Getting a horse past something scary.

[Bav]

This is purely because I'm curious, I'm not after a debate but am interested in other people's opinions good luck if you fancy reading!
On a Facebook post recently somebody was asking for advice on getting her horse to walk past a scary log whilst hacking and mentioned that her horse will sometimes go by it but sometimes flat out spook and plant. The amount of people who told her to just get off and walk the horse herself surprised me.
Obviously every horse is different and I understand that, but I admit I was shocked, I've always been taught that the worst thing you can do is get off of your horse.
My view has always been that if your horse is spooky they can (potentially) get away from you when leading if they spook. My boy does have fantastic ground manners, I just believe as a prey animal they may not be thinking of me so much as themselves when they see something scary and this worries me. Especially as although he hasn't a nasty bone in his body he can be a bit dense.
Personally I'd much rather be ontop the horse and (hopefully) go with them.

I'm stubborn and have been known to spend half an hour getting my horse to walk past a monster. But he is 17.2hh and getting on and off isn't clever. I'd much rather go a different route if he really really won't go, although I've never had to resort to this, then get off and lead from the ground.

My advice was to see if they could go out with another horse a few times and get a lead by the scary logs as opposed to getting off but I couldn't believe how many people shot me down! And then of course suggested that if my horse should get away from me when leading then he's not been trained properly or I'm incompetent.

Just to pass the time I'm curious what other people think - am I the only one taught that your absolute last resort should be to dismount? To add - if your safety is at risk then yes by all means get off, but for something simple like a scary log etc. I also know every horse is different I'm just after expanding my knowledge and see other views.

Lots and lots of Mars bars on offer!!

Edited to add that baby brain has meant I've no idea whether it should all be passed or past hahaha!

 

[Molasses]

I'm stubborn and have been known to spend half an hour getting my horse to walk past a monster.

Also stubborn and tend towards riding it out.
But it depends on the situation. For example something like a sofa dumped on a quiet bridleway i'll be stubborn. But the same sofa on the side of the road with cars not giving me room (or willing to wait patiently) i will hope off and lead if I know the horse is just being a **** and not genuinely terrified to the point of being dangerous. So I guess it would depend on the horse and on the circumstances. I would never say never to riding past, or leading past. I would just go with my gut.

two words do not belong on horseback - Never & Always
you've got to work with what you have.

 

[LilacWillow]

My mother always told me to never get off, and so I've always followed that philosophy... But to be honest, I've never been in a situation where my gelding has flat out refused to go past something, despite him being a sensitive soul. My new mare is a bit more of a stubborn little diva though, so it will be interesting to see how things work out, but there is no way in hell I am getting off her and leading her past anything, she is good under saddle but on the ground she is a little s*** and will tank off if she doesn't like anything. If needs be I would happily dismount and lead my gelding as he never leaves my side.

In my younger teens I once went out on a hack with a girl who had the opposite philosophy to me. She couldn't get her mare to step over a stream, so she dismounted and tried to lead her over it... -facepalm- she was stood right in front of the horse who then did a massive bunnyhop over the jump, feet hit the girls face and knocked her over and trampled her. Literally the most stupid thing I have ever seen. I dismounted my boy to help her and catch her horse, who she refused to get back on, so for moral support and cos she was (mildly) injured (only cut her lip and got a hoof mark bruise on her leg thank god!) I didn't get back on either and we both walked back home, leading the horses, only for my mum to ask me WHY I WAS LEADING MY HORSE ON THE ROAD WHEN WE BOTH SHOULD HAVE GOT BACK ON

 

[Shantara]

Depends.

I get off a lot, because it's just not worth the fight a lot of the time. Ned is fabulous in hand, but can be spooky when ridden. Sometimes I will just fight it out though!

I turned around the other day though, which I never ever usually do!
I was supposed to cross a busy 60mph road, but someone had fly tipped on the other side and Ned did not like it one bit! I wasn't going to risk him turning and going back across that road without looking.

