Are horses afraid of spiders? The answer is – No. Most spiders that a horse may come across are tiny compared to the horse and more often than not the horse won’t even notice the spider.
Sometimes a young horse or a foal can get over curious and nosy and so could end up getting spooked by a spider. So even if the spider doesn’t pose any threat, it could still trigger a fear response in the horse.
Let’s go deeper and see what horses are really scared of and how and when they may get spooked by a spider.
What Scares Horses?
There are plenty of things that scare horses. But horses are most scared of their natural predators. In the wild, these predators include mountain lions, wolves, bears, coyotes, etc.
Horses are prey animals and so are hardwired to be scared of anything that may pose an existential threat to them. This is one of the reasons why horses are so skittish and appear to be timid.
This timidity also causes horses to be afraid of environmental factors like loud sounds, unfamiliar surroundings, sudden movements, thunder, fire, etc.
One of the ways horses gained protection was in their herd. The herd provided them with company, support, and safety. This herd instinct also remains intact in the modern, domesticated horse.
And so fear can also stem from loneliness. Horses are social animals and do not like to be left alone. When they are by themselves, they are more prone to getting depressed or scared. This is why many horse owners choose to keep their horses in pairs or groups.
Or if they have just one horse, they will get a companion for the horse. This could be a dog, a donkey, or even a goat. In fact, not only do goats make excellent companions, goats can help calm a horse down when it is stressed and agitated.
Why Are We Afraid of Spiders?
Before we discuss horses and spiders, let’s turn the spotlight on ourselves and understand why so many humans are afraid of spiders. The fear of spiders is called arachnophobia and it is one of the most common phobias in humans.
There are a few reasons why humans are afraid of spiders. Firstly, some spiders are venomous and can be dangerous to humans.
Secondly, many people are scared of the way spiders look. They are often perceived as creepy, crawly, and dangerous. Thirdly, some people may have had a bad experience with a spider in the past which has left them scared of spiders.
It is interesting to note that not all humans are afraid of spiders. In fact, some people are fascinated by them and keep spiders as pets. So, the fear of spiders is more of a learned response than an innate one.
Are Horses Afraid of Spiders?
Not only are most spiders ignored by horses, but spiders also are not the horse’s natural predator. And so there is no instinctive reason why a horse should be afraid of a spider.
However, like mice, spiders can make fast, unpredictable moves. A spider can also dangle down from a web or jump out from its hiding place.
All of these sudden movements can startle a horse and make the horse believe that it is in danger. This can cause the horse to be wary of spiders. While this may not be a rational fear, it is still a point of concern because a sudden reactive movement from a horse can result in injury to the horse or rider.
Problems can occur with young horses or foals. These have a natural curiosity and may want to investigate the spider. If the spider is large enough, it could startle the horse. So just as horses are not afraid of mice and not afraid of snakes, they are not afraid of spiders. But with all three animals, sudden, unpredictable movements can trigger a fear response in the horse.
Final Thoughts
So, are horses afraid of spiders? The quick answer is – No. Spiders are not a predatory threat to horses and so there is no instinctive reason why a horse should be afraid of spiders.
However, horses can still be startled by the sudden movements of a spider which can cause them to react in fear. It is important to be aware of this if you are around horses and spiders so that you can avoid any potential accidents.
