Horses are intelligent and hardworking animals that make great companions. However, it is easy for us to forget that horses are also large and powerful animals that can become dangerous if startled or provoked. By following a few simple rules regarding horse safety, it will be easy to show you care and respect for your animals without much extra effort.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Approaching Horses Safely
Note: If you are not experienced with horses, work with a horse expert. Do not approach a horse that is not well known without asking the owner's permission first.
Step 1. Get to know the basics of horse body language
It's important to be able to distinguish between a horse that feels happy and welcoming and a horse that feels alert and frustrated when approaching the animal. Watch for the following signs:
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Signs of a comfortable horse (if you see this, continue):
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- Have calm and "gentle" eyes that don't look at you
- Turning the head or front of the body towards you
- Licking her lips
- His ears are pointing at you
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Have a calm and relaxed overall body position
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Signs of an uncomfortable horse (if you see this, step back and don't approach it):
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- Move or run away from you as you approach
- Have wide, strained eyes or eyes that are looking at you
- Lifting his ears (moving them back in line with his head)
- Showing his teeth or trying to bite you
- Standing on both hind legs or kicking
- It wags its tail aggressively, often while stamping its hind legs
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Step 2. Always know the position of the horse
It only takes a moment for the horse to run behind you and maybe stand up to attack you. Make sure you can see where the horse is and keep an eye on it. Horses can be surprised by almost anything in existence. If you see the horse galloping toward you, to make sure you don't get stepped on, raise your hand to make it look bigger and say in a firm, calm voice "whoa" or "get". This will help you divert your horse the other way.
Step 3. Make your presence feel inviting rather than demanding before you approach
Considering the horse's behavior, you need to be familiar with the idea of applying pressure and letting go. Horses are herd animals, and probably won't be standing around waiting for you to approach them. Simple things, like making eye contact, can actually be seen as putting pressure on the horse, signaling him to move away from you.
Step 4. Approach the horse from the front diagonally, whenever possible
The most important rule of approaching a horse is to make sure the horse knows you are approaching. This is easiest to do if you approach the horse from the front and slightly sideways (to avoid a blind spot right in front of it). If possible, approach from the direction front left horses would be even better: many horses are specially trained to work with humans on their left side and as a result, horses feel most comfortable this way.
- The idea that horses prefer one side over the other is actually a myth. It is we, as humans, who over the years have developed the habit of doing everything from the left, by practicing and getting used to the left, but forgetting the other side. Horses will approach each other in the wild regardless of which side is approached. But you need to ensure success for both your horse and yourself.
- Use a gentle, steady walking pace. Try to stay calm, as smart horses pick up on subtle signs of tension. Don't try to hide yourself or the sound of your feet.
- Don't look the horse in the eye. This can be interpreted as a threat. Instead, look at his knees as you approach.
Step 5. If you have to approach from behind, approach at a certain angle
Keep in mind that this should be avoided by anyone but a trainer with knowledge of the trails. Approaching the horse other than the front is not ideal; Just as it can feel uncomfortable if someone approaches you from behind, this can be annoying for the horse. To make the animal feel as comfortable as possible, approach the horse from an angle (no straight from behind). The bigger the angle, the better: horses have one-way vision, which means they can use each eye separately to see you next to them.
As explained above, the horse's left side is generally better than the right side
Step 6. Use your voice to let the horse know that you are approaching
For a novice equestrian, hearing the tamer talk to his horse all the time can seem odd. However, it serves an important purpose: to let the horse know where the human is at all times. As you approach the horse, call at a low volume. You can basically say whatever you want as long as it's said in a non-threatening and steady tone, but most horsemen can just say something like "Hey horse, are you ready to go?"
You should do this regardless of which direction you are approaching the horse, but it is even more important if you are approaching the horse from a direction other than the front. Since the horse may not be able to spot you right away, it's important to let him know with your voice that you're approaching
Step 7. Let the horse smell you
Like dogs and many other animals, horses use their sense of smell to recognize other animals and detect threats. As you approach the horse, hold out your hand so the horse can smell it. Don't put your hand directly in front of his nose; instead, stand a step or two in front of him and slowly move your hands (palms facing down and wide apart) about a step in front of him.
If your horse doesn't seem to want to smell your hand, don't keep bothering him. Instead, take your hand and move on to the next step
Step 8. Give your horse some food in return, if you have any, and if you have the owner's permission
This doesn't have to be done, but it will help to get the unknown horse to "accept" you. One of the digestive hazards for horses is flatulence, which can often be fatal, so it's a good idea to exercise caution and check with the horse owner before feeding him.
- Flatulence can be caused by a number of factors, some of which include even small amounts of food that horses are not accustomed to eating, foods that horses are allergic to, or foods eaten at the wrong time. Some processed foods, or even some of the wild plants that grow around them can also be toxic to horses. Another consideration may be that the owner is placing the horse on a special diet or medication, and some foods may affect the horse's absorption of certain medications or supplements. These are all good and sure reasons to check with the horse owner before feeding him food.
- Offer the horse food by placing it in the palm of your hand, and keeping your fingers completely flat. This will prevent the horse from accidentally biting your finger.
- Let the horse take food from you. Don't insist on feeding him if the horse doesn't seem to want it.
- Keep in mind that food rewards can irritate some horses - some horses will quickly become violent if they receive a food reward for no reason. Food rewards must be given immediately after good behavior AND accompanied by verbal signs to make him eat it. This can also cause the horse to refuse to follow you unless you have food, which is not a good thing.
