young horse behavior

Question
I have a four year old horse, he's great in a group and sometimes leads the pack and does well... The problem I have is when I take him out alone is so unsure of himself. Young behavior I believe, one thing I don't like and would like to work on is sometimes he'll spook and jump sideways. Most times I'm okay with balance and all, but there could be on time I'm not... How do I get him out of the habit of jumping out of his skin at nothing or most the times harmless things that come into his sight? Rick Tucson AZ,

Answer
The best advice I can give you is this:

Time & Patience.

It sounds like your boy may just need some confidence building exercises. Perhaps look up some local clinics in that deal specifically with trails, confidence building, or desensatizing.

Personally, I like to find things that are scary to my horses (like a regular white plastic bag for instance), then make sure they are around it as often as possible.

Remember to start off slow, be PATIENT. It could take a long while before your horse starts to relax, but with you already seeking advice and trying to to right by him, I have a feeling he is in great hands!

Good luck, and if you need any more specifics or additional information, please do not hesitate to ask!