A Horse is a Horse

Sometimes, when you buy or have a young horse some of the cute little things that they do can prove to be harmful to you and others as you horse grows. One of the cute things is when your little guy gets your attention by nudging you with his head, or even nipping at you as you try to hand feed him. Walking so close to you, almost as if you never cut the umbilical cord. These are very adorable sites when your little one is young. But, how does this behavior become not so cute anymore?

First of all, as soon as your horse begins any of these "cute" behaviors, you need to nip it in the butt. Not only can it be a danger, it can and will become bothersome. You need to stop this behavior from the get go. A young horse is taught by your actions what is acceptable and what is not. By allowing such behavior, even for a little while you are actually showing the horse that he is the boss and not you. His behavior is acceptable and you will allow it. A horse is very much like a child. Do not allow bad behavior at all. You have to be the ADULT to the horse. Teach him what is acceptable and what is not.

How do I stop my horse from trying to be the boss, you ask. Pretty simple, as long as you are willing to be consistent. As with any living thing, consistency is the key in modifying behaviors. As soon as your horse shows an inappropriate behavior, correct it. If your horse is nipping at you when you go to feed, absolutely under no circumstances should you give any food by hand or any treats. That is the best way to stop your horse from nipping. Also, try to use a lead line as often as possible, usually a firm "NO" and tug on the lead line will correct the problem. Again, consistency will be the key for successfully breaking your horse of the bad behaviors. When you are being nipped at and then give the food to your horse in order for him to stop, you are essentially teaching him that nipping you gets rewarded, so you want to be nipped at. That is definitely not the behavior that you will want from your horse.

For the lovely horse that loves to invade your space, well this can be a problem when you are leading your horse from one area to another. When your horse starts to lean in closer to you than you want, push him aside a little and tell him "walk on," and continue your stroll. Every single time you notice your horse moving in closer repeat . Over time and repetition your horse will learn the difference between your space and his space. Giving you the chance to enjoy your walk with him.

By allowing your horse to be in your space you are giving him the upper hand. Not the wisest of choices you could make when it comes to your horse. Once you realize your horse has taken authority away from you, you will need to rethink your training methods. Horses are smart animals and once they win, they will continue to test all the waters until they have won, and become the one that is in control of your relationship. Be strong, firm and consistent when gaining your roll as the owner, the controller and your relationship with your horse will be filled with respect and trust. You will find that your horse will be eager to please you and respect your wishes once he has learned that you are to be trusted.