What is the best way to bond with my horse?

Question

Other than grooming, riding, treats, etc...

Also, how have you bonded with your horse?

Also, what is your horse's favorite thing to do?

Answer 1

Something i have found to work, is put your horse in a small area like an arena or round pin, and just sit and read a book. Dont try using the pasture, its too big. But in a small area, just sit and read or something that will involves you being quiet and not moving so much. Let your horse see that you are not going to hurt her//him. Occasionally look up and make eye contact. Dont get up and try to touch her/him, just watch them.

When she//he is in their stall, go in and spend time with them. It doesnt matter what you do, you can brush them, or just talk to them in a calm soothing voice. Ive actually sat in her stall and almost fell asleep before, this showed her that i was quiet and not going to hurt her.

Take a walk with your horse. Put the halter and lead rope on, and walk around. Let them get used to you. Just do anything for him//her to trust you. It takes time for the bond, it could take years. Ive had my horse for almost two years, and our bond is no where near i want it. But i know my horse trusts me. For example, she does not go in the trailer for anyone else except me, i have to be the one to walk her in. She absolutely refuses for anyone else.

Answer 2

I do a thing that not many people do its called a joining up process where you start off by lunging when your horse is relaxed completely(signs;Mouth opening closing head down and feet scuffing) and at least ONE sign is being shown.

<Bring it in then unclip it

<Then send it out again

<Take up a fierce stance and dont let the horsecome anywhere near you(stare intensely, always have your body square facing onto him so he cant move inwards

<agin once he is relaxed and showing atleast TWO signs of relaxing and he should also look at you sometimes

< Put the lunge whip down andcompletely drop the fierce square shoulders and relax dont stare at him maybe just sit down(by this time your horse should be very tired)

< The horse will probably and hopefully choose to be with you and walk towards you. If he nuzzle you it is a good sign.

< Then stand up and walk around. If your horse follows you then you were succesfull.

GoolLuck i hope i helped

Alice L

Answer 3

Well Basicley make sure you have a routen down,the same thing almost every day,trake time to talk to it they can understand the tone in your voice.And take a little more time outte the day just to vist for no apparant reason.

Answer 4

me and my horse bonded REALLY quickley by me grooming him and making him squeaky clean =) another way is to trick train him/her, teach them to give hugs and kisses and to smile =)

Answer 5

my mare was a previous rescue. never had much respect for people. it took me 6 months before she trusted me enough that i was comfortable taking her out to shows... its alot of ground based things.. do as horses would do. groom her and let her groom you back, as horse spitty as you get. i have sat on the ground in front of my mare while she was wuffling off my hair and scratching me with her teeth [they dont bite when they groom but they use their teeth to scratch dirt off each other] also.. whenever i go to shows and meet new people and new horses, we all blow in their noses saying "i want to be your friend" and rubbing [almost like soft pinching] along the top of their neck.. taking the horse on a lead line out of the pasture where there is a big patch of grass is also a nice bonding experience.. being close when they have the option to be far basically... just lay or sit [if you know they wont step on you..] and wait til they are happy with the grass in their bellies...

my horse LOVES when i bring her out to graze on fresh grass... also i scratch everywhere she cant scratch herself no matter how much rolling and she goes crazy.. watch their lips to see if they like what you are doing [like dogs and there legs..] my mare will wuffle her lips around whenever she likes where she is getting scratched..

Answer 6

lots of kisses,walks,talk to your horse alot!,play with their ears,just be around them alot and they will adore you in no time!....I love to take my horse for walks around the fields by my house or just sit on the ground by him

Answer 7

All horses have a sweet spot. Finding it can take time. Rub her over (no patting please, it isn't pleasurable, it's a De-sensitizer) and watch her/his headset and lips. My little plug (rescue) just adores her eyes to be rubbed, but my TWH absolutely quivers when I rub very softly under her dock (tail, the REALLY soft skin.) Another thing you can do is breath into their nostrils with minty breath, they love it.  But mostly, be a good, kind but firm leader and they will always look to you for direction and reassurance.

Answer 8

Spending time with them.

Lots of time....

Answer 9

The only thing that truely works is HORSE PSYCOLOGY, no other method establishes this faster.

-Horses look for a leader and protection, you must be confident and lead him, guide him every step of the way, never let him decide.

