| Getting along with a horse does not come | | | | more than likely use his tail to tell you. If you kick a |
| automatically. There are some horses that, no matter | | | | horse, and he starts swishing or spinning his tail, he's |
| what you do, you will never win them over. I know. I | | | | probably not liking the fact you kicked him. If you |
| have had a few of those. But, for those horses that | | | | kick him and he bucks, that is another sign that he |
| can become your friend, you have to remember he | | | | isn't liking it. You can't give into all of his signs. You |
| will also become your partner. You have to be | | | | hope, as your partnership goes on, that you will both |
| partners in what you do as you are working | | | | give in a little bit until you are at a place where |
| together. | | | | you've adjusted your riding to fit his style and he's |
| In order to achieve this partnership, you have to gain | | | | adjusted some of his like and dislikes to fit your style. |
| the horse's trust. That can take time especially if it is | | | | One way to earn a horse's trust is in his stall. When |
| a horse you bought. When you buy a horse, he | | | | you first get a horse, you have to start building a |
| doesn't know you and you really don't know him yet. | | | | bond with him. Spend a lot of time in his stall talking |
| This is the time to start getting to know one | | | | to him and petting him and giving him a lot of treats. |
| another. You may ride differently than he is used to. | | | | You also have to make sure he is comfortable. Make |
| You may use a lot of leg and this is a horse that | | | | sure all the sheets and blankets you put on him fit |
| doesn't like a lot of leg. Further, maybe your hands | | | | and are clean. You don't want anything to rub on him |
| aren't as quiet as he would like. Give it time. You | | | | that may bother him. Many times we will use blankets |
| need to listen to what he is saying to you. | | | | that have come from another horse, but they don't |
| Horses speak to us in many different way when we | | | | necessarily fit the new one. A blanket that is too |
| ride them. Horses talk to us through body language. | | | | small can pinch and rub and make him crabby for the |
| One way they communicate is with their ears. When | | | | day. That's one day lost in gaining trust. |
| a horse pins his ears back, you know there is | | | | As time goes on and you learn to listen and whisper |
| something that is bothering him. It is your job to | | | | to your horse as Monty Roberts says, you and he |
| figure out what that is. It may not necessarily have | | | | will develop a true partnership that should go on for |
| anything to do with what your doing. It could be that | | | | many years to come. Always think of your horse as |
| another horse is too close to him or there is a fly on | | | | your dance partner. You will not be successful unless |
| him. If it is something you have done, a horse will | | | | you move together. |