What makes a horse kick, bite, or run? These behaviors happen when a horse becomes frightened. It can happen with the best-trained horse or a horse in the wild. Domestication can help a horse manage their fight or flight response. But it is an instinct and never goes away. Training a horse can help it become less reactive to loud sounds, shadows, sudden movement, or the presence of predators.
Some ways a horse may act when afraid or unsure is with the flight instinct. It is where they turn and run or bolt from what scares them. A horse term we use is “what spooks” them. They may also choose to stay and fight with a kick, bite, or even run over its enemy.
I will talk more about horse spooking because any horse that bites should not be a lesson horse.
When teaching, I always want my rider to be safe. So one of the first things I talk about with them is what spooks a horse? It can be anything. A scary object that appears to them out of nowhere, a sudden noise, or a shadow. Sometimes a horse owner may make fun of their horse for being scared of something that is not scary.
The rider must understand that when a horse is scared enough, they may not care what is in front of them. Their mind only thinks they have to getaway. One must always get out of his pathway if their horse gets scared.
I will tell you that most lesson horses are very well trained and don’t get scared. The more a horse is around scary things, the less they spook. But always be prepared and aware of your surroundings when you are around a horse. So you can react if it does spook.
Some things to never do around horses…….
- Never approach a horse you don’t know
- Never approach a horse from behind without letting them know you are there
- Never jump and make sudden sounds around horses
- Never wave your hands around horses
- No balloons around a horse
The most important thing to remember is to be aware of your surroundings. And remember the responses that might happen. Here are a few examples:
- Make sure there isn’t anything across you and your horses’ pathway. To a horse, a watering hose might look like a snake.
- Be aware of anything that is near your horse when mounting. A small dog wanting your attention could scare it.
- Tell someone to turn down the music if you feel like it makes you or your horse nervous.
- Be aware of objects that are not in a good position, such as a chair sitting on top of the water hose. If a person is watering horses with the hose and pulls it closer to them, it might knock the chair down and scare your horse. It has happened.
- Never tie your horse directly to a rail or post. Always use a twine tied to the post and tie your horses lead rope to the twine. If your horse does spook, it will break the tie when it pulls back and will not break the rail or post.
Being aware of a horse’s fight or flight response is a great way to stay safe. Remember that if a horse is easily spooked, it will most likely not be a lesson horse. In a lesson barn, people should be quiet and respectful of a rider working with a horse. But just in case, always wear your helmet.
https://newtohorses.com/how-to-read-horse-behavior/
https://newtohorses.com/category/interesting-facts-about-horses/