Have you ever seen a horse getting excited? Horses are intelligent and gentle animals, but they can become unruly when they are agitated.
When you see such behavior for the first time, even if you’re not riding the horse, you might be surprised. Can you handle it if your own horse gets excited?
While you can read a horse’s feelings through its expressions and actions, sudden excitement can catch you off guard. No matter how carefully you observe, detecting rapid emotional changes is challenging.
Controlling a horse’s behavior is essential for riding. Here, we introduce ways to soothe an excited horse. Learn to interact with horses effectively.
Three Things Not to Do When a Horse Is Excited
When you encounter an excited horse, can you stay calm and make sound judgments? Some people at riding clubs may explain examples of things you should never do when a horse is excited.
However, especially for beginners, it’s common to panic and act inappropriately. Here, we list three things you must never do with an excited horse. Review these points and prepare yourself for safe handling.
Don’t Raise Your Voice
Horses are timid animals, particularly sensitive to sound, and even small noises like the wind or passing cars can startle them.
Horse hearing is highly developed, capable of hearing sounds inaudible to humans. Therefore, shouting when a horse is excited can worsen the situation, causing panic rather than calming the horse.
It’s understandable to be startled and speak loudly momentarily. However, the correct approach is to speak softly and calmly.
Avoid Standing Behind the Horse
The horse’s field of vision covers 350 degrees, allowing it to see most of its surroundings.
But the area directly behind the horse’s back, where it cannot see, is dangerous. Horses dislike people standing behind them where they cannot see. This is true even when they are calm, but during excitement, it’s especially frightening for the horse.
People may feel the same—when angry or scared, being in unseen positions can be unsettling.
Standing behind a horse increases the risk of being kicked. Horse kicks are powerful and can cause serious injuries, so caution is necessary.
Pulling on the Reins
Some try to calm an unruly horse by pulling on the reins. While it’s understandable to want control, it’s ineffective against a large horse.
Pulling on the reins and the horse’s movements can cause the bit to press hard into its mouth, inflicting pain and making the horse panic. This action can actually excite the horse further and result in injuries to both horse and rider.
First and foremost, remain calm. Allow the horse some freedom by not pulling on the reins too tightly.
Points to Note When a Horse Is Excited
An excited horse can behave very differently from its usual, gentle self and may even be associated with traumatic memories for some. Also, it’s important to handle such horses carefully.
How should you proceed when dealing with an excited horse? Here are some key points to remember.
Bite Risk
Most horses will not bite humans unless they are upset or under extreme stress, but during excitement or high stress, their aggressiveness can increase, and they may bite.
Gently touching or reaching toward the horse’s face when it is calm is fine. However, avoid putting your hands near its mouth when it is agitated to prevent biting.
Sudden Running
An excited horse may suddenly start running, possibly trying to escape.
If tied up, this is less dangerous, but when riding or leading with a rein, it can be risky. For example, you could fall off or get dragged if the horse bolts.
If the horse suddenly runs while riding, avoid leaning forward as if to hold on, because this increases the risk of falling. Always maintain a correct posture.
How to Calm an Excited Horse During Riding
When a horse gets excited while riding, it’s crucial not to panic yourself. If the situation seems dangerous, staff at the riding club will help calm the horse.
However, riders should actively try to calm the horse themselves. This is one of the essential skills for riding and also a way to protect yourself.
What’s the best way to soothe an excited horse during riding? Here are some techniques.
Speak Calmly
Horses respond to calm tones. Talking softly can help settle their nerves.
When a horse becomes excited and moves suddenly, it’s tempting to shout. But shouting is counterproductive. Keep your voice steady and quiet.
Speak slowly and gently with phrases like “Hoohoo,” or “There, there.” Also, you need to stay calm yourself, as horses can pick up your emotions.
Even if you feel scared, focus on calming the horse.
Alternate Pulling on the Reins
In attempt to stop a horse from acting out, some may pull on the reins. But overexerting can confuse the horse and make it more excited.
For an agitated horse, lightly relaxing the reins and giving a little freedom, then gently pulling alternately on each side, can help calm it down.
Stay Calm
If you panic, the horse will sense your fear, making it harder to calm. A panicked rider can escalate the horse’s excitement, creating a vicious cycle.
To calm the horse, first keep calm and act rationally. Take a deep breath, observe the horse and surroundings, and check for any danger. Redirect the horse away from unsafe areas.
Remember to correct your posture if you start to feel scared, as a proper riding stance can help you stay balanced and in control.
Summary
We’ve discussed techniques to soothe an excited horse. Remember that horses are gentle and friendly animals, easy to communicate with through food and petting. Many riders find interaction with horses relaxing and enjoyable.
Horses are expressive; even beginners can often tell if a horse is happy or angry. However, because horses are living creatures, they cannot always control their emotions.
Excitement can happen during walks with the reins or while riding. With experience, you may encounter this situation yourself.
To enjoy horseback riding without injury, keep these methods in mind and ride safely.