 

[ILuvCowparsely]

This is purely because I'm curious, I'm not after a debate but am interested in other people's opinions good luck if you fancy reading!
On a Facebook post recently somebody was asking for advice on getting her horse to walk past a scary log whilst hacking and mentioned that her horse will sometimes go by it but sometimes flat out spook and plant. The amount of people who told her to just get off and walk the horse herself surprised me.
Obviously every horse is different and I understand that, but I admit I was shocked, I've always been taught that the worst thing you can do is get off of your horse.
My view has always been that if your horse is spooky they can (potentially) get away from you when leading if they spook. My boy does have fantastic ground manners, I just believe as a prey animal they may not be thinking of me so much as themselves when they see something scary and this worries me. Especially as although he hasn't a nasty bone in his body he can be a bit dense.
Personally I'd much rather be ontop the horse and (hopefully) go with them.

I'm stubborn and have been known to spend half an hour getting my horse to walk past a monster. But he is 17.2hh and getting on and off isn't clever. I'd much rather go a different route if he really really won't go, although I've never had to resort to this, then get off and lead from the ground.

My advice was to see if they could go out with another horse a few times and get a lead by the scary logs as opposed to getting off but I couldn't believe how many people shot me down! And then of course suggested that if my horse should get away from me when leading then he's not been trained properly or I'm incompetent.

Just to pass the time I'm curious what other people think - am I the only one taught that your absolute last resort should be to dismount? To add - if your safety is at risk then yes by all means get off, but for something simple like a scary log etc. I also know every horse is different I'm just after expanding my knowledge and see other views.

Lots and lots of Mars bars on offer!!

Edited to add that baby brain has meant I've no idea whether it should all be passed or past hahaha!

My new mare 16.1 is 5 and finds many many things to spook at. Depends on where we are, as if possible I like her to stand and analyze it and realize it is not scary and then when relaxed she will gain confidence and pass it again. If on the road it is a different matter and a bit more force is needed and sharpness in the eyes to prepare for a spook. I am now desensitizing her to umbrellas

I would avoid getting off if I can for many reasons.

 

[muckypony]

I was always told never to get off too, but I think it massively depends on the horse. Sometimes getting off just completely solves the problem without having an argument.

I have one who can be a real git. We had a serious issue getting past some pigs this summer, he was just awful! The first time it happened he had walked past the field on the way out (I had no idea they were in there as there's a big thick hedge) and then on the way home he just wouldn't go past! He has a decent rear on him and once he's upset its game over. I tried for about 15 minutes to coax him past and eventually decided to try getting off - cue me running down the road alongside him trying not to loose him when he spun and went. Never again will I get off of him!

 

[[69117]]

I agree entirely with you op. If I got off every time my youngster stopped or spooked I would have spent the majority of my time leading him when I first bought him. He now barely spins or plants and things as he knows that he can trust me to support him in what he perceives as scary situations. I just sit quietly and hold my leg on. I've never had to shout or growl at him, and I mostly forget to take a whip out with me.

If I ever even thought about getting off at work I would be lynched!!!!

 

[9tails]

It's many years since I've had to get off instead of being chucked off, but I wouldn't dismiss it out of hand if I were in a compromised situation with traffic or dangers like wire or a ditch. If we have a situation where my horse is unsure I ask her to stand, give her a scratch and work our way towards the object in increments until she's worked it out. I don't boot, shout or whip because I know her well enough that if she's unsure she isn't being a twit but genuinely needs my reassurance.

 

[laura_nash]

It depends so much on the horse and circumstances for me.

I do get off sometimes to help the horse with a static scary thing like a crocodile-shaped log. My horse is not at all spooky and would usually only refuse to go past something if he was genuinely terrified, plus he's a little 'un (14.3) and very good to mount so not a problem hopping back on afterwards. I think the point with getting off is you can walk up to the scary thing and show them it isn't eating the human and therefore probably won't eat him either.

On something larger or more inclined to spook a lot it would be different as you wouldn't want to be getting off multiple times on one ride.

I wouldn't get off in a situation where I just wanted to get past asap and couldn't actually de-spook (e.g. a hedge trimming tractor in the field over) unless I was worried about my safety. I also won't get off if horse is just being a spooky tit (e.g. on a very windy day) or is being a bit nappy when out alone because his mate is yelling for him or its dinner time.

 

[Janah]

In the 12 years i owned my boy, I got off less than a handful of times. Each time i knew i was on a loser, backing into a ditch for instance. I could lead him past anything, safely. The fact he was only 14.2hh helped as easy to get back on, though I always tried to get on using a bank or gate to save his back.

I also would, on long hacks, get off and walk for a while, to give his back and my bum a rest so not an unusual thing to do.

