Don’t you just love the name of this post? How to make your horse like you. Too great. I only say that because I don’t know how else to put it. A better way to put it is, are you wondering how to create a bond with your horse? Creating a bond or mutual respect from your partnership with your horse is probably what you are hoping for.
But we as people tend to push our emotions onto our horses. Well, I can only speak for myself. So I should say I tend to think that my horses have emotions and they should like me. Or rather, I want them to like me.
How to Create a Bond with Your Horse
You can’t force your horse to like you. But you can become the person that your horse can trust will be there day in and day out. By establishing a routine with your horse, you will become the one thing in your horse’s life that is constant and reliable.
It has been my experience that horses thrive on routine. At least, that is what I have learned from the horses I have owned over the years. They come to rely on the routine.
For example, my horses know they will be fed every morning at around 6:30 A.M. They know they will be fed around 7:00 P.M in the evening.
They know they will get groomed before their dinner every evening, weather permitting.
The routine keeps them calm. Or at least give them something to rely on. And when they have an established schedule of when to expect certain things – they don’t have to worry. There I go, giving my horses emotions again.
But aside from the routine, there are other things that can help the relationship you have with your horse.
Be Relaxed
For example, if you are rushing around because you only have a limited amount of time with your horse – this transfers to your horse. Your rushing and anxiety will transfer over to your horse. If you are tense, your horse will be tense. And if you’re relaxed, your horse will relax.
So maybe don’t put as strict of rules on yourself when you are working with your horse. Pay attention to how your horse is acting and adjust your plan from there.
It helps to think of it as if your horse were a mirror of you because, well, he is. If you are tense, it will show in your horse.
But if you are relaxed, your horse will be more relaxed.
I find that no matter what I am doing with my horses, whether it is grooming them, taking them for a walk, or riding, if I am consistent with being with them, this helps the relationship between my horses and myself.
Be Consistent
So I encourage you to make a point to be consistent with the routine you have with your horse. Commit to this for 30 days, and see if things improve for the relationship you have with your horse. I would be willing to bet it will.
In fact, I am certain of it. So certain that I have decided to help you in the next 30 days or so.
I won’t be able to participate in the No Stirrups November challenges this year because I will be out of commission for a bit while recovering from shoulder surgery (yuck).
But I have thought up a plan to help you be consistent with your horse, and I challenge you to follow along with my 30-day challenge starting now. I think it will be a lot of fun! And what have you got to lose? If you don’t change anything you are doing now, nothing will change with your horse. But if you could make a point to give your horse even just 20 minutes a day, I think you will see a positive change that you will want to continue to build upon.
