How to tame a horse: make contact, familiar with ammunition

Despite the fact that the horse is a rather large animal, by its nature it is shy. But even a brave horse may not want to cooperate with a person. Therefore, the question of how to achieve confidence becomes important for many equestrians. After all, everyone wants to have a close friend with whom he will have a good time both in the saddle and from the ground.

Relations with the horse should be built in a language that is understandable to her. Yes, this means that you should learn to think like a horse and give it the appropriate commands, as horses do with each other. First of all, it’s important to teach your horse basic signals so that he respected your personal space.

All horsemen love to cuddle with horses, right? But without the scope of space, even the most loving horse can fall on you, which will probably end badly. Watch your legs - if the horse is moving toward you, ask her to accept, push it out of your space, but the legs should remain in place. Drive the horse away with your hand or chombra. If the horse comes up and you retreat, you make it clear that it is the main one. A horse should enter your space only when you demonstrate a relaxed posture - lower your arms and shoulders.

Next comes the question of how to become an authority for a horse. This question is especially acute stallions. You need to understand that the negative behavior of the horse may be due to the fact that its basic needs are not satisfied. Then hormonal surges will negatively affect work. There are two ways: either to castrate, or to provide sexual activity to the stallion. Ideally, of course, any horse should be tackled from a young age from the ground, teaching her the framework of behavior.

Defending yourself and your space, you must take care of protect your horse. This means protecting her from any people, animals, or objects that could hurt her.

How to teach a horse to move a person in freedom? If the horse leaves you in levada, start moving it. Use the scourge, let the horse trot or gallop a couple of laps. In nature, the horse is not inclined to move a lot (she moves in steps and only occasionally runs away), and therefore, sooner or later she wants to stop. It is important for you to notice this sign: the horse will look at you, bow your head. Get the horse to move one step, and then if she stops paying attention to you, start approaching her. When it stops - stop too, you must ensure that the horse itself comes to you. Be prepared that it will take a lot of time. Watch for “horse facial expressions” - a bowed head and licking are a sign that the horse has relaxed. When she stopped - go to her, iron, stand for a while. After that, take a couple of steps. If the horse did not follow you, return to it, draw attention, you can touch it with a whip lightly. If only the horse leaves again in its direction, make it run. The horse must understand that it’s more comfortable to follow you.

When you become a leader for the horse, you must determine your joint tasks. The horse must understand what is required of it. For example, a horse should stand still while you brush it. If it begins to move - calmly, without tension, you should return it to its place. It is not necessary to keep or constantly pull the horse, because your goal is to ensure that the horse is not afraid of you, but sees the leader. Remember that your task should be horse strength. Adequately assess the level of her training (especially with regard to exercises under the rider).

Do not be afraid to encourage the horse for her own ideas. As an example, if you work with an inactive horse and want to make the lynx wider, the horse may offer you a gallop. At first, do not transfer the horse back to a lynx right away. Relatively, the horse answered your promise. After that, correct it, transfer to a lynx. Then the horse will not be afraid to offer you his ideas, he will not be afraid of punishment. In the future, you will already find a common language and understanding.

However, you should be careful not to let the horse change the task. Your goal should be clear, and you should calmly go towards it. If you show uncertainty - the horse will feel it.

To make a shy horse bolder, you should familiarize her with what scares her, but gradually. Try to keep the point at which the horse was scared, and gradually bring it closer to the subject. If the horse relaxes, you can step back a little in reward. Then come again, and so closer and closer. At the moment of “waiting” the horse should face in front of a frightening object. Thus, the horse will not learn to run away or retreat when it is frightened. You are just waiting at the point where there are signs of anxiety.

Suppose you are approaching an object and the horse lifts its head. Stop and wait in the same place until the horse lowers its head and / or turns its ear in your direction. When the horse relaxed a bit, you can step back a couple of steps. Then again ask to approach the subject. By showing the horse that you are not punishing her, but you understand, you are gaining her trust. Thus, the horse will see you as a confident leader.

When the horse is no longer afraid of certain things, start introducing it to new ones. Get creative, set goals. For example, make a stop between the poles, or ask the horse to put his foot on the pedestal.

Do not forget that raising a horse, you educate yourself. Imagine how you would feel if your horse held his breath? Of course, you would be scared. The horse is so scared when you get nervous, breathe unevenly or hold your breath. A horse even feels a fly on its back, this animal is so sensitive that you just need to think - and the horse is already reacting. You can calm the horse with your breath and confidence. Therefore, learn the language of your body and control it.