I think it is up to the individual rider/horse to know what is right for you.

 

[LHIS]

I was always taught that getting off was a no-no, that the horse would see it as reinforcing 'bad' behaviour and it was an absolute last resort. In practise it's different of course, and depends on the situation. I'd generally stay on if I felt safe - if I feared for my safety and thought I'd be better on the ground, then I'd get off.

P.s It's arguable that it could be either 'passed or 'past'. 'Past' when used as a preposition can be applied here 'the dog ran past her to get into the house', 'I rode my horse past the scary log'. 'Passed' (of it's many uses and meanings) can be use to suggest movement (to move or make something move in a particular direction) - 'The parade passed the end of my road', 'We passed two lorries on the ride'. I'd suggest in this instance 'past' is the correct word in 'Getting a horse past something scary' (though if it were worded slightly differently, ie. 'How to get a horse to pass something scary' then obviously 'pass' is the right word (but it's easier here because we're in the present tense), but as I said I reckon not many people would argue with you. (As well as horses, I like Linguistics & Language )

 

[SuperH]

I prefer to stay on but I am quite willing to get off if required. It really depends on the individual situation, I don't think there is a wrong or right.

I've never got off my black mare, she is very strong willed and getting off could easily end in my losing hold of her as she can be strong to lead when stressed. I've got off my (very timid) chestnut a couple of times, once I was hacking her alone and we came head on with a forklift on a single track lane with nowhere to go, she froze and the only thing I could do was get off and eventually she let me lead her to a gateway so he could pass. Generally I wouldn't get off if she was being naughty (as this was a learned behaviour in her previous home and I'm trying to knock it on the head) but you have to assess the danger in each situation and act accordingly.

 

[smja]

I wouldn't get off sis' horse - he's a right tit when he gets worried, you're best off staying on otherwise he gets upset.
I would get off the old pony. Once he's made up his mind that he can't go past something, he just plants. If you get off and go first, he'll walk past nice and calmly, so it's just easier!

Depends on the horse

 

[Meowy Catkin]

I also judge the specific situation and act accordingly. I do not believe that the horse 'wins' if I ask them to stand nicely while I dismount, to walk sensibly while I lead them past something and then ask them to stand nicely while I remount (and they do everything as asked). I don't get off for any little thing but I have in situations where I have been on a road with traffic and found fly tipped rubbish ahead which would make my mare leap sideways if ridden past (yes I could get her by, but too dangerous with traffic passing). However I do a lot of in-hand road work with my youngsters so I'm confident that they will pass things while led, sensibly and without trying to bog off.

I also have a lot of gates on my off road routes and I can't open any from on top of a horse, especially the ones made from sheep hurdles with baler twine 'hinges'. If I was unable or unwilling to dismount and remount regularly on a hack, I'd be on the roads all the time. Plus I'm a bit of a physical wreck and on a long ride I often get off and walk for a bit. Sometimes I also let the horse graze while I admire the view, so I don't think that my horses associate me dismounting with napping at scary stuff as I'm on and off when they aren't napping too. Generally I have a better chance of riding them past something scary if I have led them past it previously as it seems to build their confidence RE that object.

 

[tiga71]

It depends on the situation for me. My older boy is very good out hacking and when he won't go past something, he is genuinely scared. If, after a bit of chat and encouragement, he won't go, I will get off and lead him past. I don't think it is a bad thing to say 'I know you are really scared and if it helps you for me to go first, then I can do that.' I think we are a team and if he needs me to do that the odd time, then that's fine. In 6 years I have probably had to get off him about 4 times.

I am getting my youngster out hacking on his own at the moment and I have got off him once, when he was very scared about a miniature pony hiding behind a hedge. He tried to spin twice and was properly scared. I didn't want to have a fight with him over it, so got off, led him past, let him have a look, got back on and carried on. Came back same route next day and he walked past without a second look. But I don't want to do it a lot.

 

[madlady]

It depends on the situation and the horse.

I used to ride something that would spook just to see if I was paying attention to him - the only time I ever got off him was to do tricky gates.

The horses I have now aren't naturally 'spooky' horses - yes they may have a bit of a shy at flappy bags or birds suddenly appearing but, for the most part, all 3 of them are very good. If any of them plants and refuses to go forward it's for a reason - they are genuinely scared of something or it's something they have never seen before. If a few minutes of calm and reassurance doesn't get them moving then yes I'll hop off, walk past and hop back on. Then I'll turn round (if appropriate) and take them back past 'it' and then back again. If they are just pratting about with a feather up their bum then they will be pushed on.

