Things You'll Need
- 5 feet of rope
Instructions
The Friendly Game
Place your horse in a large, open area.
Smile and keep your posture open as you approach your horse.
Slowly place your hand on your horse̵7;s neck.
Move your hand slowly all over his body. If he jerks away when you touch a certain area, move your hand elsewhere on his body.
Repeat these steps every day until your horse is fully comfortable with you touching him anywhere.
The Porcupine Game
Touch your horse anywhere on her body and press firmly against her skin.
Remove your hand and praise your horse if she moves.
Press more firmly with your finger if she does not move.
Praise your horse when she finally moves.
Repeat all steps every day until your horse responds and moves simply by your touch.
The Driving Game
Stand where your horse can see you.
Point your finger forward to show your horse you want him to move.
Lightly tap his back with your fingers while giving him a verbal command. He should respond if you finished the porcupine game successfully. Praise him if he does.
Tap his back more insistently if he does not move. Praise him when he does.
Apply less pressure each time you point until he responds to your command only.
The Yo-Yo Game
Stand directly in front of your horse and attach your rope to her harness.
Point behind your horse and give her a verbal command to signal you want her to move backward. Completing the driving game should teach her to respond successfully.
Shake your rope if she doesn̵7;t back up. Praise her if she does.
Motion toward yourself and give her a verbal command to get your horse to move forward. Shake your rope if she doesn̵7;t and praise her when she does.
Repeat these steps until forward and backward motions are consistent.
The Circling Game
Attach your rope to your horse̵7;s harness.
Lead your horse in wide circles. Give him a verbal command to start. Horses instinctively circle other horses to show respect, so this will teach him to respect you.
Stop him with a tug and a verbal command after about two to four circles. Any more and he might become bored.
Repeat this until your horse will circle and stop at your commands.
The Sideways Game
Loosen the rope around your horse's harness to give it a little slack.
Point your horse toward a solid object to prevent her from moving forward.
Stand at her shoulder and push her shoulder from the side and verbally command her to move. This should cause her to move sideways. Praise her if she moves at all.
Repeat these steps until she moves without touch and reacts to your command.
The Squeezing Game
Place an object in front of your horse and stand about five feet away from it.
Command your horse to move between you and the object. Praise him when he does.
Move closer to the object. Command the horse to move between you and the object and praise him when he does.
Repeat step three until the horse is touching both you and the object and praise him. Horses are claustrophobic, so this game helps your horse trust you in claustrophobic situations. Once your horse trusts you with this game, you have his trust entirely.