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Trust is necessary when you wish to control your horse with ease. Certainly, you can still ride a horse that you are uncomfortable with but it will be harder to control a horse when it feels threatened or uncomfortable around you. This is especially true if the horse you chose has had a bad past with other owners. This can make it difficult to build the bond between the both of you. But with perseverance, you can learn to become close.
If your horse has never been mistreated but is skittish by virtue, it will also make it harder for the horse to have faith in you. All it takes is some time together. You need to think through how you wish to move towards him. Make sure you move slowly and approach the horse from the left. When approaching a horse with things in your hand, do put your hands in front of you to let him ascertain that there is nothing threatening with what you are holding.
Do not wear baggy outfits when you are moving close to a skittish horse. The wind could pick up your shirt or pants and cause a sudden clothing flapping noise that will spook him. Once they associate you with any kind of fear, it will take much longer for the horse to trust you at all. It is not a good thing if the horse moves or shies away from its owner over things.
No one should push a horse to do something before he is totally confident. You will want your horse to trust and depend upon you completely before you ask him to jump or go down an unfamiliar terrain. Let him gain assurance in himself by trying easier obstacles and running down wide open courses. If he jumps and stumbles, he might have trouble trusting you to jump again and you might second guess his decisions while jumping. So long as you know that each of you can trust the other, you will have a safe and successful ride.
If you have a horse that has been abused, it can be nearly impossible to gain the horses trust. You shouldn't give up hope, however. Patience and love has been known to work with many horses.
A good way to start with a horse that has been abused is to spend hours talking and sitting with him. Talk with a soft, calming voice and occasionally bring them a treat. Do not attempt to ride the horse or force him to do things he is unwilling to try. It could take days before he is afraid at the very sight of you. Once he doesn't seem to mind your company, you can try to approach him. A frightened horse is a very dangerous animal, so be sure that you do not corner him. Offer him a treat and try to stroke his muzzle. If he eats the treat from your hands, you are making great strides!
If you can touch your horse and he lets you pat him, you are nearly there. Do not attempt to get on a horse that has been mistreated previously without the supervision of professional trainers who are skilled with dealing with such horses. You do not wish to be in the situation whereby you are on the back of a horse that only trusts you when you are on the ground, but not when you are on its back.
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Moses Wright is a pet lover. He started a web site to offer basic horse care tips and guide help fellow horse lovers with their horse problems. You can find more horse breed info and tips for free on his web site.
Disclaimer: All information on this site is provided for informational purposes only! By no means is any
information presented herein intended to substitute for the advice provided to you by any health care or other professional
or organization.
