Why do horses spook more in the winter?

Answer 1

Most don't!
I'm think you are referring to the pleasure horses that are ridden less and thus are more prone to be more frisky or energetic.
May I recommend you have a fun look at his feed? While oats and other high calorie feeds are great for performance horses, winter or other "off -peak use" times makes us reevaluate our horses feed and grain intake. I liked this link by Nutrena for offering great solutions to high energy feeds.
If your horse is truly spooking more look and see WHY it is acting fearful? If everything is safe, give his feed a once over to see if hes still eating like a high performance horse:)
http://www.nutrenaworld.com/Screens/ProductDetails_Equine.aspx?ProductID=173
Be safe and good luck!

Answer 2

another reason is that most people ride less in the winter so the critters are more apt to spook or misbehave. [ some spooks are not spooks at all but are rather a sign of high sprits.]

Answer 3

Horses are more cold-climate beasties than warm-climate. They get perkier in winter, and they start looking for things to spook at. Also, because we tend to ride less in winter, they get less exercise and as a result have more energy when we do take them out.

Answer 4

A couple more good possibilities are that you are cold and your body is more tense the horse picks this up and assumes that you are nervous about something, and that many people ride much less in the winter and therefore their horses are out of practice and a little more jumpy.

Answer 5

My horse doees not like the light that reflects from th esnow into his eyes. I have another that does not like the cold so spooks to get out of working, of course some of the people who ride him get worried and let him get away with it so I work very hard at retraining him... alot.

Answer 6

Horses like cooler weather they feel better and have more energy when it is cool. Most people ride less often and the horse has more energy and feels friskier than when it it hot.
Most of us are slower and put out less effort when it is hot.
They feel good and like to kick up their heels and jump about. Mine run all over and buck in the pasture when I turn them out on cold mornings.
I think they just feel good.

Answer 7

some of it is that they really don't care to be in the cold like the rest of us, another thing is that it is usually quieter in the winter so they can hear more unfamiliar noises easier, a third is that if you live in a snowy area it is harder for them to differentiate the surrounding area, as well as when they are on "safe" ground.

Answer 8

Because since its cold they feel good and frisky and dont tire as much.

Answer 9

i would say glare from the light on the snow