New to Spooky/Skittish Horse

[Harliquin]

So I have recently been helping out with someone's horse.

She is a lovely 15.3hh skewbald mare with amazing feathers. But she is quite a bit bigger than I have ever ridden and apparently she can be quite spookish and skittish. I have only been on one hack out with her where she was very good (stronger and more forward going than I've ever ridden, but very good ) and it was in company.

I was just wondering if anyone had any advice for if she does become spooky/skittish out on a hack? Is there a certain way to handle it? I have never ridden a horse that is known to be spooky, so it's new to me. But it will be good experience for riding future horses, I just want to know/get tips of how to handle her lol.

 

[skychick]

Id say, take it slowly, all horses react differently when they spook.
Some will just give something a wide birth, some will try and shoot past it, some with be in the ditch/hedge, some will stop and spin very quickly then when they do go past will probably jog and edge past it.
I did the same. I went from relatively well behaved although forward going horses to my arab, who was strong (unstoppable) and lively and when he spooked (i will add he wasnt particularly spooky all the time as some are) but when he did spook he did a good job of it, he would spin in a split second and pop a buck in and jog down the road. So when i turned him it was a case of leg on, hold tight and keep a short contact and he would normally jog past it snorting at it!
They are all different. Maybe hack out in company with the horse so that you get used to riding it.
A good thing to do is as you now know the horse is spooky....is not to go along anticipating that it will spook at the things you think likely to induce a spook, that way you will be tense and so will the horse and more likely than not it wont probably spook at what you think it will!!
Sometime you can ride them past a cement mixer no problems and you will have been sat there thinking "uh oh"......but a different coloured leaf in a hedge and they are all over the shop when you were least expecting it!!

Spooky, more lively and forward going horses can be great fun......but dont take on too much to soon. Maybe get used to riding a bigger more forward going horse first to get used to it then move onto the one more likely to spook.

As to how to handle a horse that spooks......each is different and you will soon work out what is best....but maybe ride with a neck strap so you have something to grab hold of if you get a bit unseated and always carry a mobile phone with you. Most importantly stay calm.

Have fun and enjoy the horse.