Improving Your Relationship With Your Horse for a Better Riding Experience
Riding a horse can be a truly liberating experience for both you and the animal, but it only tends to be that way when a good relationship is built over time. When you establish a high level of trust and understanding, your riding experience becomes less like hard work, which it can often feel like, and more as though you and the horse are as one. That is not something that will happen overnight, as a horse is not as easy to develop a bond with like you can with domestic animals. They will always maintain a wild streak and an individuality that takes time to understand and nurture.
In order to have a good relationship with your horse, you need to have an understanding of how the animal would behave if he were part of a larger herd. In that natural setting, horses value trust and security above all else, and will look to the alpha leader of the pack to provide that. Since you are the rider that is telling him where to go and what to do, it is your job to act s that alpha leader and deliver exactly what he wants in order to feel comfortable.
One of the most effective ways to deliver the level of trust to build a great relationship with the horse, you will be required to be aware of your surroundings at all times. Horses in a herd look for the alpha leader to be aware of danger and to lead them to safety when they are threatened. Get to know the behavioral patterns of your horse and the things that “spook” him, as this will make it easier for you to avoid placing him in situations where he will be uncomfortable. If he gets the sense that you are always trying to steer him clear of danger, he will be quicker to respond to your directions without question.
Just as you have boundaries and a personal space, so do horses. If you find that your horse does not like to be touched in a certain place or doesn’t like to be approached in a certain way, be aware of that and avoid doing it. You must do the same for yourself, discouraging behavior in the horse that makes you uncomfortable or which invades your boundaries. Once you have both established those boundaries and make an effort to maintain them, the level of trust on both sides will grow exponentially.
The trust and sense of security that you build will continue to grow if you can remain consistent in your actions at all times. Your horse will not have to spend time wondering what to expect if you treat him the same way every single time you ride. He will quickly view you as the alpha leader and will allow you to push him in the direction that you want go without question if he senses that you have his best interests at heart. That will allow you both to concentrate on the freedom you get from riding whenever you decide to get together.
