Handling a Horse

      If you’ve been taking regular riding lessons, you already have had some handling experience. Handling describes the activities you do with a horse while on the ground such as catching him, leading him, and working around him.

      It’s very important to learn correct handling for your own safety. Horses can be unpredictable, and even the quietest, most sensible horse can spook and run off. When a horse is upset, he will step on you or knock you over without a thought because his instinct is to escape whatever is upsetting him. This is why you should always be aware when you’re around a horse. Almost anything could happen.

      Understanding Horse Behavior

      Understanding horse behavior helps you know how to react if your horse acts badly or does something that seems strange. Here are a few things to consider:

      Horses, by nature, are herd creatures. They like to be in the company of other horses. This behavior dates back thousands of years to when your horse’s ancestors lived in the wild. It was much safer for them to live in a herd because a solitary horse was more likely to get attacked and eaten by a predator. Some horses are hard to catch when out in a field because they don’t want to leave their herdmates. Similarly, if you are riding a horse in company, he may be reluctant to go away from his buddies.

      Horses would rather run than fight. Their primary defense is running, which is why they spook or shy (jump or run away from scary objects) so much. If they spot something they think is dangerous, their natural reaction is to run away from it: a response that may have helped them survive for millions of years. Remember this when your horse reacts violently to a flapping garbage bag or an unusual noise. His first reaction may be to get away from it fast. Try not to punish this behavior, as it is only natural.

      Horses take their cues from other horses. If one horse becomes antsy in the warm-up arena at a show for example, it is likely that others will catch on and act badly too. If one horse won’t be caught in a field, others also may be difficult to catch.

      Horses have remarkable memories. This can be good and bad. A good memory is a plus when you teach a horse a new task and he remembers it the next time. But if he has a bad experience, such as a terrible ride in a trailer or a painful visit with the veterinarian, he will remember it for years.

      Horse Sense

      A horse can smell things you can’t, hear things you can’t, and see things you can’t. That’s why he may react strongly to something you don’t sense. He may be nervous because he can smell a coyote a mile down the trail, or he may spook at a child running behind you in the arena. It’s important to know about the senses that keep a horse aware of what’s going on around him.

      Let a horse know when you are behind him.

       VISION

      Horses have a unique way of seeing things. They have the largest eyes of any land mammal. The placement of their eyes on the sides of the head gives them a wide field of view—reportedly up to a radius of 200 degrees. Horses, however, don’t see objects well directly in front or directly behind themselves, so keep that in mind when you are trail riding or riding in a new area. Horses do have night vision, but it is not as acute as a cat or a dog’s. Once in darkness, a horse’s night vision is impaired when light is briefly introduced.

      Move carefully around the following areas:

       directly behind the tail

       directly in front of the forehead

       under his head and around the front legs

      If you have to groom a horse around these areas, speak to the horse so he knows where you are.

       HEARING

      A horse has large, funnel-shaped ears that catch even the tiniest noise. They also rotate so the horse can hear sounds from any direction. If a horse hears something that interests him, both of his ears will point toward the source of the sound.

       SMELL

      When a horse spots something scary, once he feels brave enough, he’ll give it a big sniff. If he meets a new horse, he’ll sniff him, too, so that he can later identify the other horse as familiar and safe, or hostile and dangerous. Your horse will soon come to recognize your smell.

       TOUCH

      A horse’s skin is very sensitive. Notice how he can flick away the tiniest fly, no matter where it lands on his body. Some horses hate being groomed with a hard brush and fidget and grind their teeth. Make your horse happy and use a soft brush. The areas around the nose and mouth are particularly sensitive, so avoid patting or touching him there. You might think stroking your horse’s nose would be soothing, but he’d probably prefer that you pat him on the neck instead.

      Horse “Talk”

      A horse’s body language can tell you what he’s feeling and help you predict what he’s going to do. You can avoid accidents by paying close attention to your horse’s body language.

      Here are some interpretations of common horse body language:

       Pinning his ears back means he feels angry or threatened.

       Pawing with his front hooves means he is impatient or hungry.

       Swishing his tail violently means he is irritated or grumpy.

       Swinging his hindquarters toward you means he’s afraid of you or he may kick.

       Lifting a leg could mean he is preparing to kick.

       Ears forward, head reaching toward you means he’s interested in you. He may be asking, “Hey, do you have a treat for me?”

       Resting a hind leg could mean he is tired or simply feeling relaxed.

      When

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