Caring for Your Horse. Lesley Ward

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      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.