Are horses spookier than they used to be?

[tallyho!]

Well, I think horses tolerate a hell of a lot and each new generation puts up with a lot more than the last. Things change rapidly even for one horse in it's lifetime!

I guess what I am trying to say is that it is up to the human to help it adapt to its environment. It isn't easy to do nowadays what with the pace of life for humans being dramatically different to a how a horse would spend it's natural life. We EXPECT a horse to keep up.... many wouldn't admit it.

I can imagine an overload of the senses would be cause for an explosion of sensory stimulus, enough to cause a "spook".

 

[PeterNatt]

There are too many people breeding horses that do not have a clue about starting and exposing them to different things that they will see in the future.
Todays horses are fed too many processed feeds and additives which blow their minds.
They are not hacked out enough each day.
People tend to overhorse themselves.
People are taught to ride in Menages rather than taken out on hacks.