Adopting a newly abused horse can be a very rewarding experience. The horse will find a new home and a caring owner, while you get the chance to get close to a special horse. However, because horses that have experienced violence may no longer trust humans, you must first earn their trust and make them feel comfortable and safe with you.
Step
Part 1 of 3: Understanding Horses That Have Experienced Violence
Step 1. Learn passive and active violence
Before trying to earn his trust, you should understand what kind of violence the horse has been through. Violence is divided into two types: passive and active. Passive violence does not involve physical violence, but is characterized by neglect such as a lack of food, water, shelter, or health care.
- Active violence involves physical violence such as excessive use of the mix, unreasonably heavy loads, and beatings.
- The type of violence may affect the amount of time it takes the horse to trust you. Compared to physical violence, passive violence may be easier for horses to deal with.
Step 2. Find information about the horse's past
By learning what kind of violence a horse has been through, you will be able to understand what to do to earn its trust. Information about his life as a whole will also give you a clearer picture of how to deal with it. For example, you can find more information about the violence: When did the violence start? How long have horses been abused? How severe was the violence?
- Try asking what fears horses have.
- Ask about his health care (such as deworming, vaccinations, dental check-ups).
- Try studying its temperament: Is the horse aggressive? Does the horse startle easily?
- Also try to find out if the horse has ever been inspected by a horse behaviorist or not.
- You can ask previous owners or rescue groups a lot of questions to learn more about horses. Ask as many questions as possible.
Step 3. Determine the specific needs of the horse
Depending on the condition or level of violence it has recently experienced, the horse may have many special needs. For example, if it has never been given enough food and drink, the horse may have special dietary needs to help it gain weight and meet its nutritional needs.
- Horses whose health is not taken care of need a lot of care such as deworming, vaccinations, dental check-ups, hoof trimming, and others.
- If you have experienced active abuse, your horse may also have a physical injury that should be checked by a veterinarian.
- Keep in mind that the effects of violence may not be noticeable. Horses may have serious behavior problems and require the expertise of a equine behaviorist.
- Consult the special needs that must be given to the horse in order for his condition to recover with the veterinarian.
Step 4. Understand the horse's other needs
The emotions of a horse that has experienced violence are likely to be fragile. Before they can begin to trust you, the horse will need to feel emotionally secure and comfortable with you. In addition to this emotional comfort, the horse must also be able to return to wanting to be friends and have a routine.
- These basic needs are as important as primary needs such as food, water and shelter.
- Exercise and quality time with horses will help you meet those needs.
Part 2 of 3: Gaining the Trust of a Newly Violent Horse
Step 1. Learn your horse's body language
By learning his body language, you will be able to communicate with the horse more effectively and gain his trust. The horse may exhibit certain body language as a result of the violence it has experienced (such as shaking and tense muscles). The more you understand her feelings, the better you will be able to deal with her abuse problems.
- The body of a horse that has experienced violence generally trembles. The horse may start shaking and quivering as you approach him out of fear that you will hurt him.
- A shaking body may indicate that the horse is ready to run away. Be prepared to quickly move to safety if the horse starts shaking.
- Horse muscles that have been abused may tense up when touched or approached.
- Physical abuse may cause the horse to act aggressively, such as kicking with its front paws, swinging its hind legs, and tucking its ears back. For your safety, do not try to approach or ride it if the horse is being aggressive.
- Talk to a veterinarian or a horse behaviorist if you're not sure how to understand a horse's body language.
Step 2. Learn the proper way to approach a horse
How you approach a horse is an important factor in gaining its trust. Don't move too much and approach the horse slowly. Also, you have to approach him from the side, not directly in front of him.
- Approaches from the front may seem threatening to the horse, which can make them wary and afraid of you.
- Your body language (breathing relaxed, walking slowly) should signal that you are calm, confident, and aware of what is around you.
- When approaching him, do not look directly into the horse's eyes.
- Before approaching him, wait near the horse. This will allow you to pay attention to his body language and determine whether the horse is ready to accept your presence or not. If the horse appears relatively calm (ears pointing to the side, head down, hind legs tilted), you can continue to approach him from the side.
