Got a spooky horse? Hall of Fame trainer Al Dunning has a method called “dimming the light” that can help in handling horses with show jitters, arena anxiety or a tendency to jump at anything new.
In this video, brought to you by Farnam®, Al explains his approach to helping a nervous horse settle and focus. The concept is simple: just as you wouldn’t put a child who’s scared of the dark in a pitch-black room, you don’t flood a spooky horse with the thing that frightens him. Instead, you gradually expose him to what he finds scary, “dimming the light” until he’s okay with it.
When a horse is distracted or anxious, Al keeps him moving forward and gives him something to think about: loping circles, staying in motion, redirecting focus. It’s about working with the horse’s energy rather than fighting it. And a horse that’s a little sensitive and aware? Al doesn’t see that as a problem. Knowing how to handle that edge can actually be an advantage.
He also reaches for Farnam’s Quietex® II when a horse needs a little extra help settling — at shows* or anytime tension runs high — to support focus and relaxation without dulling the horse’s natural responsiveness.
*Check with your association
In this video:
- Al’s “dimming the light” method for spooky and anxious horses
- How to redirect a nervous horse’s energy without a fight
- How Farnam Quietex® II supports focus and relaxation