Content

• Steps
• Part 1 of 3: Learn Horse Information
• Part 2 of 3: Build the Horse's Trust
• Part 3 of 3: Establish Your Leadership With Your Horse
• Tips
• Warnings

It can be worthwhile to acquire a horse that has been mistreated in the recent past. The animal will have a new home and a caring owner, and you yourself will get the chance to make friends with a special animal. Your relationship may even develop into a true friendship for life. Keep in mind, however, that a worn-out horse may have lost trust in people, so first you will need to take the time to build their trust and develop a sense of comfort and safety in your presence.

Steps

Part 1 of 3: Learn Horse Information

1. 1 Learn about passive and active abuse. Before you start building the horse's trust, you need to find out exactly what kind of abuse it has experienced in the past. There are two types of abuse: passive and active. Passive mistreatment does not physically harm the animal. Rather, it belongs to the category of poor care (for example, the horse was poorly fed, not given enough water, there was no proper housing for the horse and there was no proper veterinary care).
   • Active mistreatment involves physical harm to an animal, such as overuse of a whip, overuse, beating.
   • The type of abuse can affect how long it takes for a horse to gain trust in you. Passive abuse is often easier to overcome than active abuse.
2. 2 Find out more about the horse's past. Understanding the type of abuse a horse has experienced will help you appreciate the difficulty of the subsequent struggle for its trust. Find out as much information as possible about the animal's past - this will help you get an idea of ​​how to work with it further. For example, you can ask a variety of probing questions. When was the horse mistreated? How long did the abuse last? How bad was the treatment?
   • It is also wise to ask what the horse is afraid of.
   • In addition, ask about past veterinary care (eg deworming, vaccinations, dental examinations).
   • Try to learn more about the horse's temperament. Is she aggressive? Is it easy to get scared?
   • It also helps to find out if an animal behavior specialist has tried to work with the horse.
   • There are many questions to ask previous horse owners or a horse rescue group to learn more about the animal. Try to ask as many questions as possible and ask whatever comes to your mind.
3. 3 Find out what special needs your horse has. Depending on the type and severity of past abuse, a horse can have quite a few special needs. For example, if she was not given enough food and water, she is likely to have special dietary needs to help her regain a healthy weight and correct nutritional deficiencies.
   • If the horse has not received normal veterinary care, it is likely that a variety of veterinary procedures will need to be performed, including deworming, vaccinations, dental examinations, hoof trimming, and so on.
   • If actively mistreated, the horse may have injuries that require treatment.
   • Be aware that some of the consequences of mistreatment can be hidden. The animal may develop severe behavioral disturbances requiring the involvement of an experienced equine behavioral psychologist.
   • Consult with your veterinarian to find out the specific needs of your horse that you need to meet to get it back in good shape.
4. 4 Get to know your horse's other needs. If the horse is mistreated, it can be emotionally vulnerable.Before an animal can gain confidence in you, it must begin to feel comfortable and safe in your presence. In addition to emotional comfort, she will need to get used to companionship and daily routine again.
   • The above needs are just as important as the basic needs of the horse (feed, water, shelter).
   • Training exercises and quality time with your horse will help you meet its needs.

Part 2 of 3: Build the Horse's Trust

1. 1 Explore your horse's body language. Learning to understand your horse's body language will allow you to communicate more effectively with your horse, which in turn will help build trust. A badly treated horse may display certain signals from negative experiences (for example, it may start to tremble, tense its muscles). The better you understand her feelings at any given time, the better you will cope with the consequences of the abuse.
   • Tremors are common in horses that have been mistreated. The horse may begin to tremble when you approach it for fear that you will hurt it.
   • A tremor in a horse can be a signal that it is ready to go kicking. Therefore, be prepared to move quickly to safety yourself if the horse begins to tremble.
   • Also, a badly treated horse may tense his muscles in response to being touched and approached.
   • As a result of active mistreatment, the horse may exhibit aggressive body language, such as pounding with his front foot, wiggling his croup, and tucking his ears. For your own safety, do not try to approach or work with your horse when it is aggressive.
   • Check with your veterinarian or animal psychologist if you are unsure of how to understand certain horse body language signals.
2. 2 Learn to approach the horse correctly. Learning to approach your horse the right way is an important factor in building trust. When you approach an animal, your movements should be unhurried and calm. In addition, approach the horse from the side and not directly from the side of the muzzle.
   • If you approach from the front, the animal may perceive this as a threat. Because of this, the horse will begin to fear you and may be warlike to meet you.
   • Your own body language should tell you that you are calm, confident and fully aware of what is happening around you (move slowly, breathe calmly).
   • Do not make direct eye contact with the horse when approaching it.
   • Stay some distance from the horse before approaching. This will allow you to observe the animal's body language and find out if it is ready for your invasion of its personal space. If the horse looks relatively calm (ears are turned to the sides, head is down, one hind leg is raised and placed on the toe of the hoof), start approaching it from the side.
   • Body language that shows fear or anxiety (eg, flattened and backward ears, hoof pounding, tight muzzle muscles) indicates that the horse probably does not want you to approach.
   • Consider using the approach and retreat method. Walk to the side of the horse for a few seconds and then step back. Approach again, pat her on the shoulder or withers, then step back again. The horse will not only begin to feel safe in your presence (after all, predators will not retreat after approaching), but will also become curious about you.
3. 3 Start touching the horse. A badly treated horse may be resistant to touch, as it may associate it with physical pain and punishment. For this reason, you must be extremely careful with how and where you touch your horse. Start by gently scratching your chest, shoulder, or withers.
   • Watch your horse's body language when you touch it. A badly treated horse can be particularly fearful and prone to sudden movements. Constant observation of your horse's body language will allow you to quickly step aside if you feel an increase in fear and anxiety in the animal.
   • As the horse gets a little used to you, try touching his body in other places, such as touching his neck and legs.
   • Do not touch the horse's head and muzzle. Horses usually don't care about touching their noses.
   • Don't be overly affectionate with your horse. She may not yet be ready for affection, in addition, usually horses themselves are not very affectionate in their relationship with each other.
4. 4 Talk to your horse. The manner in which you speak to your horse will also influence his trust in you. Previous owners may have yelled at the horse or not talked to it at all. Talking to your horse in a soothing and reassuring tone will help you build trust.
   • Never raise your voice to a horse.
   • Spend at least a few minutes a day talking to your horse.
   • Of course, what exactly you say does not matter. It's just that the more you talk, the better the horse recognizes your voice and begins to feel safe with you.

