defining spooking/shying...

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lynspop

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Some help/ different opinions needed here.
Am currently writing up a paper where one of the questions is to describe spooking- this is obviously quite a broad question but I was wondering how you all would define or describe spooking in horses, and for your own horses, what exactly do they do when they spook?
thanks in advance!
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hmmmm I'll have a go at replying because I am extremely boreeed! hehe

I have had different experiences with different horses, a horse I used to have on loan would spook as an avoidance tactic. She would purposefully pick a corner of the outdoor school that she was scared of that day... it was often a different corner and always nothing to be scared of. She just knew that by spooking was a way of avoiding work.... it never worked because it just meant we went back to boring walking work with lots of repetitive circles.

My horse I have now that I own is only 6 but she is not what I would describe as spooky... we do come across various 'scary' things when we go out but the worst we really get is a look and maybe a snort if its seriously scary. There is however one gateway that for some reason scares the life out of her and we always get a little bit of a sideways jog past it.

Ponies are the worst for spooking, one sharp shoot to the side and im hanging off. Combine that with a spin and I would most definately be left on my arse!!!!!!!!!!
 
my horse's 'spook' usually means he plants himself solidly on all fours. a really bad spook he would jump upwards and land in the 'plant position'...

he isn't a spinner, or a bolter (thank god).

when he's feeling 'spooky' he snorts and sniffs a lot. x
 
If I said my horse spooked I would mean that he was scared or nervous of an object and moved away from it. If my lad spooks he may just sidestep away from it or he may jump forward, if it is terrifying he will try to turn around and run the other way. Oh he also does the heavy breathing thing too! I wouldn't say he is a spooky horse, I think he is just still a bit inexperienced and just acts like a bit of a baby.
 
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