Trying to get a horse to come to you can be one of the most frustrating things when you’re ready to go for a ride. Below is a guide that will help you learn how to get a horse to come to you.
A horse can be taught to come to you when you want it to. It requires building a better relationship with your horse, but you also need to learn the techniques that will teach your horse when to come to you by certain voice commands and specific body language.
When a horse is tough to catch, a lot of owners will bring out a bucket of food to coax the horse into coming to them. This works pretty well but it doesn’t actually solve the problem. All this does is teach the horse to come only when you give it food.
Start training a horse to come to you in a round pen
How to get a horse to come to you begins in a round pen. You have to do some groundwork with your horse to be able to build the bond that you will need. This will be the foundation of training where your horse will be taught that you are the boss, the leader.
To make your horse actually want to come to you, he needs to make the connection with you to relaxation and rewards. To accomplish this, you need to begin with putting your horse into the round pen and taking its halter off. Let him trot around the pen, your horse will see this as work.
Your goal in this will be that when you step back, the horse will step into your personal space by reading your body language. Step back and give him a chance to come in on his own. If he doesn’t then keep him trotting around the pen. Keep your horse working in this way until he does step into the middle when you step back. When he does learn and he steps forward when you step back, give him time to just stand there and relax. Relaxation is his reward.
This technique is called “joining up”. The point is to make your horse understand your body language. If you move backward, the horse should step closer to you. If you move forward, the horse should back up out of your space. This teaches your horse how to respond to “invisible pressure”.
Pay attention to exactly how your own body language is when you are requesting for your horse to “come in”. This is exactly how your body language needs to be every time whenever you go out to catch your horse.
Once you walk out into the field where your horse is, normally he will pick up his head to look at you. When he does, take that step backward, using your body language to request that he come to you.
Teaching your horse to come using sound
Once you accomplish your horse coming to you in the pen using only body language then it is time to teach him to come using sound. A whistling sound works great. As you take the step backward, requesting your horse to come, make a whistling noise. You need to do this each and every time you step backward to be consistent. Remember to always use the same type of whistle.
When your horse learns to come to you when you step backward and whistle then it’s time to move on to the next step.
Stand at one side of the horse pen and do your whistle. Did your horse come in? If not, have your horse go back to trotting around the pen. If he does come in, reward him with relaxation. Your horse needs to understand that you are where he needs to go.
Once you get your horse to come to you with just a whistle then it is time to take the horse out of the pen and try calling him in a larger place like an arena. Allow him off of his line. Go to different areas of the arena and call him, use different distances too. Once you can get him to come to you anywhere in the arena then it will be time to take him out in the field.
How to get a horse to come to you – tip #1
When you are learning how to get a horse to come to you it is extremely important that you do NOT give up. If you let your horse frustrate you enough to make you give up then your horse learns that it can avoid being caught just by ignoring you and not coming to you.
If you want to learn how to get a horse to come to you, you are going to need to stay with him as long as it takes. If your horse walks away from you and puts his head down as if to start grazing, walk right back up to him. It will most likely annoy him but that’s what you want. You need to be a complete nuisance to him until he learns, and you catch him.
If your horse walks away to go and get a drink or to graze, walk up to him not allowing him to do either. One of two things will happen. Either your horse will walk away in which case he won’t be getting that drink or be grazing, or he will allow you to catch him. If he allows you to catch him, make sure to reward him.
Why does a horse avoid coming to you?
There can be many different reasons why your horse will not come to you. These reasons include:
- They are “herd bound”
- They don’t trust you
- They associate something negative with you
Herd Bound
This means that horse doesn’t want to leave the other horses he is paddocked with. He knows that you are trying to take him away, so he won’t allow you to catch him.
There are lots of various ways to deal with herd-bound horses but I find the best way is simply to use the method of “bad behavior” equals more work and “good behavior” equals less work – reward by relaxation. Work the horse until it starts paying attention to you instead of the other horses.
Trust issues
If your horse doesn’t trust people it will be scared and wary with anyone coming near him in the field. What makes a horse like this? Potential reasons include past neglect, abuse, or just having very little contact with humans. If any of these three is the reason your horse doesn’t trust you, then you simply need to give the horse time and take baby steps with him.
Go and stand out in the field when the horses are out there grazing. Slowly walk near the horse, let it get used to you being out there. Take the time to simply try to pet the horse. Do not try to catch him at all. Once you can pet him, bring a brush with you. Start off by petting him then start brushing him. Do this every day with him until he starts feeling like he can trust you and that you won’t harm him. Be consistent, slow, and steady with him. Build a relationship with him.
Negative associations
Your horse may associate humans with work in a negative way. This can happen when they are put through excessive exercise or training sessions that are particularly frustrating.
The best solution to this problem and the best way to help your horse is to have fun with him. You will need to have a stress-free, happy, fun, and calm environment. Spend time petting your horse, brushing him, and just being around him. Let him feel you being happy. Your horse needs to see you and think “relaxation”, “peace”.
Conclusion
Do NOT give up on your horse! He feels your frustration so be patient. The best advice I can give to you in how to get your horse to come to you, is “time” and “patience”.
- Spend time with your horse.
- Take time in training him.
- Give him time to adapt.
- Be patient until he trusts you.
- Be patient in training him.
- Be patient in getting him to come to you.