"Hi. I have a ten-year-old Hanoverian mare who always seems very fearful. She is wonderful in the barn but whenever I take her out to the field she goes on alert and the head flies up, nostrils flare, she breathes in the air loudly. She can seem fine during turnout but will go into panic runs, settle down, then repeat it. She can come in from turnout with the head low and she is relaxed or the head is up high and she senses gremlins everywhere. I'd like to help her relax. Sue."

H&C blogger and Olympic eventer Sharon Hunt replies: "Hi Sue, I would say that the mare is just pleased/ excited to get out and quite 'hot' when she gets there. I would try keeping her out longer, maybe with a companion that could keep her quieter so she gets used to being outside. Some horses are just spooky and more expressive in how how they show this, I don't always think it's because they are fearful. Hack her out lots too, this should also help (with a good companion!). Sharon."