Building Equine Confidence
Winning Your Horse's Trust

You ride a horse even if he is nervous of you, but it is much more agreeable to ride a horse that trusts you entirely. Getting your horse to trust you is not always a straightforward undertaking, especially if he has been ill-treated in the past.

If you have a horse that is uneasy around people and/or other horses, but hasn't been mistreated, it might be that he needs a bit of time before he'll come to trust you, so be patient. Always approach him openly. Don't make sudden movements and show him what is in your hands, even if it is only a hoof pick, before you try to use it on him. Know his sensitive area, ears or eyes or feet, and be respectful of this.

Avoid wearing loose clothing that could flap suddenly and spook your horse. Be careful if you want to take you coat of while in the saddle and don't throw it across the nearest fence. Once a horse links you with unpredictability and fear, you will have your work cut out to regain his trust.

No one should push a shy horse to do something if he lacks the confidence to do so. Your horse needs to be able to rely on you completely when you ask him to jump or to take an unfamiliar route. If you push him to jump and he hurts himself, he will decide that he can not depend on you and may refuse when you ask him to jump the next time. Build up his confidence by jumping over low and simple jumps or hacking out on wide, open paths. Never ask him to do something that is beyond his abilities.

Winning a scared horse's trust requires a lot of patience. Before you do anything else, make time to talk to your horse in a gentle, soft voice. Don't try to ride him. You may need to talk to him for quite a few days until he settles down. Once he doesn't seem to mind your presence, try to approach him. Slowly. A frightened horse can be extremely dangerous, so never try to corner him. Instead, offer him something he really enjoys. Once he happily accepts treats from you, try to touch him gently.

Once your horse lets you stroke him, you have reached a turning point. However, your horse may trust you completely when you are on the ground and still panic when you are riding him. So be patient. And get expert help if you need it.

If you too feel less confident when you ride or around your horse that you have been in the past, for whatever reason, use the same technique to rebuild your own confidence. Slowly and step-by-step. And get expert help when you need it.

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