When it comes to any person or animal, trust is key. Gaining a horse’s trust can be hard work, but learning how to get a horse to trust you will give your horse confidence and will help you to build that all important relationship with him.
How to get a horst to trust you – build a relationship
Learn how to approach a horse
Does your horse get anxious when you try to approach him? This may be because you are approaching the horse in the wrong way. There are right ways and wrong ways to approach a horse. Many horses get anxious and worried when someone, even another animal, approaches them “head-on”.
Try to approach your horse slowly from the side, where he can see you more clearly, and do not make eye contact with the horse directly. The closer you get to the horse, put your hand out towards him to allow him to sniff your hand. If he still seems anxious or hesitant then while still holding your hand out, bend down slightly, remembering to turn your gaze to the side and not directly at him.
Spend time with your horse
Spending time with your horse only when you’re riding or grooming him isn’t enough. Stand in the field while he is out grazing and just watch him. Get to actually know your horse. Even if you can only do this for a half-hour a day. It will help. It gets him used to having you around him, it shows him you are not there to harm him. Spending time with your horse can also give you an idea of why he acts the way he does, and it will tell you a little about the horse’s personality.
Spend extra time brushing and grooming him, petting him, and just being around him. Sit outside his stall while he is eating. The more time you spend with him the quicker he will get used to having you there and he will learn to be comfortable around you.
Talk with your horse
Talking with your horse may seem a little weird since the horse cannot talk back to you. But talking to him in a calm voice will help him to remain calm. Use a firm voice so your horse learns who the leader is but keep it calm. This helps the horse to understand that he can trust you and at the same time it helps to get him used to people.
Walk with your horse
If you have a horse that hasn’t yet learned to trust in you, do not ride him for long periods of time. Instead, take him for a walk. Lead him by his reins and just go on a long walk with him, talking to him as you walk. This way your horse gets comfortable out traveling beside you and with you leading him. This also helps to build his trust in you.
How to get a horse to trust you – using training to build trust
Use relaxation techniques
One of the most important parts of training a horse and getting him to trust you is in learning how to calm him down. You cannot rush this.
Once your horse trusts you enough to allow you to touch him, you can use some of the following relaxation techniques to help calm him. It will also help in his training if he becomes fearful or difficult.
Stand close to the horse’s head, make sure you face the direction the horse is facing. Have the lead line in your hand while you bend down slowly. Have your head down while doing this and carefully guide your horse’s head to go down with yours. What this does is get him out of his guarded, alert position. It helps him to learn that he can drop his guard when you’re near him.
Scratch and stroke the horse. Do not actually “pat” him because that isn’t something that is done between horses out in the wild. This is one of the best ways that you can calm and soothe your horse if he is fearful or anxious. Also, it helps him to get familiar with your touch.
With just one finger, start at the top of the horse’s muzzle and your finger down his entire muzzle. This is extremely relaxing for most horses, and it will aid in desensitizing the horse to your touching him.
Slowly and calmly start to scratch his neck and behind his ears, speaking soothingly to him as you go. Over time, move over his whole body until you feel that he has accepted your touch completely.
Train in steps
Do not expect too much from your horse and end up trying to push him too fast. This is where training can help. You need to take your time and start with simple, little tasks. As the horse’s trust in you grows, so can the challenge of the tasks.
Try starting with things that your horse already knows how to do then add small tasks that he will be able to do without too much difficulty.
For example, if your end goal is to pick up his feet, start with slowly and gently. Then ask him to accept you running your hand down his legs. Then slowly move to picking up his forelegs – then his back. Everything should be done in stages.
Use rewards
Horses need reassurance. The best way to do this is when you are trying to add a new task for him to do, even if he doesn’t accomplish the task, if he tries to, then reward him – either through approval in your voice and a scratch or through a food treat. Rewards give him the confidence to keep trying.
When rewarding your horse with a treat, always make sure that it is a healthy treat. Things like celery, carrots, and apples make for great treats. Just remember to cut them into small pieces so you don’t feed the horse too much of it. Too much of a healthy treat can be bad and upset your horse’s digestive system.
Never give treats that cause gas like cabbage and do not give things like tomatoes, potatoes, peppers, onions, or eggplant, or any other food that is considered to be from the “nightshade family”.
Remember to be careful when you hand feed your horse. If the horse hasn’t learned to trust you yet you could get bit accidentally. It would be best to feed him a treat out of a bucket until you know he trusts you enough to carefully take it from your hand.
How to get a horse to trust you – build his confidence
Confront any fears the horse may have
Once your horse trusts you, you need to help him confront any fears he may have. For example, you may find that your horse won’t cross over water.
Start by taking him for a walk with you walking beside him. Walk him to a stream or large puddle and just let the horse stand beside you and investigate. Do this however long you need to for the horse to feel more at ease near the water before trying to lead him through it, and then, finally, ride him through it. Eventually, he will overcome his fear and the exercise will build trust and respect for you in your horse.
Conclusion
While learning how to get a horse to trust you, it’s important to remember that patience and time are the key. Go slow, be patient and kind, take your time with your horse. Don’t show fear and don’t be anxious. Have fun with your horse and enjoy your time spent with him. Never forget that horse can sense what you’re feeling so try to always project confidence and calm energy.