ServiceMini
Well-Known Member
Hi there!
Today I was on a walk with Sodapop, and we were in the middle of the railroad tracks when suddenly the guards went down and the lights started flashing. Gave me a heart attack, but Soda didn't mind at all. It turns out someone was working on the control panel and hadn't noticed us, but it was good to see that sudden things moving/flashing/making loud noises don't bother her.
But that got me wondering; do horses go through fear periods like dogs do?
With dogs, you can expect them to go through fear periods at large life changes. Coming to their new home (8weeks), 6-12 months, 24-34 months old, and they usually last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks where dogs are suddenly fearful of things that typically wouldn't bother them. In dogs, you have to be careful with socializing through them to avoid making lasting fears, although many people don't really notice their dogs going through a fear period. Something that normally wouldn't cause a lasting fear (Say, someone accidentally tripping over them, then they develop a fear of people stepping over them).
Do horses get something like this; or will she always be so level headed? I'm certainly happy she's so mellow, but I worry that she'll change in her temperament suddenly. Is there anything special I should do if they do have fear periods? Is there a certain age when they get particularly flighty? She did go through a phase of not wanting to be touched, but now she's back to her snuggly self. She is four months old. Photo is of her on our walk today. I just re-shaved her (service horses are often kept shaved to make grooming for public access easier), and my clippers broke mid-way through so I had to re-do it with one meant for my own hair. Now have a proper set of clippers for her so she's not completely bald in the winter.
Today I was on a walk with Sodapop, and we were in the middle of the railroad tracks when suddenly the guards went down and the lights started flashing. Gave me a heart attack, but Soda didn't mind at all. It turns out someone was working on the control panel and hadn't noticed us, but it was good to see that sudden things moving/flashing/making loud noises don't bother her.
But that got me wondering; do horses go through fear periods like dogs do?
With dogs, you can expect them to go through fear periods at large life changes. Coming to their new home (8weeks), 6-12 months, 24-34 months old, and they usually last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks where dogs are suddenly fearful of things that typically wouldn't bother them. In dogs, you have to be careful with socializing through them to avoid making lasting fears, although many people don't really notice their dogs going through a fear period. Something that normally wouldn't cause a lasting fear (Say, someone accidentally tripping over them, then they develop a fear of people stepping over them).
Do horses get something like this; or will she always be so level headed? I'm certainly happy she's so mellow, but I worry that she'll change in her temperament suddenly. Is there anything special I should do if they do have fear periods? Is there a certain age when they get particularly flighty? She did go through a phase of not wanting to be touched, but now she's back to her snuggly self. She is four months old. Photo is of her on our walk today. I just re-shaved her (service horses are often kept shaved to make grooming for public access easier), and my clippers broke mid-way through so I had to re-do it with one meant for my own hair. Now have a proper set of clippers for her so she's not completely bald in the winter.