Mutual trust between horse and rider is the foundation for perfect harmony. Only when unconditional trust and understanding are achieved can you become "one" with the horse.

 

The horse is a flight animal. Instinctively, even the domesticated horse relies on its hearing, sense of smell and innate sensitivity to distinguish between enemy and friend to ensure its survival. As a horse owner or rider, you must establish a bond of respect and trust with your horse by communicating with him in the horse language. In the horse world, trust equals affection. Through a bond between you and your horse, you will guarantee the horse's lasting affection.

 

Gain the trust of the horse

 

Teach your horse good manners. The horse should respect your space. It should walk at a sufficient distance from you when being led, lift its hooves to scratch out when requested and stand quietly when saddled. Training your horse shows him that you can be trusted as a leader.

Even if you are not riding, you should spend time with the horse. Sit with the horse while it eats. This way the horse notices your smell and habits and learns that you are not a rival for its food. Whether you are riding or otherwise interacting with the horse, you should always speak calmly to it so that it recognises your voice when you call its name.

Clean your horse every day, if possible. The gentle body massage and soothing touches show the prey animal horse that you are not hurting it. Body contact builds the horse's confidence so that it will let you calm it down if it is nervous or anxious. You also have to show the horse that you trust him. So you must not show fear when it is nervous, your voice must not tremble, because the horse can only trust you when you are emotionally stronger and more composed. A horse senses when you are afraid of it. Trust that the horse would never consciously hurt you, because that is in the nature of every horse.

 

Train the horse with a gentle and steady hand. Never pull on the horse's mouth with the reins and do not wear spurs. Never hit a horse with a crop, especially not in anger or as punishment. If you want the horse to trust you one hundred percent, you must never hurt it.

Ride your horse as often as possible. Through regular communication using body language from the horse's back, horse and rider get to know each other's character traits and mutual strengths and weaknesses. In moments of stress, it pays to know each other's personalities well.