How to Teach My Horse to Wait While I Fill Feeders

Filling troughs puts you in a vulnerable position, and if you have a pushy, dominant horse it can be very dangerous. Teaching your horse to respect your boundaries and wait quietly for his dinner is straightforward, but needs some patience and consistency. Whenever you are handling your horse, work with him continuously to reward good behavior patterns and stop poor behavior. This will encourage him to be less dominant in his behavior with you and less pushy at feeding time.

Things You'll Need

  • Helmet
  • Gloves
  • Bridle
  • Safe fenced work area
  • Assistant
  • Helmet and gloves for assistant
  • Pressure halter (optional)
  • Whip or stick
  • Empty feed bag or bucket
  • Food rewards
  • Halter
Show More

Instructions

  1. Teaching Your Horse Voice Commands

    • 1

      Put on your safety equipment, then bridle your horse and take him into a safely fenced area. If your horse is very strong or dominant, you may prefer to use a pressure halter. Walk him round a couple of times, holding both reins in your right hand about 6 inches below his jaw. Hold the slack of the reins in the other hand. If he walks too fast or starts to jog, squeeze both reins downwards and backwards until he slows to the required pace.

    • 2

      Slow your horse's walk down by slowing your own walking pace and squeezing the reins. At the same time, say 'Slow!' in a calm but firm voice. Repeat this exercise several times, then try giving the verbal command without the rein contact. If there is no response, let your horse have a few minutes break and try the exercise again later.

    • 3

      Take a whip in your left hand, and hold it low down out of the way. Ask your horse to walk slowly, then give a rein command again and swing the whip horizontally across his chest, giving the command 'Stop!' Practice this exercise until the horse associates the word of command with the action. Continue to re-inforce these commands whenever you are handling your horse.

    Using Voice Commands at Feeding Time

    • 4

      Put on your safety equipment, bridle your horse and take the whip. Take the horse into the field and hold it with its back to the feeding trough.Have assistant to put on safety equipment, go into the field with an empty feed bag or bucket and stand by the trough. Turn your horse round. If he becomes agitated at the sight of the feed bag and starts to move, give him a firm 'Stop!' command, holding the whip across his chest.

    • 5

      Wait until your horse is standing calmly, and lead him to the trough. If he rushes, give a firm 'Slow!' command. When he reaches the trough, your assistant should give him a small reward. If he becomes very strong and breaks away from you, he will not be rewarded for this as the feed bag is empty. Take hold of him again and re-start the process.

    • 6

      Repeat the process. Every time your horse waits and walks to the trough calmly, reward him with a small treat.

    • 7

      Replace the bridle with a halter. Repeat the exercise a couple of times using a halter and lead line to control the horse if it doesn't respond to voice commands. Give the "Stop!" command without a halter or bridle. Stand well to one side for safety and repeat the procedure with the horse loose. Once your horse is calm with this routine and stops on command, gradually re-introduce feed into the trough.