Demystifying a Horse’s “Spook” (and Our Reactions to It) By Sara R. Fogan, C.Ht. Whenever I work with a client, the first thing I do is explain how and why the processes of hypnosis and therapeutic guided imagery are so effective for changing unwanted behaviors. For example, I describe how a person’s early-life experiences create the blueprint for how she learns and behaves throughout her life. Hypnosis is a noninvasive, effective and natural tool that enables a person to suppress the “critical” part of her mind to discard behaviors that no longer work for her and replace them with ones that will help her achieve her new goals. In his “Theory of Mind,” hypnotherapist and psychologist Dr. John Kappas, Ph.D., wrote that humans are born with only two instinctual reactions: the fear of loud noises and the fear of falling. Every other behavior is learned. The moment I learned about this theory, I couldn’t help but marvel at its relevance for equestrians. People can quickly analyze whether the sound is an actual threat and decide what to do about it (fight or run away). However, horses are prey animals whose survival depends on how fast they can escape a threat. Whether the noise comes from a backfiring car engine or a distant rustling of leaves, if the animal perceives it’s a danger, he’s likely to spook or bolt. Even the most experienced rider is likely to shake in their field boots when Silver suddenly bolts across the riding arena, possibly crashing through gates and throwing in a buck for good measure. It is understandable that some people become panicked when their horse reacts so explosively. However, the demeanor of a skilled, calm and confident rider can quickly control the scary situation and render it inconsequential. “A lot of people cause problems with the horse because of the mental aspect you’re projecting,” says horseman Chris Cox. “Get the horse to relax, and everything (tension) will go away. If you react, it gets worse.” Therefore, when equestrians come to me to help them overcome an anxiety about riding or falling off their horse, one of the first things I do is teach them deep-breathing techniques to help them relax. It is through attaining focus that a rider can implement the horsemanship skills she will need to become a worthy leader for her equine partner in any situation.