-FEED HIM YOURSELF, many stables have hands who feed boarders horses. You provide the food, you are the provider, thus he looks to you for survivial.

-Groom and care is best for phsyical bonding. Never let him touch you in a disrespectful way. By doing this you are saying, in his language,: 'You are the fallower, respect me, do not touch me, but i can touch you because I am the leader and I am here to protect and guide you, so do as I say'

-Most horses are followers, not dominane. My mare was dominate and I had to be very firm on my status as leader. I never needs a halter for her, When I call her she comes (even away from food), I can tell her where to go, even if is far by a touch and sharp vocal sound.

-TREATS ARE NOT THE ANSWER EVER, the re-enforce that they can reach out and touch you. Never are they allowed to do this.

-Riding is great, especially if you are experienced. SOFT HANDS and good seat are a must.

-For the 1st inital weeks do NOT vet, vaccinate, or take on the form of something he dislikes. If he is afraid of shots, do not give them yourself, so he does not associate you with his fear. Later on when he trusts you, take on these minor things and he may even settle out about them.

-The last thing requires a round pen, but i only do this for my wild horses, let him loose, stand in the middle. Keep a dominate mind set but not a dominate posture. Remain neutral. If he wants to get way this is a bad sign. If he stands with his ears back and relax but neither looking toward you or paying attention to your existance. This is bad. If he is looking toward you, approaches you or is listening this is good.

-If he is not responding approach, if he leans anyway turn your back and WALK AWAY! never make him move away. Eventually you can get closer and closer. He will careless, but moving toward him while he moves away will only encourage him to run away.

- HORSE PYSCOLOGY is the ONLY method the WORKS. you must appeal to his way of thinking. Humans think and live in the past, future, and present, Animals are only concearned with the present. Point- a horse will jump over 10 walls fine but 1 wall is different and now he is scared. It does not matter he has jumped all the others fine! He is concearned about whats in front of him. (a leader as a rider however will make the horse do the obsticle without resistance because the horse believes that the leader is always right, so this jump must be safe)

-Horses, more so because of their prey role, remember specific things that hurt or scared them as a way of survival. They are not 're-living' the moment, they only know that object is danger. If you notice any fears, anxiousness, etc. Do not feel bad! He will take advange of this, LEAD HIM THROUGH it and then the bond will grow

-YOU ARE THE LEADER, you have the power! GO YOU!!!

-horses DO remember other horses and people, animals, etc. because they are part of the herd. They are a need for survival and life. When your horse recognizes your voice that is great.

-BE THERE EVERYDAY, even if it is for only a few minutes, time around his enviroment means you imprint on it. You become a part of his world.

Good Luck and Be Sure To Be Safe!

Answer 10

Spending lots of time is good. If you have an opportunity to trail ride by yourself, that is a great way to bond with your horse. That way  you are in a situation where you and your horse not only get to spend time alone doing something together but also have to trust each other. But spending any kind of time is good, even just taking your horse for a walk.

David

http://gentlenaturalhorseman.blogspot.co...

Answer 11

i just kind chillax with mine. Me and her are pretty tight lol. I give her treats and pet her,,,,she loves to lay her head on my shoulder and let me hug her <3.... id say her favorite thing to do is eat lol

Answer 12

There is this really nice program by Pat Parelli its  really cool and totallly works.  My horse and I love it!!!  Our fave thing to do is play hide n go seek and take swims in the pond.

Answer 13

Hello , Well frist I will say good luck with your new horse !!

Now I rescue horses so I bond with my resuces very easy as I have seen them grow into lovley horses and they are not scared or neglect anymore like they where when I frist got them  they are loved and healthy . Ok well I love to have some horse toys in the paddock like we have a Jolly Ball they are made of hard rubber and if the horse bites it is still a ball and not a ball with not air lol , so I love to put treats inside the ball and the horses roll it will there nose and then it also has a big rubber handle so they pick it up in there mouth ,and throw it around , it is so cute I love to ride my horse sto build condfadice up with that horse and I also love to teach them tricks and things like that , I also teach them how to lead in a natural horse manship methoed , So I just love to spend as much time possable with the and for both of us to have very good trust with each other as when you are in the saddle you need trust with them

Anyway good luck with your horses and Have fun :)

Thanks