Question: I have two horses pastured up against a state forest & something in the woods along the fence line frightened my TB to the point of extreme lathering, running in circles & snorting & took about an hour to calm him down. Don’t know what was roaming in the woods, but I was extremely surprised that my other horse did not react, although he occasionally “spooks” mildly while looking at the woods. Can you give me any insight?

 Answer: My best guess is that your horse was spooked by a wild animal. Every spring we have an issue with black bears scaring horses at one end of our property (which falls along a forest line). Some of the horses will literally run in circles, snorting, stopping to stare at the forest (or bear) with their heads high and tail raised, while others seem to ignore the bear’s presence. Other animals that have evoked the same behaviors in my horses have included skunks and pigs (domesticated). Horses may also spook due to deer, elk, stray dogs, or even wild turkeys or pheasants.

Bears, pigs, and skunks all have a smell which appears distasteful to horses and frightens some. Our state game warden informed me that bears are often seen in our area from early spring through summer as they travel about eating and beginning to pair up for mating. Bears are drawn to easily accessible food sources, including grain, bird feeders, trash, and even compost or manure piles at times. These items should be kept covered or ept out of the access of bears and other wild animals. If you have a nuisance wild animal that actually threatens your domesticated stock, contact your local wildlife agency. It is quite possible that this was a one time passing of an animal (whether it was a bear, deer, dog, racoon, or skunk) as the animals prepare for breeding season. Other things that can make an individual horse react in such a way is stepping on a nest of ground dwelling bees or wasps or particularly nasty fly bites, but I suspect a larger animal was the cause. It is also possible that creaking tree branches, a tree falling, or other startling noises caused the reaction.