It might be only a slight start, a reverse in direction, or both. If the cause of fright intensifies, the horse may bolt, rear or buck. Riders who read their horses' emotions accurately can often steady the horse with reassuring words or control through the reins. Suede chaps also are helpful and some type of boot should always be worn around horses to prevent hanging in the stirrup. Slick clothing and smooth, carefully waxed saddles are easy to slide out of when a horse shies or bucks.
Horses have a good memory Horses usually are considered to have memories second only to elephants.
In the wild, if an attack came at a certain place, the herd avoided that spot in the future. This caution is still practiced by wild horses in the United States. If it were not for the horse's good memory, it would be considerably less useful to people. A well-trained young horse never forgets its training. Neither does the poorly trained one.