How to Approach a Horse

Extension.usu.edu/Equine

[@lrg613]

I worked retraining horses off the racetrack in my 30s. One day, I was told to work with another new rescue. I had to get into a very small stall with a giant thoroughbred named Frankenstein. First, I introduced myself and scratched his head and neck. After he seemed calm and accepting, I gingerly entered the stall with barely enough room for my body and his. I was pretty scared as I could get crushed if he wanted to. I continued to scratch and talk to him. Repeat for days. Poor guy was stuck in a tiny stall! So, I took him out to a small paddock to lunge. He was doing great - so willing to do as asked! Then, I noticed someone left a long whip in the sand and - stupid me - picked it up so I wouldn’t step on it. Frankie freaked! He screamed and jerked - did everything BUT buck and kick. Dragged me around because I wouldn’t let go of the lunge line for fear he would run into the fence even though I had dropped the whip. Frankie finally stopped screaming and calmed down just a little before the owner finally appeared, hearing the commotion. Seeing me disheveled and the horse panting, he grabbed the whip and was going after Frankie! Frankie was stopped along the barn wall so I put my body against his, arms spread across his body as a shield, and quickly explained it wasn’t his fault. He’s terrified of whips!! Everyone was told never pick up a whip around Frankie and he always behaved as a gentleman after that. I had to move a few months later but think about Frankie often, hoping no one every abused him again and he enjoyed the rest of his life because he really was a wonderful horse! I later owned a seven-year-old retired race horse who was not abused - we called him Big Dog because he was so gentle. But, many thoroughbreds are horribly abused!! If you can, join a rescue group and just bring them some love! It will be the most rewarding experience you can imagine!!

[@landsurfer66]

Great story, thanks for sharing.

[@kova1577]

God damn, I don’t know horse behaviour, but hearing the owner wanting to whip the horse for something he clearly didn’t understand seems abusive. I don’t take needless animal abuse lightly, I hope the owner gets what he rightfully deserves

[@MaverickSeventySeven]

As a non-rider but fascinated by horses, this is good information! But as an Artist, what a truly beautiful "coat"!!!

[@bestofatlconcerts]

I would highly recommend not rescuing off-the-track race horses if you are not an experienced horse person. They may have significant behavioral issues that is beyond the skill level of a beginner and intermediate horse people. These horses may even get worse in the hands of a person lacking the needed skills for helping problem horses.

[@lrg613]

@@bestofatlconcerts I agree with not rescuing or buying ANY horse if you’re a beginner. I climbed onto a neighbor’s horse at three, professionally trained since 13 in several disciplines, trainer since 25, and worked in barns since I can’t recall the age. Even with so much experience, I still made errors but everyone does. Some were painful! One trainer (an Olympian) made a huge mistake that caused me to leave his employ after his actions caused me to have a concussion! That being said, I never met a mean racehorse. I have met other horses who were, though; and, racehorses who had mental issues but those could be overcome since racehorses are trained to follow the rider’s commands from a very young age. I never had a racehorse buck or try to get me off their backs. Now, Arabians and some other breeds were a different story. I bought a retired racehorse and he was so wonderful, protective of his rider, and gentle, we called him Big Dog. When buying any horse, beware! The ones with issues are drugged so you can’t see them. I made the deal contingent upon return if I found they hadn’t been honest since my children would be riding BD. ALSO, the people who sell tack are not honest either! My spouse bought my first saddle when I was 25 and was taken to the cleaners with an expensive saddle that had a very narrow tree that was only good for ponies and small horses. Great gift - not! Couldn’t return it because they’d put my name on the saddle! Horses will react to an improper fit! No one talks about this - EVER!!

[@gweiloxiu9862]

Until a person has a working understand of horse behavior, I think it takes massive balls to even approach an animal that totally outclasses you in strength and size.

[@kova1577]

I’d only be worried if I was behind them because one kick could send your ribcage into a vital organ. Well, so can it trampling you, but using body language definitely should be a top priority and having someone that knows what they’ve doing or knows the horse with you

[@Tvgirlfan86529]

It took me half a year to approach my horse 😅😅 now he have a beautiful relationship I'm not scared of him anymore

[@shizukagozen777]

Idk I've never been scared of horses. 😅

[@jagritikumari4012]

Thank you ! I am a girl who dared doing it but got a bit injured too

[@suurjef5961]

​@@shizukagozen777then something is wrong. It is totally normal to be scared sometimes. Maybe not scared of the horse, but situations can be scary around horses. Especially when it is a herd and you in the middle of it. When a situation gets out of hand and you are not comfortable anymore, you can use that fear to fuel your body language to let the herd know. I think you should be fearfull, but know how to use it.

[@karlthorsten9118]

Used to ride myself, a horse at the stables was like Fritz the horse in Django Unchained: he responded when greered, head bow and all. Unusually clever, understood a lot of words, more than is usual, and helped when anyone was gonna ride him. Pulled in his belly for the saddle belt to make it easier for us, purät his head into the bit eagerly, and more. And he wasn't trained, he just learned and paid attention. Sadly, he passed away about 16 years ago, at the age of 39. I was the last to ride him. I still miss him.

[@lrg613]

Unusual. Some horses are just better than others. Like people. One trainer assigned me a horse that was “difficult to catch”. An Arabian mare named, Lady. Oh boy, was she at first! But, I arrived early and just spent time in the small field, making friends with carrots and scratches. For some reason, she decided she liked me and would come right to me - even with no treats. If I could have, I would have bought her because we were simpatico. Even the trainer said I should buy her but with young children I couldn’t afford the costs.

[@kuro3864]

I was at work and I went up to 2 horses. I was so amazed by how amazing they are and how intimidating they are up close but at the same time so gentle and calm.

