Strange spooking

[Penny Less]

My nappy horse is also very spooky in the yard and paddock. He has spooked when I was standing next to him and put my hand in my pocket to get a tissue, he spooked at a wheelbarrow in his field which I use every day, he spooked at me in the field when I moved
although I was only a few feet from him and had just turned him out. He spooks coming in to the yard from the paddock on the same path every day. He spooks at the same car parked in the same place every day. It is a big spook usually not just a flinch. He had his eyes checked two weeks ago, nothing found. Im beginning to wonder if he might have something wrong in his brain? ( apart from the fact that he has only 2 brain cells!) This is the horse described by the seller in their advert as "confidence giver, suitable for novice" . Any ideas? (he does not get any hard feed)

 

[MrsMozartletoe]

Did you have him vetted?

Has his eyesight been checked by a vet?

Does he walk into a darkish stable okay, or does he stop for a moment (whilst his eyes adjust to the change in light).

 

[Penny Less]

Hi Mrs. Mozart, answers are Yes Yes and Yes, stable is quite dark and doesnt seem to bother him

 

[Kellys Heroes]

Mine is the same Alma
she spooks at the same car every hack whether its there daily or weekly.
she spooks at the diggers in the distance - not every day but every 2 - 3 days even though she's seen it before.
plastic bags (god knows how many she's seen!) are a disaster.
and if the 2 ponies are grazing in their own paddock she looks and looks and looks - same goes for if the horse walker is on or if there's someone in the indoor.
Not a proper shying spook, more like a jump like "oof you scared me then!" - maybe its just the way their brain works??
K x
ETA forgot to mention the diggers can be seen from the field as I'm turning her out and she sees the horse walker in use every day as well as the indoor

 

[Penny Less]

Well WHY !!!!!!!! Is it the goldfish memory, cant remember anything for more than 3 seconds?

 

[Pearlsacarolsinger]

I know you said no hard feed but does your horse get any feed with alfalfa in it? If so try stopping it and see if the spooking continues.

 

[Penny Less]

only gets grass! and we dont have too much of that either

 

[NeedNewHorse]

I know you said no hard feed but does your horse get any feed with alfalfa in it? If so try stopping it and see if the spooking continues.

I know this is a bit of an old post!! But can i ask why you said about alfalfa and this being a probable cause?

Thanks,

x