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others might run away. If the horse runsaway, I ask him to continue trotting or loping around the pen for a few minutes.When the horse brings his attention back tome, I ask him to stop and start the processover again by walking to him and awayfrom him until I can stand in front of himwith the object and he doesn't move.\Eventually, Arbuckle is able to rub theitem over the horse's neck area and then entire body. \with the item, I will start fresh with a newobject,\work my way up to brighter, scarier things.\Arbuckle's round pen despooking sessions can last from half an hour to severalhours. \I want to work with and how the horse ishandling the training session,\tuRn and lookWhen it comes to despooking horses,Cumberland, Virginia, trainer Kenny Harlow subscribes to the philosophy that ahorse should turn and face whateverfrightens it. \he or she can use all the time when a horsespooks,\turn and face a car or a snake, and thenmove on. The last thing you want is thehorse's hindquarters in the direction ofwhatever is spooking it.\Harlow, who studied under John Lyonsand conducts clinics in despooking, alsostarts his desensitizing work in the roundpen. \enough that the horse might accept it butwill also have some fear,\the horse to turn and look at the object,and then reward him by petting him. Ikeep exposing him to things that areworse and worse, from his perspective. Idon't move on until horse is okay with anobstacle. The horse eventually learns thatif he turns and faces the scary object, it willgo away instantly. This way, when a horseis out on the trail and a deer spooks him,he will stop and look at it. If a car spookshim, by the time he turns to look at it, thecar will be gone. Most times, horses spookat things that are moving.\For stationary objects, Harlow uses distraction to take the horse's focus off hisfear. \will turn the situation into an exercise,\says. \and make it bigger and bigger until wecan ride past the object. After a while, thehorse will realize that every time he letsme know he is scared, he has to work. Sohe will try to hide it. He will tilt his headand walk past the object. After a couple oftimes, the horse catches on that he may aswell quit being scared.\despooking at HoMeBy using some of the methods employed by these trainers at home, you canhelp your horse cope with his fear andlearn how to ride him through a spook.\sensory training techniques,\peth. \about something new, slowly expose himto it using the progressive desensitizingtechnique described above.\\their horses using the round pen or asmall enclosed area,\member to be patient and use commonsense when working the horse. When despooking from the ground, wear properfootwear, protect your horse's legs withboots, and keep your training area clear ofany obstacles. When introducing each despooking item, go slowly to ensure thatthe horse has time to figure out what youwant him to do.\all over the arena, and there is usually onespooky place,\'ground' their horses by deepening theirseat and looking down at the groundalong the path they want to travel. Spooking horses can sense this shift in weight,and they start to respond by slowing theirspeed. The rider then has the horse's attention. When the horse passes thespooky section again, the rider deepensher seat and looks down at the path shewants to take. The horse responds by notspooking or bolting. Think about a boat'sanchor. When you sit deep, you are anchoring the horse between your legs.Looking down helps avert your eyes fromstaring at the spooky corner, and the horseresponds by also not looking at the corner. \perfection,\horse becomes more responsive to youraids while you circle and practice transitions away from the scary place or havehim stand quietly while being rubbedwith a scary object, he will become a moretrustworthy mount, your confidence levelwill increase, and you will be able to rideanywhere.\52 Arizona Horse Connection May, 2026Horses available sired by Metallics MVP, Dont Stopp Believin, Hickory Holly Time.Cow Horse, Cutting, Ropingand Barrel ProspectsPlease Give Us A Call!DUSTY A RANCH • Amado, AZB.K. Thwaits, D.V.M. Shelby Thwaits (520) 940-3573Trudy M. Zeiler DESIGNATED BROKER(928) 636-9380IN THE FOLLOWING AREAS:Prescott, Prescott Valley, Chino ValleyPaulden, Williamson Valley, Dewey, & Mayerwww.RealtyExpressions.netI SPECIALIZE IN HORSE PROPERTY,RANCHES & ACREAGEDO YOU HAVE YOUR EYEON THE PRESCOTT AREA?