- A few common fruits and vegetables can be great food rewards for horses. For example, most horses will enjoy a carrot or a few slices of apple.
Step 9. Caress the horse
Before proceeding with any tasks planned for your horse, take the opportunity to show affection and make the horse feel comfortable with you. Move towards the horse's shoulder, while talking to him. Make sure the horse can see you and has gentle, calm eyes. Gently rub around the neck, shoulders, and hair of the horse. You can move your arms down your body to your buttocks once your horse is comfortable with you. Avoid sensitive parts such as eyes, nose and mouth.
Use gentle rubbing or scratching motions; never use a slapping or patting motion, which most horses don't like
Part 2 of 3: Moving on to Basic Tasks
Step 1. Attach the reins to the horse
Once you've approached your horse and made him comfortable around you, you may want to be able to move him to where you want him to be. This is easily done with a device called a harness that is attached to the nose and mouth of the horse. The harness allows you to control the horse's head, leading it wherever you want the horse to go.
Most bridles have a small loop that slips through the horse's snout with a larger loop hooked behind the ear or under the jaw. Tuck the leash around the horse's neck before you start pairing so there's something you can hold on to if the horse won't cooperate
Step 2. Fit the saddle on your horse
The saddle allows you to ride the horse by serving as your "chair" on its back. This is something not to do if you are inexperienced, so don't be afraid to ask an instructor for help. Gently fasten the saddle and keep the stirrups out of the way so as not to startle the horse. The saddle should be securely attached with a thickness that allows you to slip two fingers under it, but no looser than that. Don't forget to put a blanket under the saddle to protect the horse's fur and back.
There are two popular styles for horse saddles: the Western style and the British style. Check out the links above for instructions on both
Step 3. Get on the horse
To ride a horse means to climb onto a horse so that you can ride it. You will need a saddle, harness, and harness to do this. Usually, the horse is ridden from the left. Place your left foot in the stirrup with the control strap in your left hand. Hold the saddle in your right hand and make a gentle jumping motion to swing your right leg up and over the saddle. Place your right foot in the stirrup on the other side and grasp the reins.
Place a raise above ground level for new riders to ride, such as a bench or something similar
Step 4. Ride the horse
Here he is; The moment that many horse lovers have been waiting for. Horseback riding is something that has been discussed separately in various books, so we won't cover all of them in this article. Click on the link to the wikiHow article on horseback riding, which will provide details for beginners and experienced riders alike.
This guide is also a great resource for beginners to get started with
Part 3 of 3: Knowing What to Avoid
Step 1. Avoid the range of the horse's kick
No matter how much experience you have around horses, there are always small but real opportunities beyond your control that can scare a horse. If this happens, you won't want to be in range of a very powerful horse kick. Most horse tamers do one of the following two ways:
- Stay a good distance away when behind or beside the horse. Depending on the horse's size, this "safe distance" can vary, so give the horse plenty of room, especially when you're right behind him.
- Stay close to the horse and maintain touch. Keep your hands on the horse and speak in a gentle tone to it. If you're very close to the horse, the horse can still kick you, but there won't be enough room to use full force, so there's less chance of injury.
Step 2. Do not make sudden movements around the horse
Remember that it's still possible to surprise the horse even if it knows where you are. Sudden, violent movements can put your horse in danger and provoke a startling response, so you need to avoid it at all costs. Specific things to avoid include:
- Throw anything in the horse's face (remember that horses have a blind spot under their nose).
- Run to the horse.
- Slap or attack the horse in any way.
Step 3. Avoid loud, startling sounds
Just as an unexpected sound can frighten a human, it can also frighten a horse. Don't make loud noises around your horse, especially if your horse isn't used to the sound you're going to make. If you must do something that makes a loud noise, step away from the horse before doing it. Specific things to avoid include:
- Clapping, shouting, or shouting.
- Guns fired.
- Loud music.
- Loud engine sound (chainsaw, dirt bike, etc.).
- Whenever possible, loud natural sound (eg thunder).
Step 4. Do not startle or disturb the horse while it is eating
Like many other animals, horses can get very defensive with their food. However, these are more like personal tips for dealing with a particular horse than part of a general guide. If your horse is food sensitive, give it plenty of room while it's feeding; even a normally docile horse can get agitated if you disturb it while it's eating. You should especially avoid placing your hands or any other part near the horse's face and mouth, as this can sound like you are trying to steal its food.
Step 5. Keep in mind that there are some things on this list that an experienced trainer will do, but are generally avoided by others
Tips
- The personality of the horse is different in each animal. While most horses are friendly and generally calm, some horses feel scared or angry much more easily than others. If you don't know a horse that well, check with the owner before approaching him to be safe.
- A shy horse may calm down at first once it gets used to you. Be patient when approaching a "nervous" horse. Team up with an experienced horse tamer and in no time, the results will increase.
Warning
- Don't underestimate the importance of horse safety. The suggestions above are not just light tips; This is a safety hint that can save your life. Horses that feel afraid are very dangerous. The horse may start running uncontrollably, lunge suddenly, stand on its hind legs, or kick. Since an adult horse can weigh more than 453 kg, any of these things can cause serious injury or even death to you, the horse or others.
- If it's not your horse and the owner isn't with you and/or doesn't give you permission, the polite thing to do is stay away.
- Avoid horse blind spots. This includes the front of the nose, the bottom of the head, under the belly, and just behind it. If you do have to move towards one of these blind spots, make sure the horse knows where you are. Talk to the horse in a soft voice and keep one hand touching it.
