Forget the exorcism. When a horse has the spooks, give Bill Richey a call. A former mounted police officer in Mobile, Ala., Richey has patrolled in a variety of situations on horseback, including the raucous insanity of Mardi Gras for 30 years.

Now a full-time trainer, Richey uses his expertise to teach horses to saunter through smoke, gallop towards gunfire and brave things that go bump in the night.

“My real job is to take horses and people and make them unafraid of what’s in front of them,” said Richey, who brought his two-day de-spooking and confidence clinic to Clover Creek Farm in Rochester this weekend.

Leadership has a lot to do with whether or not a horse reacts negatively to an obstacle, says Richey.

“This clinic is not anywhere near as much about your horse as you think it is,” Richey tells his students. “This clinic is about the people in the clinic.”

Horses, he said, are hardwired to follow a leader. In a herd, Richey says an old mare is generally in charge and when a potential danger approaches, the horses will follow her reaction.

“If she goes back to eating, they will all go back to eating,” he explained. “They instinctively, for hundreds of thousands of years, have done what the herd says to do.”

For riders, that means overcoming fear, paying attention and understanding what the horse sees. Early in his de-spooking classes, Richey explains how a horse’s vision works.

“What makes horses spook and what direction they’re going to go when they’re stimulated by whatever they see depends on how far away it is and the size,” he said.

Richey then eases his students into increasingly challenging circumstances until both rider and horse are comfortable crossing tottering boards and walking over fire.

“Next thing you know these people are riding through smoke and fire and laughing about it. That’s it’s own reward right there,” said Richey.

Shelley Moniz of Fairhaven brought her 12-year-old horse Gordie who she said spooks at rabbits, plastic shopping bags, a leaf...

"My horse usually tries to bolt and run away," she said.

But Richey's instruction helped her know how to deal with Gordie's reactions in a relaxed way.

Amy Braley of Mattapoisett said her horse Nellie startles easily, but when walking over fire and teetering on a bridge she had a new confidence.

"She didn't even flinch," said Braley. Now, "I know how to ask for more."

Richey's proven techniques have lead to sold out clinics across the U.S. to police officers, military and civilians, and he says no horse has failed yet.

“I’ve had horses that like it better than others, but they all do it,” said Richey.