Features of the taming of horses of various breeds

Even a beginner in equestrian affairs at first glance will notice differences in the appearance of horses of different breeds. The difference in color, height at the withers, weight and proportions of the body, as well as other physiological characteristics, are undoubtedly important, but the horse’s temperament is even more important. Together, all these characteristics determine the suitability or unsuitability of the breed for a particular application.

Comparative analysis of the appearance of horses of various breeds

One of the horse's historic destinations is transport.

You can tame any horse, but representatives of some breeds will require much more time and effort. Such are the breeds of "hot blood", for example, purebred English and Arabian horses. They are characterized by obstinacy, a sharp, assertive character, sometimes even aggression towards a new, unfamiliar person. Local or Aboriginal breeds, especially those who did not know saddles, could be even more intractable. The difficulties of taming such animals are described in detail in fiction. However, the unfriendly nature of horses is rare, and it manifests itself mainly in the absence of proper care.

Catching Wild Horses

Many breeds from birth have an obedient temperament and meek disposition. These qualities are often characteristic of most factory riding and light-tensile breeds, as well as transitional breeds, that is, obtained from crossing factory and local. But the most calm, truly phlegmatic heavy trucks. These good-natured giants have been specially selected for hard everyday work and best of all come into contact with a person.

Horse riding just sitting

Young equestrian rider enjoying his horse. wundervisuals / Getty Images

This myth makes horses laugh. It also makes them want them to be able to force a person who believes it has gotten on his horse and dressed in dressage, or go for a walk for ten miles. Those of us who ride know that riding a horse requires a lot more than sitting. Sitting is what you do on the couch, but on the horse you use a lot more muscle, your balance and your brain. This is not sitting. This is an activity that includes a lot of skills and knowledge.

You just need to trust your horse

Image: 2009 C. Bloksdorf

Riders must understand how horses think, and that our horse’s primary concern is not our safety and comfort, but their own. Like animal victims, horses are not programmed for selflessness. Riders must understand how to make their horse trust them, always being consistent and good leaders. If you let the horse think for itself and trust it to make its own decisions, you ask the horse to be a leader, and this can lead to problems. Being a leader is your job. There's a lot . MORE tales of horses that saved their rider’s skin through some kind of painful experience. However, as romantic as these stories are, it is more likely that the horses got out of a bad situation and the riders were able (by luck or skill) to stay on board.

Horses love to ride or enjoy certain sports.

2006 C. Bloksdorf

There are three driving forces in a horse's life: food, breeding, and the search for safety. While some of them may be more voluntary workers than others, not a single horse has ever jumped off the fence, has not gone on a long hike, has not conducted a dressage test, has not cut cattle or launched barrels on a whim . Horses left to themselves love to eat, feel safe with their friends and breed. Although a well-trained horse can do a lot for the rider, it is unlikely that they will ever offer any. MORE of these things. Many people do not like this, but horses do not like to ride.

Does this mean that we should not ride them? The compromise for driving or driving and controlling our reproduction is that we care about how they feed and save their lives. Everyone needs a job. Not everyone likes their work. And since our horses have no choice, we must ensure that we make this work as comfortable as possible, learning to ride well and take care of things such as saddles and proper nutrition.

People who are afraid to ride just need more experience understanding horses.

2006 C. Bloksdorf

It is a myth that people who are unsure of riders are inexperienced riders who need to understand how horses think. If this were so, then there would be no riders with many years of experience working with horses and riding horses, suddenly discovering that they "lost their nerves." Whether it is the result of a bad accident or you just started playing the “what if” game in your brain, a loss of confidence can happen to the best riders. The good news is that fear may be. MORE TRANSFERRED. This may take some time and beyond help.

Chasing horses are easier to ride than regular horses

Chasing horses are no easier to ride than any other horse. The only difference between horseback riding, such as walking and crowds, is that you may not have to trot. This is just one lesser skill out of many that you may have to learn. A horse is a horse, regardless of its bait, and you still need a good seat and arms and understand that your horse is comfortable and safe.

Riding is not an exercise

Again, this is a requirement made by one who has not ridden or worked with horses. The purpose of the exercises is to strengthen muscles, increase stamina and improve balance. Riding does all this, and it uses several muscles, such as those located inside your thighs, which do several other things. Exercise burns calories, and horse riding is also suitable for this account. Lifting and carrying a saddle, grooming and spending time in the saddle - all this contributes to your physical fitness. . MORE Horse riding is also good for your internal organs. Even on a walk there is an opportunity for fitness and health for a ride.

