Horses need to trust their handlers
By Judy Evans
@JudyEv (382019)
Rockingham, Australia
December 8, 2020 6:56pm CST
I’ve written about staying on a horse stud and taking photos. All the horses were very happy to be around humans but weren’t pushy or badly behaved. The owner does a lot of groundwork with them and builds their trust through various exercises.
Horses in their natural state are very careful about where they go and, unless they trust their handler might refuse to, say, cross wooden bridges. They have a strong sense of survival.
In the photo you can see the stallion standing on tyres. Some horses would not be happy to do this. There is also a frame with a ‘fly curtain’ hanging from it - coloured plastic strips – and she walks the horses through this until it no longer bothers them.
Other obstacles are a length of ‘boardwalk’ and a piece of tarpaulin which the horses walk over. If a horse trusts its handler, it is surprising what it will do for them.
22 people like this
23 responses
@FourWalls (86652)
• United States
9 Dec 20
You know the thing that's so interesting about horses is that animals are tuned to their owners, and yet a horse can be trained to allow a total stranger into its space. I've ridden horses a few times at "riding stables" (I can't anymore because it hurts my back way too much), and that's a fascinating aspect of those lovely creatures.
3 people like this
@kaylachan (84760)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec 20
Animals can always surprise us in what they will or won't do.
3 people like this
@crazyhorseladycx (39503)
• United States
9 Dec 20
kudo's to this gal! 'tis good to've those 'xperiences, all that teachin'. can 'lways tell those who've put such 'ffort. sounds similar to the set'p i'd out here once 'pon a time. i miss those days'n all my equine friends. need to get schtuff set back'p hopefully this winter/spring. i've loads 'f re-schoolin' with a few here to be done.
2 people like this
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Dec 20
That is a good picture. She has done a great job with them.
1 person likes this
@wolfgirl569 (135690)
• Marion, Ohio
9 Dec 20
@JudyEv I was surprised at how nosy George was as a baby. His mom was a spooky girl when we bought her. But she had always been kept in a stall and only ridden in a ring. She has learned it is safe to check things out now with us.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 20
@wolfgirl569 Some horses have very limited experience in their lives.
1 person likes this
@RasmaSandra (97991)
• Daytona Beach, Florida
9 Dec 20
Tha is amazing that the horse can stand on the tire, I can understand how important it is for horses to trust their handlers, I guess love and understanding also play a big part in this,
2 people like this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
9 Dec 20
It's amazing that horses can build up trust like that. They are indeed very smart animals. And I'm sure the trust isn't just given right from the beginning, it's something the horse and trainer have to build upon over time.
1 person likes this
@moffittjc (128832)
• Gainesville, Florida
13 Dec 20
@JudyEv And plenty of patience as well, I presume.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 20
Some are much braver than others. Interesting that he went through electric fences! The endurance horses need to learn to go over bridges, through puddles, etc. Some have to get off and lead their horses through larger stretches of water.
1 person likes this
@snowy22315 (208846)
• United States
9 Dec 20
I think all animals sense whether they are cared for or not, and will go to great lengths for their owners if they feel they are.
@just4him (323168)
• Green Bay, Wisconsin
10 Dec 20
Amazing picture. It's good horses build up trust for their handlers to do what is seen here.
@Dena91 (17041)
• United States
9 Dec 20
I grew up with a friend who owned 3 horses and my step mother had one. So I spent a lot of time in the barn with them, helping taking care of them. They do sense if you are trustworthy or not. I have read that people who have faced serious trauma do well when working with horses. It is therapeutic for them.
1 person likes this
@JudyEv (382019)
• Rockingham, Australia
9 Dec 20
Yes, that's true. And horses seem to know when people have problems. Some are really gentle with autistic children and actually pick them out to approach.
@LindaOHio (222310)
• United States
9 Dec 20
What a beautiful horse. Yes, horses are sensitive to many things. This owner is doing an amazing job with her horses.
