The ability to naturally tame a horse, also known as 'fine taming', is a firm but gentle way to train a horse and develop a deep and meaningful relationship with it. Bonding with horses using natural abilities requires a deep understanding of their natural instincts and body language. If you want to train and develop a bond by winning her trust and respect, gently tame her!
Step
Method 1 of 3: Understanding Horse Body Language
Step 1. Learn how horses use their bodies and voices to communicate
Horses are able to use different body parts (eg legs, face, tail) and make a variety of different sounds to communicate with you and other horses. Understanding body language is a key component to naturally taming a horse; If you know why it moves and uses its body in certain ways, you can improve your communication and bond with your horse.
Pay attention to the horse before interacting with him so you can better understand what he is trying to convey
Step 2. Pay attention to how the horse uses its eyes, ears, and facial expressions to communicate
The eyes, ears and face of a horse are usually used together to express feelings. For example, if a horse is afraid, its ears will bend forward and its eyes will widen.
- The way a horse opens or closes its eyes often indicates its level of alertness and awareness; he will be attentive and alert when his eyes are open, but sleepy if his eyes are only half open. If he closes one eye or can't open it, it may hurt; visit the vet in such cases.
- Horses are able to move both ears together or separately to show a response to the environment. For example, if one of the horse's ears is pointing backwards, he may be trying to hear something behind him. If a horse's ears are folded back or bent forward, it may be afraid or angry; Nostrils and wide open eyes usually accompany this ear position. Keep a safe distance from the horse if his ears indicate that he is afraid or angry.
- Horse facial expressions can show a variety of emotions and responses. The flehmen response (the horse may look like it is laughing) is the horse's way of detecting and processing the various odors in its environment; he will lift his head and fold his upper lip inward. If he's young, he may grit his teeth slowly so other horses don't hurt him. To show that it is relaxed, the horse may relax its chin or mouth.
Step 3. See how the horse uses its head, neck and tail
Horses can show a variety of emotions from the way they position their head, neck and tail. Pay close attention to these positions for important clues about his feelings.
- If the horse keeps its head in an upright position, it is alert and curious. A bowed head may indicate that he is obeying orders or is depressed.
- Tight neck muscles mean the horse is anxious or stressed. If your horse's neck is hanging out and his muscles are relaxed, he's probably feeling relaxed.
- When a horse wags its tail, it may be repelling pests (if the wagging is slow and steady) or irritated (the wags are fast and aggressive). If he's bothered, give him space to calm down. The level of the tail wagging height indicates that the horse is alert (tall) or uncomfortable (tucked between the legs).
Step 4. Listen to the sounds the horse makes
Just like any other part of the body, horses will use their voices differently in different situations. Take the time to learn the meaning of each of these sounds.
- Horses will neigh when they feel anxious (high-pitched), confident (sounds like a trumpet), or when they become aware of their presence.
- Horses will also grunt and neigh slowly / briefly. Snorting indicates that the horse is happy or alert about something. A low neigh is the small sound a horse makes when it waits for a meal, or, in the case of a mare, to communicate with its cubs.
- A groan means the horse is feeling uncomfortable, for example being ridden or landing (after jumping) too hard. Moaning can also indicate a serious medical condition, such as constipation or stomach pain; Take the horse to the vet and have him diagnose and treat.
- Horses can also sigh and whine. Just like humans, horses will sigh when they feel relieved or relaxed. On the other hand, horses will squeal when they want to play or meet other horses for the first time.
Step 5. Pay attention to the horse's posture and legs
Seeing his standing position or movements can provide important clues to what he is trying to convey. Be careful when watching the horse's hooves; Horses are very strong animals and can cause serious injury when kicking.
- If the horse is walking very stiffly and the muscles appear tense, he may be in pain. Veterinarians can run tests, such as fatigue tests, to diagnose horses.
- When a horse is shaking, it is afraid of something. If the shaking is severe, ask a veterinarian for help to calm it down.
- To express joy, the horse will raise its hind or front paws. However, be aware that these two foot movements can also indicate aggressiveness or fear.
- If your horse's legs are outstretched, he may be preparing to run or have a medical problem that is preventing him from standing properly. Veterinarians can run medical and behavioral tests to determine the cause.
- Horses will stomp their front paws on the ground to show impatience or frustration.
- Be careful if the horse lifts one of its legs and begins to wiggle its hindquarters. This means he is preparing to kick. Stay away from horses as much as possible to prevent injury.
Method 2 of 3: Applying Pressure to the Horse
Step 1. Understand the point of pressing the horse
Pressure is a way to train a horse. With pressure, which can be applied directly (touching the horse with your hand) or indirectly (using the reins), the horse can understand what you want from him. When done with care and consistency, your horse will quickly learn to respond calmly to pressure, thus strengthening your bond with him.