On thing I hate to see is a genuinely worried horse being 'forced' past something - the horse normally ends up rushing past or dancing past sideways and the next time they encounter that obstacle they will generally repeat the behaviour.

 

[milliepops]

I do not believe that the horse 'wins' if I ask them to stand nicely while I dismount, to walk sensibly while I lead them past something and then ask them to stand nicely while I remount (and they do everything as asked).

^^ this is my way of thinking too. The horse doesn't know that you didn't intend to do that in the first place.

I'd much rather go a different route if he really really won't go, although I've never had to resort to this, then get off and lead from the ground.

On this point, I disagree entirely. If we are talking about 'winning' in any sense, then not eventually taking the route I had ultimately planned would be entirely my 'loss' even if I didn't have to get off. Personally I'd consider that to be the ultimate nap! Unless I had encountered something like felling logs in the forestry and it wasn't safe for us to be there, I would prefer we took the planned route than had to turn around.

Depends on where we are, as if possible I like her to stand and analyze it and realize it is not scary and then when relaxed she will gain confidence and pass it again. .

Where possible this is my approach as well - with practice you can end up with a curious horse, rather than one that is scared of everything. I like my horses to be nosey and confident

two words do not belong on horseback - Never & Always
you've got to work with what you have.

very very good advice! :lol:

 

[oldie48]

it would depend on the situation and the horse. Current horse is not spooky and I'm amazed at what he takes in his stride but he is a sensitive forward thinking chap. I'd get off if I thought he was really worried and lead him past. I don't see it as anyone winning or losing, as long as he walks past quietly and I can find somewhere to get back on, it's a win/win situation.

 

[Bav]

P.s It's arguable that it could be either 'passed or 'past'. 'Past' when used as a preposition can be applied here 'the dog ran past her to get into the house', 'I rode my horse past the scary log'. 'Passed' (of it's many uses and meanings) can be use to suggest movement (to move or make something move in a particular direction) - 'The parade passed the end of my road', 'We passed two lorries on the ride'. I'd suggest in this instance 'past' is the correct word in 'Getting a horse past something scary' (though if it were worded slightly differently, ie. 'How to get a horse to pass something scary' then obviously 'pass' is the right word (but it's easier here because we're in the present tense), but as I said I reckon not many people would argue with you. (As well as horses, I like Linguistics & Language )

Hahaha Thankyou! I couldn't make my mind up!

I also judge the specific situation and act accordingly. I do not believe that the horse 'wins' if I ask them to stand nicely while I dismount, to walk sensibly while I lead them past something and then ask them to stand nicely while I remount (and they do everything as asked). I don't get off for any little thing but I have in situations where I have been on a road with traffic and found fly tipped rubbish ahead which would make my mare leap sideways if ridden past (yes I could get her by, but too dangerous with traffic passing). However I do a lot of in-hand road work with my youngsters so I'm confident that they will pass things while led, sensibly and without trying to bog off.

Very good point!

I am glad to see that I'm not the only one that wouldn't hop straight off and can see what I mean! Of course in traffic etc. I am lucky in the sense that I've never had that great a problem that I've had to get off. Thank god as I highly doubt I'd be able to get back on!

 

[Bav]

On this point, I disagree entirely. If we are talking about 'winning' in any sense, then not eventually taking the route I had ultimately planned would be entirely my 'loss' even if I didn't have to get off. Personally I'd consider that to be the ultimate nap! Unless I had encountered something like felling logs in the forestry and it wasn't safe for us to be there, I would prefer we took the planned route than had to turn around

This is actually a very good point you make! I think what makes me think otherwise is the fact that if I got off, I know it's really bad to admit, but I honestly am not sure if I could get back on! I am lucky in that I've never actually had to double back as my boy normally eventually realises it won't eat him.

 

[Nessa4]

If the horse is genuinely frightened and it is safe to do so, there is nothing wrong with getting off and leading it past (or even up to the offending object) to take the lead and give it confidence. If it is extracting the urine then by all means fight it out. It should be easy to tell the difference.

 

[Meowy Catkin]

It would be worth your while training your horse so that you can get back on again.

