Horses can be described in many ways: playful, majestic, strong, curious, kind, reliable. But they are also loving and loyal, and once you bond with one of them, they will be a friend for life. Either way, developing that kind of relationship takes care and commitment. You will need to take hours of your time to make friends with the horse and show him that he can trust you. Once you gain his trust, you will have the truest friend anyone could want. This article will help you take that path.
Steps
Part 1 of 3: Introduce yourself
Step 1. Wait for the horse to approach you
When you first meet a horse, it is important that you give it the space and time it needs to adapt to your presence. You shouldn't just get close to him and start stroking, cuddling, or riding him right away. The horse needs time to understand that you are not a threat before they start trusting you and seeing you as a friend and leader. You can start the process like this:
- Spend time with the horse in his stable, stables or when he grazes the grass. Grab a chair and stand next to him, or walk slowly in the same area, without getting too close, allowing him to get used to your presence. You will soon see that he will begin to follow your movements with his eyes and head, observing you curiously.
- Do this every day, without putting any pressure on the horse to interact with you. As time passes, he will approach you by his own choice and begin to observe you further. Allow him to smell you, rub his nose on you, and lick you, without trying to reciprocate the contact.
- Once trust is established, the horse may walk towards you as you approach, whinny to greet you, or start following you as you move. That's when you know you've made friends!
Step 2. Talk to the horse
An essential way to bond with an equine is to allow them to get used to the sound of your voice. Tell him about the weather, the stock prices, a new lasagna recipe you can't wait to try, anything! Provided you use a calm but firm tone of voice, the horse will be happy to listen.
- Some people may like to read something to their horses. This is especially useful during long, cold winter afternoons, when it is too dark to ride or the path is icy. Bring a chair into the barn and take out a book. Experiment with different genres and styles to see if your four-legged friend is more of a Dr. Seuss or Tolstoy type.
- Others prefer to sing. It can be a nice way to bond with your pet while grooming or walking. Once again, opt for a persuasive tone of voice. No death metal please!
Step 3. Move slowly
Horses naturally protect their personal space, so try to read the equine body language before getting too close. If he jumps or recoils when you try to touch him, it is a sign that you are moving too quickly. Approach the horse from its side rather than from the front, and touch its back or shoulder instead of its muzzle.
- Try to move gradually towards the horse, step by step, before reaching out to touch it. Place one hand on the horse's shoulders or back. Do this for just a few seconds, then remove your hand and step back. This behavior is not threatening at all and will help him feel safe.
- Most horses have a favorable point to touch on the withers, which is located at the base of the mane, between the shoulder blades. A quick scratch on this area can instantly cause him to relax.
- People unfamiliar with horses usually reach for the animal's muzzle or nose, but this is a mistake. A horse's nose is a very sensitive and intimate spot, and should only be touched when the horse allows it.
Step 4. Exhale into the horse's nostrils
If you happen to observe horses interacting with each other when they are alone, you will notice that they greet each other by sniffing and blowing each other in the nostril area. This allows them to recognize each other's smell.
- You can do the same by gently blowing into the horse's nostrils to greet him.
- If you chew a peppermint before you do, he'll probably like it even more!
Step 5. Give him a treat
As you probably already know, horses love treats. As a result, being a supplier is a great way to make any type of equine like you.
- Foods such as raisins, sugar cubes, apple slices, carrots, sunflower seeds, hay cubes, and mints are usually popular, although you should experiment with different foods to find out what yours prefers. horse in particular.
- Give him these rewards in moderation, his health is a priority. He should receive them as a reward for his good behavior after training or grooming. Make sure that the horse does not suffer from certain ailments, which could cause a bad reaction to a certain type of food.
- Avoid keeping treats in your pocket or feeding them with your hands. Over time, the horse can associate these places with certain delicious treats and start biting your fingers or rubbing his nose on your pockets. Don't encourage this behavior, place the rewards in a manger or bucket instead.
Step 6. Have patience
The amount of time it takes to befriend a horse can vary from animal to animal. It will depend on his age, on the treatment he received from previous owners and also on his personality.
- Young, well-groomed horses could quickly make friends with a new owner, fully trusting him within a few weeks.
- Older horses, which may have been mistreated in the past, will be slower to adapt to a new person and their trust will need to be slowly gained over the course of several months, or even years.
- It is important to have patience with the horse and to avoid pushing him to do things that do not put him at ease. As with human friendships, the relationship with a horse must be built brick by brick. But, once trust is established, you will have a friend for life.
Part 2 of 3: Handling the Horse
Step 1. Do some preliminary work
You should make some preparations with the horse before trying to ride it. This makes him impose himself as a leader and teaches him to follow your commands, which will also reinforce the trust he has in you.
