Buzz
Horses, renowned for their intelligence and industrious nature, serve as wonderful companions. However, it's crucial to recognize their imposing size and strength, which can pose risks if they feel threatened. Adhering to basic principles of horse interaction ensures both safety and mutual respect, fostering a harmonious bond with these magnificent creatures.
Key Steps
Approaching Horses with Caution
Note: For those unfamiliar with equines, seek guidance from a knowledgeable horse handler. Always obtain permission from the horse's owner before approaching an unfamiliar animal.
Understand the fundamental body language of horses. It's crucial to distinguish between a contented, welcoming horse and one that's agitated or annoyed when approaching it. Watch for these cues:
-
Positive signs (indicating it's safe to proceed):
- Relaxed, gentle eyes that aren't fixed on you
- Turning towards you
- Lip licking
- Ears pointed towards you.
- A calm, relaxed body posture
-
Negative signs (indicating you should back off and not approach):
- Retreating or fleeing as you approach
- Wide, intense eyes or a fixed stare
- Flattening ears against its head
- Tense muscles
- Attempting to bite or nip
- Rearing or kicking
- Repeatedly flicking its tail aggressively, often accompanied by stomping hind legs.
Stay aware of the horses' whereabouts at all times. It only takes a split second for a horse to approach from behind and potentially rear up. Ensure you have visibility of the horses and remain vigilant. Horses can startle easily. If a horse appears to be charging towards you, prevent potential trampling by raising your arms to appear larger and assertively saying 'whoa' or 'get.' This can redirect the horse's path.
Cultivate a welcoming presence rather than an imposing one before approaching. Understanding horse behavior involves recognizing pressure and release dynamics. As herd animals, horses are unlikely to wait in one place for you to approach. Simple actions, like making eye contact, can inadvertently pressure the horse, prompting it to move away.
Approach the horse diagonally from the front whenever feasible. The cardinal rule for approaching horses is to ensure they're aware of your presence. The easiest way to do this is by approaching from the front and slightly to the side (avoiding the blind spot directly in front of the horse). If possible, approaching from the front-left is preferable: many horses are accustomed to human interaction on their left side and are more at ease with this arrangement.
- Contrary to popular belief, horses don't inherently favor one side over the other. Human practices, such as training and desensitization, often focus on the left side, neglecting the right. In the wild, horses approach each other without regard for sides. However, it's essential to set both yourself and the horse up for success.
- Maintain a gentle, consistent pace. Aim to stay relaxed, as horses can detect subtle signs of tension. Don't attempt to conceal yourself or the sound of your footsteps.
- Avoid prolonged eye contact, as it can be perceived as a threat. Instead, focus on the horse's knee as you approach.
If approaching from behind is necessary, do so at an angle. This approach should be reserved for experienced trainers with an understanding of drive lines. Approaching a horse from behind isn't ideal—similar to how being approached from behind can unsettle a person, it can also disconcert a horse. To minimize discomfort, approach from an angle (not directly behind). The wider the angle, the better: horses possess monocular vision, allowing them to see you from each side separately.
- As previously mentioned, the horse's left side is generally preferred over the right.
Signal your approach to the horse using your voice. While it might seem odd to newcomers, experienced horse handlers frequently talk to their horses to maintain constant communication. As you approach, speak to the horse in a calm, non-threatening tone. The exact words don't matter much, but typically riders say something like, 'Hey there, ready for a ride?'
- Regardless of your approach direction, using your voice is especially important if you're not approaching from the front. Since the horse may not immediately see you, vocal cues help alert it to your presence.
Allow the horse to sniff you. Similar to dogs and many other animals, horses rely on their keen sense of smell to recognize other creatures and detect potential dangers. When you reach the horse, extend your hands for it to sniff. Avoid thrusting your hands directly into its nose; instead, stand a step or two in front and gently offer your hands (palms facing down and open) about a foot away.
- If the horse appears uninterested in sniffing your hands, don't persist. Simply retract your hands and proceed to the next steps.
Consider giving the horse a small treat, with permission from the owner. While not obligatory, offering a treat can help familiarize an unfamiliar horse with you. However, it's crucial to consult the horse's owner beforehand, as some treats can pose health risks like bloat, which can be fatal for horses.
- Options like apples, carrots, and specific horse treats are suitable choices.
- Bloat can arise from various factors, including ingestion of unfamiliar foods, allergens, or ingestion at inappropriate times. Additionally, certain foods or wild plants in the area might be toxic to horses. Dietary restrictions or medication regimens could also influence treat suitability, underscoring the importance of checking with the owner.
- Present the treat flat on your palm to prevent accidental finger biting.
- Allow the horse to accept the treat willingly; don't force it if it shows no interest.
- Note that excessive treat-giving can lead to undesirable behaviors and dependency on treats for compliance.
- Common fruits and vegetables, such as carrots or apple slices, are popular and safe choices for treats.