As I can remount without issue, I have got a bit fed up in the past when people that I ride with can't possibly do any of the numerous gates. Or they drop their phone, so I have to get off to pick it up, or their brushing boots slip and the real crazy one, when their saddle slipped and I had to sort it out with them still in the saddle as they 'couldn't possibly get back on'. Grrrrr!

I like to use a mounting block of some kind and generally I find something (log, verge, gate etc...) close by that gives me a bit of a boost and makes remounting much more easy.

 

[Bav]

If the horse is genuinely frightened and it is safe to do so, there is nothing wrong with getting off and leading it past (or even up to the offending object) to take the lead and give it confidence. If it is extracting the urine then by all means fight it out. It should be easy to tell the difference.

I totally understand this! For me it's not so much the case of getting off so much as I worry that I'm not in as much control leading then I am riding and I worry that it would be so easy for the horse to get away from me in hand if they were to spook etc. I think this is why I was always taught not to get off - more because you 'theoretically' have more control ontop then from the floor...apparently...

 

[TheHairyOne]

two words do not belong on horseback - Never & Always
you've got to work with what you have.

I love this phrase, so very true.

I hopped of my horse just the other week and it did neither one of us any harm. My lad is generally pretty laid back and good about things and is a superstar out hacking in new places. However, we are lucky to have a fair amount of offroad hacking around the farm for our location, but are penned in by busy roads, so ride the same places often (though it allows for many loops on different tracks). As such he can be a bit odd about 'new' stuff arriving in his patch and it normally gets snorted and eyeballed. Last time I had a discussion with him it was over a log at the side of a track, which I did from on board and told him not to be an idiot.

So why did I get off? Well, it was dusk and the light wasn't that great. They are adding some new fencing (much snorting that I ignored) and we were cantering along when the breaks got slammed on! Now I at this point wasn't even sure what it was, but was thankfully still onboard. The decider for me getting of is I was in a hackamore as he'd had his wolf teeth out the week before and it was only our second ride in it. I was on my own, at dusk in an open field about as far from the yard as I could get and he was acting like a moron over something I couldn't see so I had no idea if it was nothing, or something!

Turns out it was a old barrel that had fallen over which had the fencing tools in it. I mounted from it in the end, so no worries and no issue since. Would I have got off if I'd have known what it was...frankly with untested brakes and steering yes, probably! Do I normally, no.

My old horse just had a horrible nap in him. He'd pick something he didn't like and act like a fool (humping, attempting to spin, planting, ears in your face etc), but only on the track out of the yard and only sometimes! I sat on him for 45mins once and walked further backwards than forwards, but it was perfectly safe to have the argument and now if he even thinks about it, it takes a growl and a kick and he doesn't bother to even try.

Take each situation for what it is and I think as long as the right result is achieved who cares how you do it. Both my lads are very nice hacks 99% of the time now and that 1% is imo just horses.

 

[be positive]

I had to get off mine for the first time a few weeks ago, there was a pipe running across the narrow road with metal ramps either side to allow cars over but the horses were not going to safely be able to walk on the ramp which was open in the middle just about hoof sized so a real risk if they had tried to go over, the grass verge to the side was blocked with traffic cones with no way round so the rider got off the tb and led him near enough to move the cones and squeeze past on the verge I also dismounted as mine decided that it was still too scary to go past he followed me fairly happily.
It is the first time I have had no choice with him although we have had a few dodgy moments, in many years of riding I have probably only got off once or twice, other than for gates, I prefer to be on top, even with some of the more difficult horses I have dealt with I usually prefer to sit it out or ideally avoid confrontation in the first place.

 

[Exploding Chestnuts]

Depends.

I get off a lot, because it's just not worth the fight a lot of the time. Ned is fabulous in hand, but can be spooky when ridden. Sometimes I will just fight it out though!

I turned around the other day though, which I never ever usually do!
I was supposed to cross a busy 60mph road, but someone had fly tipped on the other side and Ned did not like it one bit! I wasn't going to risk him turning and going back across that road without looking.

Yes, but Ned is a bit "special", and safety comes first, so I agree wih that: those horses are acting as they would in the wild in that if something was not there yesterday it will be hiding a horse eating lion today.
Most horses are just acting up so just push on. My nappy beggar had to be backed past scary things like a Logging machine [stationery]. If he was genuinely scared I was usually on the ground before I even saw it. That sort of behaviour was what one has to expect with newly broken horses, and no fuss is required.
There are scary things resembling snakes, and lions, apart from that, they need to "get over it".

