Spend time with your horse making friends, not demands.
There is a quiet revolution taking place in the equestrian world. According to horse expert Michael Bevilacqua, author of the book "Beyond the Dream Horse", people around the globe are learning about the damaging long-term effects that riding has on horses, both physically and psychologically, and giving up riding. What, then, do you do with a horse, if not ride it? Befriend your horse and discover the magical bond that occurs when you give up making demands of your horse, and make friends with your equine companion instead.
Instructions
Time Together Doing Nothing
1. Friends spend time together doing nothing, except being together.
Spend time with your horse doing absolutely nothing. Your horse should be free, with no tack, so she can come and go at will. If you are nervous about being around your horse without restraints, do what you can, even if you stay outside the fence while your horse grazes. Let your horse initiate the friendship and come over to you. Be patient, this could take a few minutes or a few hours over a period of days or weeks. Taking this time is important if you want to be a true friend to your horse. You may sit in a chair and read either to yourself or aloud. Your horse will be curious and eventually come over to investigate. If that happens, say hello to your horse and stroke her. When you're ready to leave, drop a treat on the ground and call your horse over. Feeding treats by hand can sometimes make the horse nippy and want to be with you for the treat. Let your horse discover what a smart friend you are by simply showing her where the treat may be found.
2. Your horse enjoys gentle rubs and scratches so be generous with both.
Wait for your horse to come to you. When she does, stroke your horse's neck gently, while talking to her. Tell your horse how happy you are to spend time with her. Spend 10 or 15 minutes or more stroking your horse and gently scratching her. Find your horse's favorite spot to be scratched -- she will let you know by curling up her lip or stretching her neck out -- and focus on that spot. When you are done and walk away, your horse may follow you, still wanting to be with you. This is a good sign that your friendship is well underway. Leave a treat on the ground and thank your horse for spending time with you.
3. A walk with your horse is a great way to build your relationship.
Discover what activities both of you will enjoy doing together. Taking a walk with your horse is a wonderful way to build your friendship. Use a flat halter, since rope halters can be painful for horses on the spots where the knots create pressure. Take turns deciding where to go. Sometimes your horse will want to graze on a particular patch of grass or maybe even smell a flower. Let her. Then you decide where to go. In a human friendship, each person takes turns deciding where to go or what to do. It's the same when you are building a friendship with your horse.
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