Show affection to the horse. Before proceeding with any tasks, take a moment to bond with the horse and establish comfort. Approach the horse's shoulder while speaking soothingly. Ensure the horse can see you and exhibits relaxed, gentle eyes. Tenderly stroke and rub its neck, shoulder, and mane, progressing to its hindquarters once it's at ease. Avoid sensitive areas like the eyes, nose, and mouth.
- Opt for gentle rubbing or scratching motions, avoiding slapping or patting, which most horses dislike.
Transitioning to Basic Tasks
Equip the horse with a halter. Once you've approached and acclimated the horse, you may need to guide its movements. A halter, which fits over the horse's nose and mouth, facilitates this by providing control over its head, allowing you to direct it.
- Typically, halters feature a small loop for the muzzle and a larger loop that fastens either behind the ears or beneath the jaw. Before starting, secure a lead rope around the horse's neck for control in case it becomes uncooperative.
Prepare the horse with a saddle. Saddles enable horseback riding by providing a comfortable seat atop the horse's back. If you lack experience, seek guidance from an instructor. Set the saddle down gently, keeping the stirrups clear to avoid startling the horse. Ensure the saddle is snugly fastened with a girth, allowing room for two fingers underneath. Place a blanket beneath the saddle to protect the horse's back and hair.
- Two common saddle styles are Western and English. Refer to the link above for instructions on both.
Climb onto the horse. Mounting involves positioning yourself on the horse for riding. You'll need a saddle, halter, and reins for this task. Traditionally, horses are mounted from the left side. Place your left foot in the stirrup, reins in your left hand, and grasp the saddle with your right hand. Use a gentle bouncing motion to swing your right leg over the saddle, then place your right foot in the stirrup and take hold of the reins.
- Ensure there's an elevated platform, like steps, for new riders to mount the horse safely.
Experience horseback riding. Embark on the exhilarating journey of horseback riding, a passion that has inspired countless enthusiasts. Given the depth of this subject, detailed instructions are available in Mytour's article on horse riding for beginners and experienced riders alike.
- This guide is also a valuable resource for novice riders.
Avoiding Common Mistakes
Maintain a safe distance from the horse's kicking zone. Regardless of your familiarity with horses, there's always a risk of unexpected incidents startling the horse. To mitigate this risk, avoid being within reach of the horse's potentially powerful kicks. Handlers typically adopt one of two approaches:
- Keeping a considerable distance when positioned behind or beside the horse. Depending on the horse's size, the optimal 'safe distance' may vary, so provide ample space, especially when directly behind.
- Maintaining proximity to the horse while staying in contact. Keep a hand on the horse and communicate with a calm tone. Although being close still poses a risk, limiting the horse's space reduces the potential for injury.
Avoid sudden movements near the horse. Even if the horse is aware of your presence, abrupt motions can trigger a startled reaction, potentially endangering you. Steer clear of sudden, forceful actions to prevent alarming the horse. Specific actions to avoid include:
- Thrusting objects toward the horse's face (remember its blind spot in front of the nose)
- Making sudden advances towards the horse
- Striking or hitting the horse
Avoid loud, startling noises. Just as unexpected noises startle humans, they also unsettle horses. Refrain from generating loud noises near horses, especially if they're unaccustomed to the sound. If a loud noise is unavoidable, move away from the horse before creating it. Specific noises to avoid include:
- Clapping, yelling, or screaming loudly
- Gunshots
- Blaring music
- Noisy machinery (chainsaws, dirt bikes, etc.)
- Where feasible, loud natural sounds (e.g., thunder)
Refrain from startling or disturbing a horse while it's eating. Like many animals, horses can be protective of their food. Although this advice may vary depending on the horse, it's generally wise to give the horse ample space while it eats. Even a typically docile horse may become agitated if its meal is interrupted. Particularly, avoid approaching the horse's face or mouth, as it may interpret this as an attempt to take its food.
Recognize that certain actions on this list may be practiced by experienced trainers but should generally be avoided by others.
Viewer Videos
Share Your Video Tip!
Contribute a brief video tip to enhance articles with your helpful advice. Your insights could positively impact millions!
Share a Video
Coming Soon!
Pointers
-
Horses have diverse personalities. While many are affable and serene, others may startle or become irritable easily. If unfamiliar with a horse, consult its owner before approaching for safety.
-
A nervous horse can become more relaxed with time. Practice patience when dealing with skittish horses. With guidance from an experienced handler, you'll likely see improvement over time.
Cautions
- If you're not the horse's owner and the owner isn't present or hasn't granted permission, it's considerate to maintain distance.
- Avoid entering a horse's blind spots, including areas in front of its nose, beneath its head, under its belly, and directly behind it. If you must enter these blind spots, ensure the horse is aware of your presence. Speak to it calmly and maintain physical contact.
- Recognize the paramount importance of horse safety. The recommendations provided aren't mere suggestions — they're critical safety measures that could prevent serious harm. A startled horse poses significant danger, potentially exhibiting erratic behavior such as sudden lunging, rearing, or kicking. Given the immense weight of adult horses, exceeding 1,000 pounds (453 kilograms), such actions can result in severe injuries or fatalities for individuals involved.