- Body language that indicates fear or anxiety (such as if the ears are pointing back, the horse is scratching the ground, the facial muscles are tense), indicating that the horse may not want to be approached.
- Consider the 'forward and backward' method. Approach the side of the horse for a few seconds, then back off. Approach again, scratch the shoulder or back, then back away again. The horse will not only feel safe when you do this (because predators won't come close and retreat), but will also be curious about you.
Step 3. Touch the horse
Horses that have experienced violence may be reluctant to be touched because of the association with pain and punishment. For this reason, you should be very careful with the way and area of the body that is touched. Start by gently scratching his chest, shoulders, or back.
- Pay attention to the horse's body language when you touch it. Horses that have experienced violence may be easily frightened and susceptible to sudden movements. By paying attention to the horse's body language, you will be able to move away quickly if you feel the fear and anxiety.
- As your horse becomes more comfortable with you, try touching other areas of his body like his neck and legs.
- Do not touch his face or head. However, horses don't really care if their nose is touched.
- Don't touch it too often. Not only because horses may not be ready, but also because horses generally don't like touching each other very much.
Step 4. Talk to the horse
The way you talk will also affect whether the horse will trust you or not. The horse's previous owner may have been yelling at him all the time or not talking to him at all. Talking in a soothing, reassuring voice will help you gain his trust.
- Never speak loudly to him.
- Take at least a few minutes each day to talk to him.
- The topic of conversation is not important. The more you talk to him, the more your horse will recognize your voice and feel safe around you.
Part 3 of 3: Demonstrating Leadership
Step 1. Teach the horse to accept pressure
In the wild, a herd of horses will have a leader followed by other horses. In order to earn his trust, the horse must think of you as its leader who will protect and care for it. Teaching your horse to accept both direct and indirect pressure is a great way to demonstrate your leadership.
- Direct pressure is meant by gently pressing the horse's body with your hands until the horse moves away. Immediately release your hands after the horse has moved away.
- For indirect pressure, attach the steering strap to the horse's head. Stand a few feet in front of him, pointing your index finger and wiggling the rope. Keep doing this until the horse moves backwards, then release.
- Don't be surprised if your horse doesn't take the pressure right away. Be patient and talk to the horse in a reassuring voice. Eventually, the horse will learn how to properly respond to the pressure.
- Start with the least pressure possible. Then, increase the pressure gradually with each training session.
- Keep in mind that horses that have been abused may be hypersensitive or even desensitized to pressure.
Step 2. Lead the horse
Leading the horse is another great way to show that you are the leader. This type of exercise will teach your horse to appreciate your presence and help him trust and bond with you.
- Leading the horse from the partner's position is the safest and preferred way. You can stand on one side of the horse's shoulder, but this is usually done on the horse's left shoulder.
- Try extending your elbow. This will reduce the risk of the horse dropping you if it gets too close.
- Be sure to hold the rolled up steering strap in your hand. Do not wrap it around your hand or wrist. You may be dragged and seriously injured if the horses run and you cannot free yourself from the steering wheel.
- Instead, do not lead the horse from the front (lead position) or behind (drive position).
Step 3. Be consistent
To show leadership, you must consistently invite him to practice every day. Because of the violence they've been through, the horse may take a long time to trust and accept your leadership. However, don't give up. The more consistent you are with the training, the more your horse will trust you and will feel more secure.
- Routine is very important for horses.
- You also need to be consistent when interacting with your horse in other ways, such as when cleaning its body and feeding it.
Tips
- In general, horses need five things in order to trust you: kindness, compassion, patience, leadership, and respect.
- If the horse is aggressive, use a breakaway dumbbell.
- Consult a veterinarian or a horse behaviorist if your horse's recent abuse isn't something you can handle on your own.
- Horses are very sensitive to the feelings of people and other horses. You may inadvertently stress your horse more if you feel frightened or agitated around him. Be confident and calm around horses.
