Whenever someone talks about pet animals, we often limit ourselves to either dogs or cats. But if we tell you, you can get the same love with horses as well, what will be your reaction? Confused! Don’t worry. Keep reading, and you’ll know more.
Horses are social animals or more like herd animals. But no two horses are alike. Some are loners and handle a solitary life well. And others adapt to the circumstances and develop stable vices. But did you know that these creatures can read human facial expressions clearly? And if you consider certain studies, they might even remember your mood.
But how to get started initially?
Everything Starts With Forming a Bond
This is quite a simple ideology. If someone doesn’t trust you or feels comfortable around you, why would they do anything you ask for. Similarly, horses need time to gel with humans. So, you must give them some time to get to know you. That way, they will better understand you.
But how to do that? It’s simple. All you need to do is start spending some time with your horse. Start focusing on low-stress activities with a positive feeling. And when it’s due, make sure to reward the horse. Let the horse associate you with positivity.
Other than that, focus on the likes and dislikes of your horse. Understand his/her fears and emotions and make sure to keep a note of them when you start the training process. When you take the first few steps, your horse will naturally come closer to you and start taking you as a part of your herd.
Now that you have attained some affection and confidence, the next step is to prepare him well via training. Surprisingly, horsemanship is often referred to as an art. Contrary to popular belief, you won’t have to jump on the bucking broncos to train them. That’s too much exaggeration.
It is a lot simpler and less dangerous than what the Wild West always portrayed. But how to get started? Let’s find out!
Master The Foundation of Training
There is a saying, “if you can’t do it on the ground, you won’t be able to achieve anything in the saddle.” So, you must master the groundwork. To do that, you must start with some of the key exercises mentioned below.
Standing Still- The purpose of this exercise is to let your horse understand the meaning of leadership and that you are in charge.
Leading- The purpose of this is to help the horse understand your body language.
Flexing and Soften- The purpose is to let your horse adjust to pressure tactics and respond well.
Moving their hind end and front end- Doing this will help them understand your personal space.
The whole idea of these exercises is to develop a bond so that nothing happens when you are on the saddle. If you don’t, you might face a situation that will leave you with a rearing horse that can be dangerous for your horse and the rider if left uncorrected. It could be because he/she is stressed or being disrespectful. Whatever may be the case, you’ll have to develop a rapport with your horse not to let that happen ever.
Wrapping up
Horse training is quite fun, but it can be a challenge, especially for beginners. Experts suggest leaving the young horses to experienced trainers. And if you don’t know how to get started, you can always take classes online or look for videos to train your horse in a fun way.
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