Part 3 of 3: Establish Your Leadership With Your Horse

1. 1 Train your horse retreat under pressure. In the wild, herds of horses have a leader followed by all other horses. For a badly treated horse to start trusting you, it needs to see you as a leader to protect and care for it. Teaching a horse to retreat under direct and indirect pressure is a great way to establish leadership.
   • With direct pressure, you must gently press down on the horse's body with your hand until it moves. Release the pressure as soon as the horse moves.
   • For indirect pressure, you will need to clip the reins to the horse's bridle. Standing about a meter away from the horse, point your finger at it and start swinging the reins. Continue pointing your finger at the horse and wiggling the reins until the horse backs down, then stop applying pressure.
   • Don't be surprised if the horse doesn't immediately yield to your pressure. Be patient and continue talking to the animal in an encouraging tone. Eventually, the horse will begin to respond correctly to pressure.
   • Read at the lowest possible pressure, and then gradually increase it with each lesson.
   • Be aware that abused horses may be hypersensitive or desensitized to pressure.
2. 2 Drive your horse. Driving a horse is another good way to establish itself as a leader. This training will train the horse to respect your privacy and will help to develop trust in you as well as strengthen the relationship with you.
   • Driving a horse next to you (from a partner position) is considered the safest and preferred method. You can sit next to any of the horse's shoulders, but it is generally accepted to drive the horse from the left shoulder.
   • It is helpful to keep your elbow extended towards the horse's body - this will reduce the risk of the horse pushing you if he gets too close to you.
   • Keep the excess length of the rein twisted in your hand.Do not wrap halter on the arm or wrist. Otherwise, the horse, If the horse suddenly takes off, and you cannot get rid of the reins, the animal can drag you along and cause you serious injury.
   • It is not recommended to lead the horse from a position in front of it (leadership position) or behind it (trailing position).
3. 3 Be consistent. Establishing a leadership role for your horse will require consistency and daily practice. It can take a long time for the horse to accept you as a leader and to begin to trust you due to the bad treatment he has suffered. However, don't be discouraged.The more consistent you are in training your animal, the more the horse will trust you and feel safer around you.
   • For horses, the daily routine is important.
   • The sequence should also apply to other modes of interaction with the horse, including brushing and feeding.
   SPECIALIST'S ADVICE

   

   Kate jutagir

   
   
   Horse Riding Specialist and Trainer Keith Jutagir is an equestrian, jumping coach (hunter class) and owner of Blackhound Equestrian, an upscale training ground spanning 65 acres in Castro Valley, California. Originally created as a riding school to serve as a launching pad for those aiming at an athletic career, Blackhound Equestrian has grown into a training program for hunters of all levels, designed to lay a solid foundation for personal advancement in the sport. Keith has over 25 years of experience in horse riding training. Her focus on developing a partnership between horse and rider helps to provide comprehensive training for beginners and experienced riders alike.

   Kate jutagir
   Riding specialist and trainer

   Expert warning: If you are having serious problems gaining the trust of your horse, it may be necessary to seek professional help. Look for local trainers and veterinarians who are ready to come to you and help you determine the best direction for working with your horse.

   
   

Tips

• In general, in order to gain the horse's trust, you must give him five intangible benefits from yourself: your kindness, compassion, patience, leadership and respect.
• Use a bridle for riding horses if the horse is behaving aggressively.
• Consult a horse veterinarian or animal psychologist if you are struggling to cope with the consequences of horse abuse on your own.
• Horses are very good at feeling the mood of people and other horses. You can inadvertently stress the horse if you feel fear or anxiety around the horse. Always be confident and relaxed around your horse.

Warnings

• Always remain vigilant with your horse. Past negative experiences can cause a horse to behave in an unpredictable and dangerous manner.