Scared horse on lead

Question
Hi Rick,

I was bringing my horse (half lease) out of a common paddock yesterday afternoon and he panicked. He was hopping off ground on his front and then would tear around me at a canter. I stayed calm and let out the lead but remained out of his way. I did not reprimand him as he seemed terrified. However I could not see what the problem was.
He finally calmed down and I was able to lead him away from the area.  
I found out today he had been shocked by the electric fence the previous day when someone was leading him out of that paddock.

Did I do the right thing at the time? He is a 24 yr old thoroughbred, but still quite energetic. He was trained on a track - but did not race professionally.  He is wonderful when I'm on him, but can be unpredictable on the ground.

I am 38 and have been around horses since I was a kid. I was off for about 10 years prior to leasing him last August.

I'd like an opinion on my actions in the situation and if I could have done something better, then what was it?

Thank you,
Michelle

Answer
I was not there so I can't say what really happened. Often people see what they see and the horse see something totally different.

Listen to your horse, he will tell you if you did right or wrong, was the  horse better off by the way you handled it, did the  horse learn something good or bad, did the horse  gain confidence or lose it, is the horse better off after the incident  than before?

A person can never step into the same stream twice? Once you step in you change it. The horse you get off is not  the same horse you get on, it is your job make sure the horse is better when  you get off.

The same is true when you handle a horse, the horse you handle changes after you handle it, is this horse better or worst? Why? what could you have done better?

Good horsemanship is evolving, so you and your horse need to answer these questions, not me.