How to Boss a Horse

Horses sometimes need to be bossed, as even a trained horse may not respond to his owner's commands. When bossing a horse, you are commanding respect over the horse and asserting yourself as his leader. Horses naturally assert dominance and establish a hierarchy by herding one another. The best way to boss a horse is to herd the horse. A horse that has been successfully herd-trained by its owner responds to commands and recognize his owner as the alpha leader. When bossing a horse, be very patient and consistent in training.

Things You'll Need

  • 15-foot rope
  • 45-foot rope
  • Horseman's stick
Show More

Instructions

  1. How to Boss a Horse

    • 1

      Keep a safe following distance between yourself and the horse at first. Use a horseman's stick and various lengths ropes ranging from 15 to 45 feet, depending upon the amount of personal space you want to establish. The best place to begin training is in a round corral.

    • 2

      Utilize your body language to assert confidence and dominance. When horses assert dominance, they straighten their necks, and then lower them to push the other horse away. Raise a horseman's stick above your head to assert height over the horse. Main an upright and firm posture, and speak in a commanding but calm voice.

    • 3

      Do not be intimidated by the horse's size. This is one of the main reasons horses begin to dominate their owners. Utilize the ropes and horseman's stick to assert your reach and height. By the end of herding training, the horse views these tools as an extension of his owner.

    • 4

      Do not allow the horse to approach you. If she does, herd her back by tapping her on the side or the backside with the rope or horseman's stick. You are beginning to herd the horse and establish your hierarchy.

    • 5

      Signal first before tapping the horse with the rope or horseman's stick. Signal by simply raising the tool before tapping the horse. Also, never tap the horse any harder than is necessary. You do not want to injure or harm the horse. The objective is to herd the horse away from you and your established space.

    • 6

      Develop a rhythm to herding training. If the horse does not submit, then signal again and touch the horse harder with the tool. This allows the horse time to learn the signals and expect the consequences. Eventually, the horse yields to the signals, and you no longer have to touch her with the rope or horseman's stick.

    • 7

      Throw a longer rope, approximately 45 feet, in front of the horse once it responds to and acknowledges herding signals. Remain in the middle of the corral when doing so. This practice teaches the horse that you have a very long reach and the ability to dominate him from a distance.