Walking your horse, or riding it, is a daily activity that no horse owner can avoid doing. A horse must have willing to follow you before you can expect to train it to ride, march or any other activity.
Steps
Step 1. Train the horse to the halter
If you want to teach a young horse to follow you for the first time, you must first get used to wearing it. You can buy them at any riding shop, or you can always find one online.
- Make sure you buy a soft halter; the hard ones of poor quality nylon cause wounds on the foal's sensitive skin due to the inevitable rubbing. Remember, a hard and thin string can be more severe than a thick and soft one.
- You should quickly get the foal used to having people around. Do it gradually. Start stroking it around the face and head to get it used to being touched in the area where the halter will be placed.
- Once the foal agrees to be touched on the head, start rubbing the halter on his face and body letting him sniff it, so that he feels comfortable with the object.
- In the early morning or late evening, when the foal is resting, approach from behind. There must be someone with you to help you; put the halter on the ground near you.
- Caress his face whispering a few words to him and let him go back to sleep.
- Put the halter over his head with slow, calculated movements. At this point, the foal will probably already be alert and awake, and on his feet.
- Letting him scratch his head and rub against the fence or his mother is a normal reaction. This will make him understand that the halter will stay in place and he cannot take it off.
Step 2. If you haven't already, start leading the mare in and out of the barn or field, letting the foal follow her
Step 3. Now, find someone to lead the mare
Put the halter on it, then attach a lanyard. Have your helper lead the mare, and follow them with the foal. At this point, try not to push on the halter again if possible, the aim is to let the foal get used to walking next to you and the fact that you hold him by the lead.
Step 4. Let the mare move away gradually, exerting gentle pressure on the halter to keep the foal next to you
Always release the pressure if the foal responds and waits for you, or if he gets scared and starts dragging you, but never let it go. You have to teach your horse respect for man. Put your safety first. If the foal is scared, start over and spend more time on the other steps.
Step 5. Now try to have the foal walk in front
If the horse stiffens at a slight push forward, you should try to persuade him with sweet words and phrases. It's a natural reaction for the foal to resist and tense up to your pressure, so this step may take longer.
Step 6. Then try to walk him around
Make him walk in front of you, stop him, then make him walk behind you and so on. Get used to having a man tell him where to go in relation to the mare.
Step 7. Work gradually further and further away from the mother
If you can walk the mare out of the barn for a minute or two, you'll know it's working. The aim is to get the foal used to working slowly alone, so that when you wean it it will still follow you, the guide.
Step 8. Once weaned, continue to work on the foal to improve its ways for as long as necessary; some learn faster than others
Generally all horses can have good posture and learn to follow you, so if you can make it a pleasant experience while still a foal, it will pay off in the long run.
Advice
- Never leave driving unless you are in imminent danger. Teach the foal who's boss and to respect you.
- Do not insert the bridle quickly or you will scare him. Instead, do it very slowly; it can take longer, but you have to be very patient or you will lose the foal's confidence.
- Be gentle and gentle in calming the horse.
- Make sure you have work gloves and boots on hand when you are going to train the foal.
