Horse sense is the thing a horse has 
which keeps it from betting on people.  
W.C. Fields

Horses, just like people, experience fear. Regardless of the circumstances, these emotions are genuine, reasonable and real to the horse. Fear is normal and necessary for survival in the equine world. If the herd leader spooks, the herd had better follow the cue and run. In the absence of a leader they trust, horses are apt to look after their own safety by becoming super sensitive to noises, changes, places and things. At the heart of spooking is lack of confidence - in themselves, in their environment and in their leader. By attending to the horses needs of safety & comfort, horses will gravitate towards us as their leader and ultimately, when trust has been developed, little cause for fear will arise. To assist in the growth of this relationship, I use confidence building exercises and clear and precise communication to help horses control their emotions when they become afraid. Preparation for spooky situations include making sure a horse is calm and accepting it's handler/rider in a safe environment, exposure to a wide range of 'scary' objects while on-line to help a horse become braver by desensitisation, then practicing the same simulations while mounted.