Safety Around Horses
The most important lesson for anyone who loves horses or intends to learn about them is safety around horses. Remember your life and the lives of others may be saved and injury may be minimized by ad hearing to the methods of approaching and handling a horse.
A horse is a herbivorous animal and his defensive mechanisms is the physical ability to move swiftly away from the threat of attack and the possession of highly developed senses are in the may directed towards flight as a means of preservation.
With this in mind, how do you approach another person? Would you run up to them and slap them on the rump, stroke there face or startle them for behind?
Assuming that you want your horse to be quite and calm approach him the same way you would a person. Speak to the horse as you approach so that they know you are there. Do not startle the horse; let him know you are there. A horse’s keen sense of hearing tells him that something or someone is near, so it is smart to use your voice every time you approach a horse. Your voice quickly distinguishes you for all the other creatures. Your voice, calmly and reassuringly tells the horse that you are his friend and will do him no harm. Your tome is important. Harsh, loud, screeching sounds are frightening to the horse. He hears exceedingly well so keep the tone down.
Next, you want to touch the horse, who does not want to pet that sleek and shiny coat? Most people want to touch the horse face. A horse is a lot like us would you want someone walking up and stroking your face? Speak to the horse and reach for his shoulder or neck not the face. I tell you why not the face; the placement of the horse eyes makes it so he cannot always see your hand in front of his face. You can startle him, causing him to throw his head suddenly.
You can easily decide what your friend or another person is going to do by the expression on their face. Be attentive to the eyes, ears, posture and general attitude of the horse as you inter the horse own zone. A horse’s zone is 10 feet all around him. If the horse ears are laid back flat, foot raised, eyes moving anxiously, head lowered, you know that he is unhappy and about to kick, bit, run or show his displeasure with some physical action. Make sure to pay special attention to any horse when walking into a box stall with a horse showing any of these expressions. Once in the box stall with the horse you are in his zone with no place to go. Approach the horse always speaking to them as you inter his zone and approach from the front, side or an oblique angle, never from the rear.
Hand feeding is a no no. Usually the novice horseman, after satisfying the initial urge to pet the horse, wants to feed the horse so he plucks some grass or pulls an apple or treat for his pocket. Horses learn quickly for association. Noting is more annoying or harder to break than a horse who is constantly nudges hands and pockets. Furthermore, it is downright dangerous. Horses love treats, but they should be placed in the feed bucket or on the ground. Children have small fingers and would it be the horse fault if he removes one looking to a treat in a child hand?