Try approaching from the side and avoid direct eye contact. As you get close to your horse, hold your hand out to allow the horse to sniff you. If the horse is still afraid, try bending at the waist while you hold out your hand and avert your gaze.
Try to spend some time with your horse every day. Even if you only have 10 or 20 minutes, you can spend that time grooming your horse or squeezing in a short warm-up ride. [3] X Research source
Stand next to your horse’s head, facing the same direction as he is. Hold the lead rope in your hand and slowly bend down at the waist with your head down. Gently guide the horse’s head down with you. This should pull your horse out of his alert, guarded pose, and over time he will see that he can safely let his guard down around you. Stroke or scratch your horse, but don’t pat him. Patting is not something that horses do to each other in the wild. Stroking or scratching mimics the way a horse might rub against another horse in the wild, and it’s the best way to soothe an anxious horse and get him used to your touch. Use an index finger to gently stroke the groove that runs down the top of your horse’s muzzle. Stroke gently and run your finger down the entire length of the muzzle. This can be incredibly relaxing in some horses, and will help desensitize your horse to your touch. Hold your horse’s muzzle with one hand and gently slide one finger from your other hand into the back corner of your horse’s mouth. Horses shouldn’t have teeth in that part of the mouth, but it’s still important to proceed cautiously. Don’t force this exercise if your horse still isn’t comfortable being touched by you. Once your finger is in, gently and very briefly stroke your horse’s tongue. This teaches the horse to submit to you, and over time will earn his trust.
Start with what your horse already knows. Then add easy challenges that you know he will be able to accomplish without too much effort. If your horse isn’t ready to jump over a new obstacle, that’s okay. Get him comfortable standing near the obstacle and smelling/looking at it, so that, over time, he’ll be comfortable and mentally prepared to jump over the obstacle. Don’t rush your horse. If he’s still not comfortable jumping over obstacles, forcing him to jump will only make him more distrustful of you, and could cause harm to both you and your horse. Let your horse investigate the obstacle as much as he needs to before he’s ready to jump over it, and be sure he’s comfortable being around the obstacle before you attempt to jump it.
Choose healthy treats as rewards. Vegetables like apples, carrots, and celery make excellent treats for horses if cut into small enough pieces. [6] X Research source Do not give your horse vegetables that tend to cause gas like cabbage or Brussels sprouts. Never give your horse any plants from the nightshade family, including onions, potatoes, tomatoes, eggplant, and peppers. [7] X Research source Always give treats in moderation. Giving too many treats or giving treats too often can also create problems like constant expectations of food, which can lead to nipping. For this reason, it’s important to set some kind of boundaries when it comes to how you reward your horse’s behavior. [8] X Research source Generally speaking, one or two pieces of horse-appropriate vegetables should suffice as a treat or reward. [9] X Research source Be cautious with hand-feeding your horse treats. If your horse doesn’t trust you yet, he might try to snatch treats as quickly as possible, which could result in your hand getting bit. Instead, offer treats in a bucket or feeding trough. [10] X Research source
Build your horse’s confidence by leading him to whatever he’s afraid of - say a creek that runs across your property. Use relaxation techniques to calm your horse, then lead him slowly toward the water. Let him watch the water, sniff the shore, and once he feels comfortable stepping into the water, let him stand in the water for a few moments to understand that it’s not a threat.
Bucking, bolting, and rearing up are all examples of bad horse behavior that need to be corrected. These actions are generally caused by your horse not trusting or respecting you, and can cause serious harm to you or other riders. [14] X Research source If your horse engages in any of these behaviors, contact a qualified horse trainer before any further attempts at riding your horse. Look for a trainer or other qualified expert through a professional organization, like the American Quarter Horse Association. Search online for a trainer near you.