Step 2. Press the horse directly
Direct emphasis teaches the horse to move the body according to the commands conveyed by your touch. Direct compression exercises can be very time-consuming, so be patient with your horse while you train it this way.
- Start by gently pressing the area between his ears so he lowers his head. It may take your horse a few minutes to get the hang of what you want, so continue to press steadily until it moves, or at least begins to lower its head.
- Once he's used to it, you can apply pressure to other body parts, such as the nose (the horse will move backwards) and behind the ears (the horse will move forward).
- Practice direct pressure daily until the horse responds quickly, consistently, and appropriately to your touch.
Step 3. Release the pressure
You must remember that it is the release of pressure that teaches the horse that it is doing the right thing, not the pressure itself. Knowing when to release pressure will help your horse learn your commands more quickly.
- Stop the stress as soon as the horse begins to respond in the way you want it to; waiting a few seconds after he responds is a delay.
- The release of pressure can be complete (you actually stop pressing) or partial (still pressing, but with reduced intensity).
- Releasing the pressure before the horse responds will increase the time it will take him to learn to respond.
Step 4. Use indirect pressure on the horse
Using indirect pressure means that you don't touch it with your hands; but uses an assistive device, such as a harness, to give orders. Practice this type of pressing once your horse has mastered direct pressing.
- Attach the bridle to the horse's head strap. Standing about 90 cm in front of the horse, begin to swing the reins to bring the horse back. If he's not backing down or moving the other way, swing the reins harder to get him to take a step or two backwards.
- Continue swinging the reins from a distance (until the distance is at least 3 meters).
- Practice indirect emphasis for a few minutes each day.
- As with direct pressing, stop indirect pressure as soon as the horse begins to respond properly. In this case, you must stop swinging the reins to stop the pressure.
Method 3 of 3: Training a Horse with Ground Training
Step 1. Take care of the horse every day
Grooming is an important component in ground training activities, which is training given when the horse is standing and doing various sports. Ground training is an important part of being able to handle horses naturally, as ground training allows you to develop a bond by setting boundaries and communicating with your horse using their natural body language.
- If you've never cared for a horse before, start by touching it with your hands. Doing this every day will allow your horse to get used to your touch. Pay attention to areas that are uncomfortable to the touch, such as the stomach and eyes.
- When you start grooming your horse, focus on the areas he likes to be touched. Many horses love to be touched around their mane and tail.
- Grooming your horse for a few minutes each day makes him trust that you will touch him with tenderness and respect. When he trusts you, it means you have developed a strong bond with him.
Step 2. Guide the horse to various types of exercise
Use the bridle attached to the horse's head strap and guide it from various positions, including from the front, side, and rear. These exercises will teach your horse to respect your personal space; You need to make sure your horse respects you in order to develop a natural bond.
- Guide the horse by walking in front of it. Decide how far you want to lead it, and maintain that distance for the duration of the trip. If the horse tries to close the distance, gently push it backwards. He will learn to follow the distance.
- Lead the horse from the partner's position (next to it). Stand next to his shoulder in this position. Just like when you walk in front of a horse, define and maintain an area of your personal space when walking next to it. Practice this position from both sides of the shoulders.
- Guide the horse from the riding position. Stand behind the ride line (saddle) and walk diagonally behind it.
- Alternatively, try guiding the horse without the use of a bridle. Practice when the horse is used to being led by the bridle.
- No matter which lead position you're training in, the goal is for the horse to see you as a leader and respect the personal space you've assigned. Practice daily until the horse is comfortable being led.
Step 3. Do ground training with the horse every day
The key is consistent practice until the horse responds quickly and appropriately to your commands. When he does, it means you have developed a bond that is built on mutual trust and respect.
Tips
- Be gentle but firm with the horse as you bond. By following the natural methods in this article, you can train your horse without hurting it or forcing it to obey.
- Horses learn from stress and stopping, rather than fear or pain.
- Avoid all actions that will hurt the horse.
- Remember that horses are social animals who like to be in a herd. Horses define the hierarchy in a herd, meaning one horse will be the leader and the other the follower. You can develop this same leadership role through a ground training system for the horse to respond and follow commands.
- Developing a bond with a horse naturally is something that takes time. Spend a lot of time understanding the horse's body language. Nor can he immediately learn to trust and respect you.
- Try caring for your horse unattached to the stable. If he understands that he must not move until he is allowed to, this means he is 'following' orders. However, if he moves, it means he doesn't respect your personal space.