Horseback riding for young and athletic

Horisha Hoketsu in the mid-seventies and is still actively involved in dressage. He will not participate in the 2016 Olympics because he feels that his horse, and not he, is too old. Getty images

Horseback riding only for young and athletic? Here are a few links that completely strip this myth:

• Julia Sur - 76 years old. Old endurance rider
  
• 70+ Year Old 2012 Olympic Rider Hiroshi Hoketsu Rider
  
• Rosalie Nietzsche and Bonnie Glen Hello Jack
  
• 85-year-old queen rides with Edward's children
  

How to make contact with the animal?

In the early stages of human-horse communication, the line between animal trust and fear is very thin. Despite the enormous physical strength and endurance, horses have a fairly fine mental organization, which requires a person to be able to communicate and understand, to be able to feel the character and mood of the animal.

The first acquaintance with a horse

The first and most important rule that is extremely important to observe during the taming of a horse is friendliness. Any manifestations of aggression towards the animal can nullify all the results of your work. Therefore, it is important to establish stable psychological contact from the very beginning. Stick to the following behavior algorithm:

Let the animal feel needed and loved

Some experienced trainers are able to impress the animal at a glance. For beginners, it may take a lot of time to tame a horse, especially if the previous owner did not pay much attention to the issues of upbringing.

The main thing is to demonstrate your primacy from the very beginning, but at the same time make it clear that you will not harm the horse and are ready to take care of it in every possible way.

Each horse needs an individual approach. Young stallions are often shy and naive, they are easier to raise, but should not be too strict - the animal should see you as a friend and mentor, not a tyrant. Adult horses tend to strive for leadership, and will challenge your right to dominance. Such an animal needs to demonstrate strength of character, gain its respect.

Many horses want to feel protected - for them the constant care is primary

During acquaintance and in the first classes, it is important to take into account all the nuances - from weather to smells. The animal should not feel discomfort or irritation, experience hunger, cold, get wet in the rain. The stable and the training area should be equipped with everything necessary. Your appearance and demeanor is extremely important - put on a comfortable suit without unnecessary jewelry, keep yourself confident, but not defiant.

Special mention deserves bad habits. Horses do not tolerate the smell of alcohol and tobacco, and people who are even intoxicated will be extremely wary and unfriendly. Smells are generally very important for any animal, so you should always maintain cleanliness in the yard and stables.

Horses cannot tolerate the smell of alcohol and tobacco

Acquaintance with ammunition

Ammunition is necessary to ensure the "team work" of the horse and man during riding. The optimal is the individual selection of all elements according to the anatomical features of the animal. First of all, we are talking about the bit, which are fixed in the mouth of the horse and must correspond to the size of its jaw. The size and shape of the muzzle affect the choice of the remaining elements of the bridle, and the height of the animal, the width and profile of its back - on the choice of saddle. Take care of the treadmill, which will provide you with riding comfort, as well as the bandages or nails required to prevent injury to the horse's legs.

The main elements of ammunition

The horse should be accustomed to ammunition gradually, observing its reaction. It is important to take into account not only the psychological component (the horse, which previously did not know the reins and saddles, can be suppressed or, conversely, excited), but also physical comfort. So, with the erroneous selection of individual elements on the body of the animal, scuffs and abrasions can occur. Such ammunition must be replaced immediately.

The general technique of accustoming to ammunition:

Bridle, martingale, saddle, blanket, various accessories - behind these exotic names stand quite familiar to everyone from childhood products. Horse ammunition is conventionally divided into 3 groups: protective devices, control devices and equipment, which guarantees a comfortable position of the rider in the saddle. You know about them in the article.

In the analysis of equestrian ammunition, the whip deserves special attention. There are different opinions regarding the stages of the beginning of its application, but the main thing to take care of is the reaction of the horse. Too frequent application of such a control method can adversely affect the nature of the relationship with the animal. Usually, after mastering the basic commands and riding skills, they refuse to use the whip.

Types of Riding Whips

Frequent use of the whip can lead the horse to a state of extreme fear

The rider's starting position

In order to master at least the basic riding skills, you need to train long and hard, as well as train and train the horse no less hard. She must be one with her rider, at the slightest hint to catch his team. It is not necessary to start the classes immediately, but after some preparatory work. At the very least, calm the animal and keep calm yourself.

Today, riding is associated more with horses. The ability to ride and ride well is considered a sign of aristocracy. You can learn how to ride a horse from this article.

