Things You'll Need
- Lunge line
- Harness
- Lavender oil
Instructions
Speak calmly to the horse when it first starts showing signs of anxiety. Its eyes may start rolling around, its breathing will accelerate, its tail will swish, it may bare its teeth and it may start jumping up and down on its front legs. If you yell or speak in a stressed tone, the horse may become more aggravated. Tell it "No" in a controlled tone of voice. Petting or encouraging the horse at this point will only provide reinforcement for the anxious behavior.
Attach a lunge line to the horse's harness and encourage it to run in circles to blow off nervous energy. This can control and dissipate the energy before it becomes a dangerous stampede.
Give a hand signal to the horse to command it to turn and face you. The signal helps focus the horse and, as it responds to its training, it should start to calm down, minimizing a stampede risk. (The "turn and face" command/signal is a part of any trained horse's repertoire. If the horse is not trained, rely on a calm tone of voice and keep a greater distance because it will be more challenging to control the horse.)
Lower the horse's head gently and give a "calm down" command if it's responding to your instructions. This helps the horse calm itself and prevent any further stampeding. (If the horse isn't trained to recognize the command, a lowered head will still encourage relaxation. Guide the head down; don't force it. Use caution with an untrained animal, especially one that's unfamiliar with you.)
Rub the horse's neck once it's calmed down and take it back to its stable if it's nearby. Apply lavender oil to the horse's neck; this scent is usually soothing to horse. Keeping the horse calm is essential to preventing a further stampede.