Bond with Horses: Whether you’re just starting out as an equestrian or you’re a seasoned professional, there’s nothing more exciting than getting a horse. An important aspect to riding a horse is creating an intimate bond, so you two can trust each other. Take the extra effort to spend time building that relationship with your horse.
At our San Juan Capistrano equestrian facility, we emphasize to our riders how important it is to connect with their horse. Horse riding requires both you and your horse to cooperate, so we highly encourage spending time outside of training with your horse!
If you’re not sure how to get started, here are a few tips for bonding with your horse:
-
Respect Your Horse
Make sure that your horse is always well taken care of. That means keeping them safe from bad weather, giving them access to good pastures and water, and providing companionship.
When you are getting to know your horse and training him or her at the same time, it’s important to be firm, respectful, and friendly. -
Spend Time with Your Horse Outside of “Work”
Don’t just visit your horse when it’s time to train. Much like starting a friendship with another person, you don’t want to just see them when it’s time to get work done – you’ll want to spend time with them over coffee (or in this case, over carrots). When you’re building a relationship with your horse, make time to visit them. Hanging out in a new place, sharing new experiences together, or even just scratching their belly for a few minutes is a great way to bond. Your horse will associate you with positive experiences and trust you more on the field if you take the time to bond with them.
-
Get to Know Their Language
Be mindful of how your horse is trying to communicate with you. Observe their postures, tails, and ear positions. Watch out for their facial expressions. Understanding what your horse is saying will help the two of you build a healthy relationship where you two respect each other’s needs. For example, you’ll want to know the signs your horse exhibits when your horse is tired or hungry. You will not only connect with your new companion, but this will also help when you are training for events.
-
Do Groundwork
Take some time to do groundwork with your horse, emphasizing respect, play, and leadership. Groundwork typically involves a few exercises that you do with your horse while you stay on the ground. Without compromising your leadership, allow your horse to play.
-
Make Time for Grooming
While horses sometimes groom one another, a behavior called Allogrooming, they certainly appreciate it when you take time to brush them. Spend some time with your horse, brushing areas that he or she can’t get to, like the chest, belly, and legs. Use the curry combs to massage vigorously, and use the body brush to gently brush over the face and legs. Taking good care to groom your horse shows him or her how much you care. Get to know the spots your horse does like to be brushed or petted and the spots your horse doesn’t like.
-
Give Them Treats
Treats or no treats. This is a big debate among horse lovers everywhere, especially since horses getting too excited could result in safety issues. However, horses really do enjoy the occasional treat, but it is important to be consistent and feed them safely.
If your horse does not have excellent behavior and respect for people, then it may be too risky. Horses that get pushy or nippy could bite, rip pockets, or even mow down people purely out of eagerness. On the other hand, horses that are well-behaved can be given treats, such as sugar cubes, raisins, peppermints, sunflower seeds, and apple or carrot pieces.
When you’re getting to know your new horse, be aware that it takes time to build a deep and meaningful connection. It’s important to allow our horses to bond with us at their own pace, instead of forcing it.
If you’re interested in learning more about Bond with Horses and riding them, Reveal Equestrian offers horseback riding lessons with an incredible team of trainers. Their focus is on the individual development of each student, so they cater each lesson to your needs.
