The key to every relationship is trust. Trust is especially important for horses because a horse that doesn't trust its owner may intentionally or unintentionally hurt the person. Like any relationship, trust is earned with a lot of effort and spending time together. Learning how to earn a horse's trust can help you ride a horse with confidence and build a lasting relationship with the animal.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Building Relationships with Horses
Step 1. Approach the horse in the right way
If your horse is agitated when you approach him for training, you may be approaching him the wrong way. Some horses are afraid of humans (or animals) who approach them from the front.
- Try to approach the horse from the side and avoid direct eye contact.
- As you approach the horse, extend your hand and let the horse smell its scent. If the horse is still scared, try bending your wrist as you reach out and looking away.
Step 2. Spend time with the horses
Apart from riding horses and cleaning their bodies, how often do you spend time with horses? You can learn a lot about a horse's personality and behavioral tendencies by watching it over a period of time. Try sitting nearby while the horse is roaming or interacting with other horses, and let the horse feel comfortable in your presence. You can also learn to understand a horse's behavior by watching and spending time with it.
Try to spend time with the horse every day. Even if you only have 10-20 minutes of free time, you can spend it cleaning the horse or riding it
Step 3. Talk to the horse
Some people may find it strange to communicate with animals they can't talk to. However, some horse owners find it helpful to gain the horse's trust and get him used to being around people. Try to talk to the horse in a calm but firm tone. Horses will learn to feel comfortable in your presence and feel that you are a reliable leader.
Step 4. Walk with the horse
If you don't trust you, horses may be difficult or dangerous to ride for long periods of time. However, that doesn't mean that you can't ride horses steadily. Try talking to the horse while walking it in the woods, such as when walking a dog on a leash. In this way, the horse will learn to get used to walking and being led by you.
Part 2 of 3: Using Practice to Build Trust
Step 1. Use relaxation techniques to train the horse
When training and trying to build his trust, you should learn how to calm your horse. Don't rush it because if you force the horse to touch it, the horse will distrust you even more or may even cause you injury. Once your horse is used to your touch, you can use various relaxation techniques to help facilitate the exercise if your horse is stubborn or frightened.
- Stand next to the horse's head facing the same direction as the horse. Hold the reins in your hands and bend down slowly. Gently guide the horse's head. This will make the horse's posture no longer alert and careful. Over time, the horse will be able to feel relaxed around you.
- Rub or scratch the horse, but don't pet it because horses don't pet each other in the wild. A stroke or scratch is similar to the way horses touch each other in the wild. This is a great way to calm an agitated horse and get him used to your touch.
- Use your index finger to gently rub the curve at the top of the horse's muzzle. Gently rub all over the area. This can make some horses very relaxed and will help the horse to be less sensitive to your touch.
- Hold the horse's muzzle with one hand and gently stroke the back of its mouth with the other hand. Horses don't have teeth in that mouth, but be careful. Don't force this exercise if your horse is still not comfortable with your touch. After inserting your finger, stroke the horse's tongue gently and very briefly. This teaches the horse to accept you as its leader and over time to trust you.
Step 2. Provide additional practice
As trivial as it may seem, overly high expectations for animals in too short a time can be stressful and confusing. Training is a great way to build trust with your horse, but it should be done gradually. Start with easy, light challenges before working your way up to more challenging exercises.
- Start with things horses already know. Then, add in easy challenges that you know the horse will easily complete without too much effort.
- Be patient if the horse is not ready to jump over new obstacles. Make it comfortable for the horse to stand near the obstacle and smell/look at it. The goal is for the horse to become comfortable over time and mentally ready to jump over the obstacle.
- Don't train your horse in a hurry. If the horse is still not comfortable jumping over obstacles, forcing him will only make him distrust you even more and injure you and even himself. Let the horse investigate the obstacle as needed before jumping over it. Also make sure the horse is comfortable around obstacles before attempting to jump over them.
Step 3. Give the horse a reward after a successful exercise
After successfully overcoming new obstacles and trying the challenge, give the horse a reward, even if the horse can't actually complete it. The key is to teach the horse about the benefits he will receive if he tries this for you. Eventually, with enough faith and reward, the horse will be willing to try it for you, not just for a treat.
- Choose a healthy treat as a reward. Vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery are great treats for horses if cut into small enough pieces.
- Do not give the horse vegetables that tend to produce gas such as cabbage or Brussels sprouts. Never give a horse any of the nightshade family plants, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers.
- Always give adequate treatment. If given too much or too often, treats can also cause problems such as persistent expectations of food which can cause the horse to snatch food. Therefore, set limits on how you reward horse behavior. In general, one or two vegetables that are suitable for horses will suffice to make as a treat or gift.
- Be careful when treating horses by hand. If it doesn't trust you, the horse may try to take a treat quickly enough to bite your hand. Instead, treat using a bucket or manger.
Part 3 of 3: Making a Horse Confident
Step 1. Help the horse face his fears
If your horse has certain fears, such as crossing water, you should help him deal with those fears. However, don't force the horse to face its fears recklessly. If forced to face their fears too quickly, the horse can become frightened and injure you. However, over time, the horse has to face its fears. The best part about helping your horse deal with his fears is that he will remember your role in the process and so respect and trust you.
- Help your horse feel confident by leading him to whatever place he's afraid of, such as a creek running across the house.
- Use relaxation techniques to calm the horse, then slowly lead the horse into the water. Let the horse see the water and smell the shores. Once you feel comfortable going into the water, let the horse stand in it for a few moments so that the horse understands that the water is not a threat.
Step 2. Recognize your fears
If the horse doesn't trust you yet, the problem may be with you. Horses can sense when the rider is tense or agitated. If you are in doubt, the horse may lose its trust in you. Try to face your fear of riding a horse with relaxation techniques and soothing but firm sounds. Once you feel more comfortable riding them with scenarios that previously made you nervous, your horse will become more comfortable dealing with those scenarios with you.
Step 3. Consider giving your horse professional training
If you don't get your horse's trust, you may need to contact a professional horse trainer. A professional horse trainer can find out why your horse is reluctant to trust you and teach you how to overcome the obstacles.
- Bucking (jumping high), suddenly running, and lifting the front paws are examples of bad horse behavior that should be corrected. These actions are generally caused by the horse's distrust or respect for you and could seriously injure you or other riders. If your horse performs any of these actions, consult a professional horse trainer before attempting to ride it.
- Look for information about horse trainers or people who are experts in the field through professional organizations such as the American Quarter Horse Association if you are in America. You can also search for horse trainers near your home on the internet.
Tips
- Go for a walk with your horse. That way, you and your horse will feel comfortable in each other's presence. If the horse has a fear of a certain thing, invite the horse to walk to that place and show that it is not scary.
- Always make sure that your horse has enough food and water.
- Body cleansing and giving (occasional) treats can help build trust and a sense of comfort between you and your horse.
- Don't let the horse control you. Show your leadership, but don't be rude if the horse is misbehaving.
- Talk to the horse so that it gets used to your voice and can understand you better.
- Some horses like hugs. If your horse likes it, take the time to cuddle and play together!
- Whenever you ride one, reassure and treat the horse gently.