 

[stilltrying]

Getting off isn't ideal, but its not the worst thing you can do. Worst i think is to give in and turn around and go back the way you came!

It depends on the horse / situation, but if they are scared, i dont think you are defeated by getting off, you are still moving in the direction that you want to go, not the direction the horse wants to go.

I've tried to sit it out with mine once before, he was being an absolute idiot as he could hear a farmers vehicle but couldn't see it. By the time the 4x4 appeared, he'd got himself in such a state he wouldn't move. Rather than get off, i got after him, as scary thing had gone past afterall. After 10 / 15 mins or so, i caved in and got off, but the b*stard wouldn't move! He was so upset i'd given him a hard time that he refused to move and i could'nt for the life of me get him to walk home. Took about another quarter of an hour, i think we got home in the dark!! in hindsight, should have got off sooner.

 

[tashcat]

I would not get off for any other reason than an injury to my horse, or someone needing help.

I would have done exactly as you suggested.

Although this opinion is probably a result of my individual horse - it is safer for him if I am on top and I prioritise his safety (questionable as to whether it may be safer at times for me to be off!) but each to their own, as each horse is different and its wrong to condemn anyone for something that works for them.

 

[Orca]

I totally understand this! For me it's not so much the case of getting off so much as I worry that I'm not in as much control leading then I am riding and I worry that it would be so easy for the horse to get away from me in hand if they were to spook etc. I think this is why I was always taught not to get off - more because you 'theoretically' have more control ontop then from the floor...apparently...

I've always stubbornly moved horses past spooky objects. All except for one. I was on a young horse on his first time out. A lorry appeared on the drive and the youngster completely lost it. Because he was still being broken, I was part of the problem, so every time I moved to get off, he panicked anew (all while the lorry continued, in the horses eyes chasing us down).

As his handler, I needed to be on the ground to reassure him. As his rider, all I could do was speak calmly and steer him as best I could away from the tree trunks he was careening us both into, the side of the house which he threw himself against, the car he tried to jump and eventually, away from a hedge he would have never got over if he'd made the jump he intended.

He was in an absolute blind panic and it was quite honestly one of the two most dangerous situations I've ever been in with horses. Once I was able to get off, I was able to reassure him and the lorry passed without further incident.

Before that experience I would always have been of the 'just ride it past it!' side. Now, I know better! Each situation is unique and for whatever reason, some spooks are spookier than others. Safety first, always and yes, sometimes it is safer to dismount (if you're fortunate enough to have the opportunity!).

 

[milliepops]

As I can remount without issue, I have got a bit fed up in the past when people that I ride with can't possibly do any of the numerous gates. Or they drop their phone, so I have to get off to pick it up, or their brushing boots slip and the real crazy one, when their saddle slipped and I had to sort it out with them still in the saddle as they 'couldn't possibly get back on'. Grrrrr!
.

Yep, I agree! Right pain in the bum when you are constantly the one who has to get off for things like that.
HOW ON EARTH did you fix the saddle with them sat in it??! :eek3:

So why did I get off? Well, it was dusk and the light wasn't that great. They are adding some new fencing (much snorting that I ignored) and we were cantering along when the breaks got slammed on! Now I at this point wasn't even sure what it was, but was thankfully still onboard. The decider for me getting of is I was in a hackamore as he'd had his wolf teeth out the week before and it was only our second ride in it. I was on my own, at dusk in an open field about as far from the yard as I could get and he was acting like a moron over something I couldn't see so I had no idea if it was nothing, or something!

there's an element of picking your battles & appropriate times & places, isn't there? If it hadn't been something so straightforward you could have still been there in the pitch black & still have to get home somehow in the dark. I prefer to stay on board and coax a horse past something, and I've spent ages doing just that with my sticky hacker, who is now turning out to be inquisitive rather than terrified. But sometimes there's little to be gained from it.

ETA, Orca - good example of appropriate time & place! Glad you managed to sort it out safely in the end. Sometimes we are far more useful to frightened horses on the ground - I know my spooky one looks to me for reassurance - she will literally try to stick her head in my pocket to feel safe!