[@alyssa1829]

This video is very helpful! I don't know too much about horses but soon I'm going to start working at a stable with horses so watching videos like this helps me feel better prepared. She is such a pretty horse!

[@Jmassey95]

I met a horse today, he was unbelievably friendly and as soon as I put my hand on his head he put his head on my shoulder and just let me talk to him and stroke him, was a surreal experience and I just wanna work with them now

[@shreenidhimohanraj5163]

Thank you for this video.. there was a stray horse roaming around near my neighborhood.. he had a wound in the left ear so I wanted to approach the horse and tie it so that I can get it treated. Watching this video gave me the confidence to approach the horse and tie it. Horses are so gentle and calm, yet they are also intimidating at times.

[@briannondahlke2763]

This was amazingly helpful since I started working at a stable!

[@papis_dad1847]

She is so beautiful

[@theralendz9136]

An amazing video I just got a horse and this helped a lot thank you very much 😁❤❤❤

[@RickyJr46]

Thank you, this was really helpful!

[@SuperCabrito14]

Great video, beautiful horse

[@clayoreilly4553]

Very nice mare. She's a beaut!

[@nortromsilencer2997]

Her fur is shining

[@Turboy65]

When a predator stalks prey, the predator is as silent as possible. Being somewhat noisy around a horse is a good way of telling the horse that you are not a predator. I prefer to introduce to a new horse, if it is calm and curious, by going nose to nose and trading breath with them. In horse language, this is a polite greeting. This has always served me well.

[@KkKk-px2le]

Till it bites you 😭😂

[@Turboy65]

@@KkKk-px2le So far that's never happened. Probably because my form of greeting tends to work very well.

[@dorothymerrell6091]

She is gorgeous.

[@R0jay]

Nice vid very useful🤙🏿

[@wajdiamayreh930]

Very useful video. Thank you very much. I bought a horse a month ago but she seems to kick at times. How can I deal with this problem and how can I train her?

[@colinbateman8233]

Good solid information

[@surffboard1095]

I started going around horses in my 20s. To this day in my mid 30s I had no idea of any risk. I go up to distant horses to acknowledge them of myself. They come up to me I speak to them in a HIGHT Tone quietly as I was raised around my grandmother. I feed Stanger horses all the time. Never one has been rude. I feed them apples raisins cantaloupe scraps. They seem to like raisins cantaloupe more.

[@cupricthehorse2796]

Please do not feed a strange horse without asking the horse's owner first. Horses can have insulin resistance (like human diabetes) and may be on special diets. Elderly horses with teeth problems might choke on treats because they can't chew them completely.

[@bobbybrooks4826]

If the horse has a blind spot in front of it then does it turn it's head or not to get into seeing binocular

[@silenusmeduseon8814]

Nice confirmation.

[@jmitterii2]

I can now get a job cleaning horse hooves.

[@pascalg16]

WOOOOAHH, eaasyy. You're alright girl

[@latorafitz]

Does That Hurt When You Pick There Feet

[@Franklin-pc3xd]

Wait just one blessed moment here!! How in God's name are we talking about "how to approach a horse" here with a handler already holding the horse on a halter line? This needs to be revised to demonstrating the approach when the horse is at liberty. This is like a video entitled "how to cook a soufflé" showing a person sitting at the table being served a plate of puffed eggs.

[@Juidodin]

2:25 - dont let the hoof just fall down like that...

[@gerrycoleman7290]

That horse sure could use the hooves trimmed.

[@bobbybrooks4826]

So I guess for us we have binocular vision at zero degrees ?? and then manage something way less than a 350 degree field of view maybe 170 degrees with 100 of it periferal and that peripheral is not that acute

[@attentionlabel]

Hi, does this work with cougars? A cougar is trying to eat me

[@angrywaffle427]

is he still trying to eat you?

[@woodendoor2719]

For a second I thought he said 'Karl Hooves'.

[@JJadx]

i kept approaching horses like i do with cats. turns out horses are kinda the exact opposite. hilarious to me now that some horses still happily said hi. prob used to dumb*sses haha.

[@alexwaugh5521]

What kind of horse is she

[@bobbybrooks4826]

You don't need to know much that's special about horses everything he says is the same for all animals.... The only changes are those that relate to each animals capabilities... Your not going to treat a blind cave fish like a sighted animal... And , on the less obvious end, you don't treat a monkey like a human.. Many people do this thinking that these aborial animals live on the ground like them and have muscles that can do what we can even as ours can't do what theirs do

[@mwansamackay2351]

I’m here cause they said I should approach girls like this

[@surffboard1095]

My grandfather said this gets then all the time

[@virginiamoss7045]

You're blocking what you are doing with your hand when cleaning the hooves. The camera operator should have come on around so we can see what you are doing.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

Good horsemen do not speak when they are around horses. Humans speak when communicating. Horse use body language to communicate with each other. To be effective with horses, humans use their body language to communicate with the horses. We need to learn the horse's language to effectively communicate.

[@epona9166]

True, horses use body language to communicate and so should we when we're dealing with horses. But I've never heard that you shouldn't speak around them. They learn a lot about us and our intentions from the tone of our voice (not our words) -- both when we humans are talking to them, and when we're standing nearby talking to each other. They can tell when our attention is on them, and when it is off them and they can relax.

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@epona9166 The point is not to overdo the talking. Otherwise the horse will ignore the verbal.

[@hidum5779]

@@gerrycoleman7290 I don't see how is he tryna talk to her anyway. Let her ignore the talking

[@gerrycoleman7290]

@@hidum5779 The Queen's English is not your first language?!