Teaching Your Horse to Overcome Fears - (Storey's Country Wisdom Bulletin A-280)

"De-Spook" Your Horse
An umbrella opening, a tree branch creaking, a tarp flapping in the wind, a dusty shadow in the back of the barn -- what seems benign to the human eye often terrifies a horse. His immediate response? Screech to a halt, buck, twirl, and run like the dickens! What can a rider do but hang on?
In fact, there is plenty a rider can do to "de-spook" a horse, and Teaching Your Horse to Overcome Fears tells you how. Following the advice of renowned trainers such as John Lotito, Pat Parelli, and Mark Rashid, you'll learn how to reprogram your horse's fear response so that, when startled, he may unnerve you, but he won't unseat you. These trainers offer proven tips on training your horse in a manner that is gentle, effective, and long-lasting. And you'll delve into the most exciting "alternative" therapies for high-strung horses, including herbal remedies, aromatherapy, shamaniac healing, and body work.