Then the horse is saddled. At first, the landing block will help to climb it - a special step, which will not only help the beginner to climb to the saddle, but also reduce the load on the back of the animal. In this case, it is desirable to have an assistant who will hold the horse's head, but you can just hold the reins firmly and confidently. More experienced riders do without a block - they rest their left foot on the left stirrup and push away from it, rising to the level of the saddle. It remains only to throw the right leg over the horse’s back and drive it into the second stirrup.

Sitting in the saddle, it is important to correctly position the legs. Turn them with your knees inward, as if hugging the sides of the horse, but do not squeeze it too much. The heels point slightly down, and the toes up. If this situation makes you uncomfortable, practice at home. Stand on the edge of the steps, hanging your heels, and keep your balance for as long as possible.

Correct foot position

Correctly hold the reins - the nature of horse control depends on this in many respects. The grip should match the riding style. English suggests holding the reins hinged upward with clenched fists. At the same time, the little fingers are placed on the outside, and the reins are firmly squeezed with the thumbs. In Western style there are no loops and a mandatory two-handed grip. The reins are held in a bent, relaxed left hand.

Horseback riding - the basics

You can learn horse riding on your own, but it is better to contact specialized stables. In any case, the learning process begins with the choice of style. The main ones are English and Western. English is characterized by the following sequence of skills:

The main types of gait

English riding style

Learning a western style of driving is not too different from English. The main emphasis is on the management of reins, and hand movements are not so active and intense. After the step they proceed to jogging, which is slightly slower than the classical lynx and differs from it in the character of the gait.

How to upset a horse?

To upset a horse means to move backward, to reverse. This is a difficult riding technique with which not every rider has control. The easiest way to teach a young horse to upset is that he rarely walked under the saddle. If you have a familiar animal in front of you, it will be much more difficult to cope with the task.

In order to effectively upset a horse, it is necessary to combine three methods of control - moving your own weight, working with an occasion and managing your lower leg. The correct sequence of actions is as follows:

It is important to monitor the movement of the horse's legs. She should begin to move from the front leg - otherwise there is a high risk of loss of balance and the fall of the animal. Pulling the motive diagonally, that is, transferring more effort to one of the sides, you can make the horse move his left or right leg. This technique is used quite often and helps a lot in management.

Pay attention to the anatomical features of the animal - if it has a weak back, do not bend too much when upsetting, so as not to damage it. In this case, it will be enough to bend slightly, not forgetting to work with your feet.

About rewards and punishments

Raising a horse, as well as any other animal, is a complex and lengthy process. Its effectiveness largely depends on the correct interpretation by animals of their behavior, the distinction between the concepts of "good" and "bad." Therefore, it is important to encourage diligence, attention, assimilation of teams and timely suppress manifestations of discontent and waywardness.

One of the most common methods of promoting horses is praise. It doesn’t matter which words you pronounce, although it is advisable to use the same simple constructions so that the horse remembers them faster. The main thing is intonation. Speak in a low, contented voice, without unnecessarily played exclamations. Be sure to accompany the praise with non-verbal means of approval: smile, stroke the horse, pat it lightly on the shoulder.

In special cases, goodies can be used as encouragement and motivation. The choice of a specific product depends on the preferences of the animal, but carrots, crackers and pieces of refined sugar are most often used. This is the most reliable way to consolidate the acquired skills, to express your satisfaction with the work of the horse. Nevertheless, you should not resort to it too often, otherwise the risk is great to spoil the animal.

The punishment of a horse is an unpleasant, but inalienable element of its domestication and education. Remember that punishment in no case implies rude, cruel treatment of animals - such behavior is not only unacceptable by ethical standards, but also destroys the trusting relationship between a horse and a man, hardens it and does not contribute to the assimilation of commands. The use of physical impact (including whip and spurs) is permissible only in exceptional cases and for a short time.

Spurs - an integral attribute of equestrian sport

The most effective and understandable method of punishment for horses is additional work. If she sees that the failure of one team is followed by two new ones, she will no longer want to be stubborn. It is important to combine the methodology with rewards for obedience, otherwise it will be of little use. An effective way to stop the unacceptable behavior of an animal is to shout. Again, not words are primary, but intonation - the cry should be sharp, strict, full of discontent and, if possible, short.

A special case of disobedience is the horse’s habit of biting. Here, as a rule, shouts do not help, but several mild slaps in the face and croup of the animal will be quite effective. It is important to remember that this and other types of punishments must follow immediately after the guilt of the animal. Even a minute delay will only confuse the horse, and instead of the proper educational effect, you will get only insult and misunderstanding.

A special case of disobedience is the horse’s habit of biting.