Fw: Spooking

["Louise D Burton" <FIREDANCEFARMS@prodigy.net>]

> From: Louise D Burton <FIREDANCEFARMS@prodigy.net>
> To: rdiecamp@endurance.net
> Subject: Re: Spooking
> Date: Monday, November 30, 1998 4:57 PM
> 
> Interesting question.  I have ridden lots of mares, geldings, and
> stallions.  I think stallions spook the least by far.  I have had more
> geldings that spook than mares.
> Spooks, to me, come in three categories....
> 1. bolters
> 2. spinners
> 3. balkers
> I don't consider a balky horse a spooker, just "green".
> Does the dominant horse spook more or less?  In our herd, the lowest mare
> is the least spookiest.  She is the gentlest, calmest thing.  The head
> gelding spooks only depending on who is riding him(!), and a very
> aggressive gelding doesn't spook at all.  I haven't seen any correlation
in
> hierarchy and spookiness but is an interesting idea!  As for mares that
> have had foals, they do seem to spook less, but that may be an age
factor.
> Personally, I don't buy, sell, or ride "spooks" anymore.  Too old and
fall
> off to easily these days!
> Louise Burton
> Firedance Farms Arabians
> Oklahoma