on the reins can all be ways in which we can show our horse they have done a good job. It’s very easy to get and stay frustrated or cross if your horse is spooky, so find opportunities to pat and relax the horse (and yourself).

Keep your leg on!

As riders, we will often hear coaches shout ‘keep your leg on!’ in a variety of situations when we are riding. If you’re feeling a bit nervous that your horse will spook, it’s very easy to take your leg off and rely entirely on the reins for control. This actually makes things much worse. If your horse is sharp and spooky, be firm, close your calves at the girth, sit back and send him/her forwards. A horse that is moving forward and focussed on you will be much less likely to rear, buck or take part in spooky behaviour.

Stay cool

It can often be difficult to stay ‘cool’ when your horse is spooking and you’re feeling nervous or anxious. It is easy to get yourself in a tiz and have feelings of wanting to get off. If your horse does spook, resist the urge to make a big thing of it. Send him/her forwards, engaging his/her brain and riding positively. Think “Oops, nevermind, let’s see how well we can ride XYZ movement next”. This positive, forward-thinking mindset can work wonders for confidence building.

Desensitisation

Desensitisation can be a great tool for helping your horse get used to a variety of situations, sounds and objects that may cause spooky behaviour. Over time, as you and your horse build confidence in each other, gradually start to include more spooky things into your arena, e.g. a bright jump filler, so that you get to practice your skills and keep building positive experiences.

Remember, spooking is a natural behaviour in response to something that is potentially threatening. The key is to stay calm, resist the urge to over-react, and get thinking forwards and positive.

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