spooky horses any tips/advice

My horse too!! We call him the heart attack horse because he will suddenly spook at shadows or things only he can see!! I think that's just the way he is bless his cotton socks. He doesn't do it so much in the school but is very spooky out hacking. I find I do a lot of slowing vehicles down 'cos I'm suddenly in the middle of the road piaffing about!!! He certainly isn't boring. How old is he maybe he'll grow out of it. Mine is 12 so maybe not. Sorry not very helpful I know.
 
If you have a secure area you could try and desensitize him by making a course of say a large tarpaulin for him to walk across, with someone holding an unbrella up, some balloons or plastic bags tied to the fence and anything else that he may find a little scarey.
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I sometimes get the feeling my horse is seeing ghosts and non existant things too! scary! Its hard to de-spook them but they tend to get calmer the more hacking and the more they get used to the commen. do you have someone riding out infront of you? that could help him if he is dependant on other horses, like mine is. Also, th calmer you are and the calmer you are when he spooks will be better for him too! Yer, jhave had many embarassing moments bolting down the road ect ahh!
 
aww dont worry im pretty calm when he does it just make him stand still if a car comes, he just finds judges boxes scary in dressage which is a bit frustrating. he hacks 3 times a week!!! i guess its just him and wont change him. have tried the coat thing on fences to no avail, better after 10 attempts riding past at least!!
 
Mine is the same. He's 12 now so have come to the conclusion I just have to live with it. I had a 17 year old on loan a few years back and he could spook for England so I'm not convinced they ever grow out of it!
 
My mare is absolutely traffic proof, but is a world class spooker at other things, eg. hens, her own shadow and sheep and cows she doesn't know. (She lives with two sheep and next door to cattle so no need to desensetize!)
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Ha ha!! Sounds like my boy, absolutely bombproof in traffic but sees 'dead people' everywhere, dock leaves are killers too!! He spooks at xc fences when we're eventing, thankfully the ones that he has to gallop pass and not jump, make for a very secure seat. I've been told by my trainer that he'll prob get worse as he gets older....aaaargh!
 
Mine is spooky - everything is terrible!! colour changes, leaves, sheep - you name it!! She is a different horse when with another.
I have to drive her forward with legs and crop - I do not think she will change. Am just aware of her idiotic moments now. xx
 
I know someone who had a lot of success riding her very spooky horse in a driving bridle with blinkers. You might feel a bit silly but if a horse is spooky to the point of being dangerous to ride it's worth trying.
 
My boy is IDxTB, but he is chesnut so that may explain some if the irrational behaviour! He's not dangerous and I know what he spooks at (most of the time). I don't think its a lack of education when they are young but just different personalities, like us humans really some of us are more neurotic than others!! Also if a horse isn't quirky I'm sure life would be quite dull!!!
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