- Start by taking him for a walk, just like you would a dog. Use a halter and lead and lead him for a short hike, walking under trees, across water or over bridges, side by side. This will have you planting firmly in your horse's comfort zone.
- Always walk alongside the horse, never in front of him, and avoid pulling or jerking him. Continue to the side of his head or place your hand on his back, stroking and talking to him as you walk. Think of this moment as if you were holding him by the hand!
Step 2. Be a leader
Horses are herd animals and prefer to follow a guide. Once you gain his confidence as a leader, he will follow you everywhere.
- Train him to turn left and right, stop and go back in response to light movements of the bridle or lead.
- Teaching a horse to respond to these requests while riding it will allow you to reap enormous benefits while in the saddle.
Step 3. Be firm and steadfast
Try to be firm and persistent in your handling of the horse. Just because you want him to like you doesn't mean you have to let him misbehave. If he nibbles or bites, give him a single firm blow on the back to show him it's not okay. If he performs an action incorrectly, have him repeat it.
- Either way, it's important to understand the difference between a misbehaving horse and a confused or frightened one. Do not expect him to perform actions for which he has not been trained or to respond to conflicting requests.
- Make sure you are honest and consistent in your training, use the same moves every time to make a request, without variations. Horses are creatures of habit and will only respond to family requests.
Step 4. Learn to read the horse's body language
As with any good relationship, becoming friends with a horse is all about communication. With the notable exception of Mr. Ed, members of the equine species aren't particularly talkative, so having an open discussion with your horse isn't a viable option. As a result, you'll need to focus on body language instead.
- Learn to read the horse's facial expressions and body movements, however subtle they are. This will help you interpret how he feels, and may even help prevent an accident when he is scared or shaken.
- For example, if a horse's ears are pointing forward, he is paying attention and is interested in what is going on; if they are tilted sideways, they are relaxed or asleep; if they back away, he is angry or frightened. Other parts of the body to watch out for include the tail, snout, eyes, and legs.
Step 5. Undo the bridle
Once you have arrived at the moment of the mount, your aim is to become one with the horse, almost to the point where you intuitively sense which direction you want to go. You shouldn't just rely on pulling on the bridle or hitting it aggressively with your heels, it should respond to the slightest of tapping or movement while in the saddle. Aim to become a mythological centaur, half man, half horse.
- This process will take time, as the horse has to learn to read your signals, and you have to read his. It requires patience, perseverance and, of course, frequent rides. You cannot expect to become one with the horse if you only ride it once a week.
- Spend time and effort on achieving this unity with the horse and the results will please you.
Part 3 of 3: Grooming the Horse
Step 1. Scrub and scratch hard-to-reach spots
Grooming your horse is an important bonding experience, as it shows him that your relationship is not just about riding and work, but also about time spent together in peace and your effort to find what makes him. happy.
Grooming the horse carefully with a rubber curry comb is a good place to start, just make sure you get to all the places it can't get to on its own, like the chest and abdomen
Step 2. Wash it with warm water
When bath time comes, make it a pleasant experience for him by washing him with lukewarm water, neither too hot nor too cold.
- Use a horse shampoo on his coat and wipe it with a soft sponge, but be sure to rinse it thoroughly after you are done to avoid irritation.
- Remove any excess water with a scraper, or sweat blade.
Step 3. Raise your paws
Horses' legs are very sensitive, so if yours allows you to lift them, it is showing you great confidence. Let him get used to your touch by gently running his hands along the forelimbs, starting at the top of the knee and slowly working down towards the fetlocks. If he starts to get nervous, stop and start from the top again.
- Once it allows you to touch the fetlocks, lightly squeeze the area a few inches higher with your thumb and forefinger. This is to make him lift his paws.
- Once it allows you to lift the legs, check that the iron is intact and that nothing is stuck in the hoof. Gently place the paw on the ground and reward it with a pat.
Step 4. Learn some basic massage techniques for a horse
Giving your horse a massage is a great way to relax him and encourage confidence. By working on any nodes or parts that hurt him, you will also allow him to relieve pain and tension, which could improve his performance.
- Learn to recognize the state of your horse's muscles and be able to identify which areas need the most work. Over time, he will learn how to conduct the massage, indicating where he needs you to intervene.
- Sometimes a muzzle rub is all it takes, other times you'll really need to dig deep, working hard to loosen the muscles in your hips or shoulders.
Step 5. Try aromatherapy
Essential oils (specifically designated for horses) can do wonders for relaxing and calming your equine while you groom.
- Rub a couple of drops of your chosen oil under the nostrils and around the muzzle and he will be happy to accommodate your every request.
- As an added bonus, essential oils will also work as an insect repellent, which can be useful on summer walks.
Advice
- Remove the saddle and bridle from the horse. These items can make him feel uncomfortable. Taking them off will allow him to feel like you've removed a weight from his spine.
- Spend time with your horse and show him your affection.
