I think I have read a different book by that author. My horse is a bully leader in the herd because she was bullied by humans from at least 2yrs-5+yrs old. I don't do the bully thing so sometimes it is hard for her to trust my leadership. Although... I did save her from the killer, horse eating chicken... that was locked securely in it's cage next to the arena.
Thankfully when she spooks she sits down (Yup, sits right on her butt). She gets that BIG ole quarter horse butt under her, puts her weight back there, tenses every muscle ready to bolt! She has always stopped long enough to think and discover there was no need to bolt... thank goodness!