Becoming Agitated Without Any Reason At All

Rider · 11-21-07, 09:23 AM

I have seen this thing happened in horse shows, parks with horses, and even in movies. The horses just starts to feel scared or agitated without any reason at all. I have an idea that this may be caused by bad memories in the past that they just remembered. Could this be possible?

mema · 11-21-07, 12:52 PM

Not sure if thats possible, but maybe? What about the crowd, do you know if that has any affect on it?

Remark · 11-25-07, 03:04 PM

Horses have long memories and they do associate sounds, smells and even some equipment with those memories. It's quite possible they your horse is reacting to a memory. The best way to overcome a bad memory is to replace it with a good memory. Have special treats that are only given at shows..or..give lots of affection. Anything that makes for a positive experience.

Another thing to be aware of....horses will pick up on your stress. They see you as the lead mare and if you're stressed and jittery they'll be stressed and jittery....so be sure to take time for yourself...relax and enjoy the show.

Buckskin · 11-25-07, 03:10 PM

Horses also have a different field of vision, so are easier to surprise than your average human. I've also found them to get a little upset by unusual things, such as plastic bags, hats or shadows. If you think about it we already know what these things are, and know that they're safe or boring. Horses don't.

purpleparrit · 11-26-07, 11:52 AM

All of the things mentioned are highly the cause of seemingly sudden panic:
noises
smells
sights
random objects moving/blowing
crowds
your nerves
Horses rely on us to tell them its ok, but not in a manner which rewards their behavior. Giving treats after your horse starts calming down is the best way to go about it. Otherwise you might be training the wrong behavior.

SaddleSore · 11-28-07, 10:11 AM

And the horse may simply have noticed something that you haven't noticed. It may appear that there is no reason when in fact there could be a very good reason. Just do your best to calm them.

Rider · 11-30-07, 07:13 PM

Making new positive experiences is a good way to change the bad memories of horses. Is there a way to erase the bad memories? I think they also could develop phobia to something. For example, when they see a trailer and in their past history its a terrible experience, how could I let the horses go to the trailer again?

horseshoe · 01-15-08, 07:14 PM

If it's a crowded place, for sure the noise may have triggered the sudden behavior change. I can't really say if it's bad memories but it's possible.

CityChick · 04-12-08, 08:06 PM

There are a lot of things that might upset a horse that don't even cross our mind. I think also they might sense something that you don't. What range of sound can a horse hear? I would suspect that like a lot of animals they can hear things that we can't.

11-21-07, 09:23 AM	#1 (permalink)
Rider Member Join Date: 10-01-07 Posts: 88	Becoming Agitated Without Any Reason At All I have seen this thing happened in horse shows, parks with horses, and even in movies. The horses just starts to feel scared or agitated without any reason at all. I have an idea that this may be caused by bad memories in the past that they just remembered. Could this be possible?

11-25-07, 03:10 PM	#4 (permalink)
Buckskin Member Join Date: 11-05-07 Location: Australia Posts: 125	Horses also have a different field of vision, so are easier to surprise than your average human. I've also found them to get a little upset by unusual things, such as plastic bags, hats or shadows. If you think about it we already know what these things are, and know that they're safe or boring. Horses don't. __________________ Got carrots?

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11-21-07, 12:52 PM	#2 (permalink)
mema Member Join Date: 11-01-07 Posts: 25	Not sure if thats possible, but maybe? What about the crowd, do you know if that has any affect on it?

11-25-07, 03:04 PM	#3 (permalink)
Remark Member Join Date: 11-01-07 Location: Alabama Posts: 25	Horses have long memories and they do associate sounds, smells and even some equipment with those memories. It's quite possible they your horse is reacting to a memory. The best way to overcome a bad memory is to replace it with a good memory. Have special treats that are only given at shows..or..give lots of affection. Anything that makes for a positive experience. Another thing to be aware of....horses will pick up on your stress. They see you as the lead mare and if you're stressed and jittery they'll be stressed and jittery....so be sure to take time for yourself...relax and enjoy the show.

11-26-07, 11:52 AM	#5 (permalink)
purpleparrit Member Join Date: 11-14-07 Posts: 25	All of the things mentioned are highly the cause of seemingly sudden panic: noises smells sights random objects moving/blowing crowds your nerves Horses rely on us to tell them its ok, but not in a manner which rewards their behavior. Giving treats after your horse starts calming down is the best way to go about it. Otherwise you might be training the wrong behavior.

11-28-07, 10:11 AM	#6 (permalink)
SaddleSore Member Join Date: 10-12-07 Posts: 233	And the horse may simply have noticed something that you haven't noticed. It may appear that there is no reason when in fact there could be a very good reason. Just do your best to calm them.

11-30-07, 07:13 PM	#7 (permalink)
Rider Member Join Date: 10-01-07 Posts: 88	Making new positive experiences is a good way to change the bad memories of horses. Is there a way to erase the bad memories? I think they also could develop phobia to something. For example, when they see a trailer and in their past history its a terrible experience, how could I let the horses go to the trailer again?

01-15-08, 07:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
horseshoe Member Join Date: 01-04-08 Posts: 17	If it's a crowded place, for sure the noise may have triggered the sudden behavior change. I can't really say if it's bad memories but it's possible.

04-12-08, 08:06 PM	#9 (permalink)
CityChick Member Join Date: 04-05-08 Posts: 25	There are a lot of things that might upset a horse that don't even cross our mind. I think also they might sense something that you don't. What range of sound can a horse hear? I would suspect that like a lot of animals they can hear things that we can't.