Tips on Loving Your Horse

While it is important to see to the physical needs of your horse, the emotional needs of the animal are also important. Showing love encompasses all aspects of owning a horse, though, so familiarize yourself with all aspects of horse care to ensure you show the proper level of devotion.

  1. Be a Companion

    • Horses are social creatures that travel in herds while running wild, so they crave companionship as well as security. Spend plenty of time with your horse to make it feel appreciated and nurtured. A new horse may still shy away from you, but over time it will acclimatize itself to your company. Talk softly to it in your spare time and spend time stroking it when you are able to approach it without making it uncomfortable.

    Provide Physical Necessities

    • Horses require a lot of physical care to stay healthy, so one way to show love for your horse by providing proper care. Bring your horse to the equine vet to ensure it is healthy. Brush out its mane and body fur regularly as well to remove nettles and other irritants. Take it out of its horse stall on weather-permitting days and allow it to run in your pasture at its leisure. Provide it with fresh food and water daily. Your horse will look healthy and respond favorably to your care.

    Be Patient

    • Horses are proud animals that may fight you during the training process. Even after breaking your horse and beginning continually working with your horse to improve its health, it may not understand all your commands immediately. In times like this, it is best to use a kind tone and plenty of patience. Your horse will pull away from you if you constantly yell and punish it. All that noise and negativity will only make your horse distrustful of you, which will interfere with future efforts to show it affection.

    Provide Rewards

    • When you receive a reward for good behavior, it reinforces good behavior and makes you feel appreciated. The same goes for your horse. It will appreciate the reward and start associating you with pleasant stimuli. Any time your horse exhibits desirable behavior, give it extra affection or provide it with an edible reward. Cut the edible rewards into strips so they are easy for the horse to enjoy. Food cut into chunks pose a choking hazard.