Pre-meditated spooking?

[keelind]

Ever get that feeling your horse is planning to spook or just trying it on?

Had an odd moment with Z today. He was eager to be out the moment my foot was in the stirrup. I decided to just let him choose where we were to go since he seemed to be on some sort of mission, and we ended up going down a track leading toward an empty summer house that he spooks at every single time. Usually he won't go near the place until I either lead him past it or nag him forward 2-3 steps at a time, but today he started picking up speed when it came in sight and was actually pulling toward it and snorting! I figured it was a bit odd but just let him have at it and he ran right up the drive almost to the front door before he stopped dead, spooked and quickly doubled back. We went past it pretty quick then turned around to have a look before moving on, but I've no idea for the life of me what was going on in his brain today.

Any ideas?

 

[Iron-Classic]

This could really not be helpful at all but whenever my horse gets dominant or gets away with something she gets bold and then extremely spooky on purpose, but in doing so she actually does scare herself. So basically it's on purpose and then it gets out of control and real. Does that make sense?

The only thing I can say is that maybe because you let him take over and go wherever he got insecure and therefore knew the scary shed-house-thing was coming up and was anticipating it? If he didn't think you were in control he could have gotten nervous.

I could totally be off base but that's the only thing I could think of

 

[keelind]

Ahhh, no I get what you mean I was definitely just a passenger today, so putting two and two together like you describe it seems he thought he was in charge and frightened himself. I'll have to watch out for that in future