Living within human society makes earning trust from those around us essential. Gaining trust increases responsibilities, fosters friendly relationships, and allows us to contribute to society. To earn trust, we must consistently follow rules and promises, be honest, and act with integrity.
However, when it comes to horseback riding, earning trust from horses requires a different approach than with humans. Here, we introduce key practices to build trust with horses.
Be Aware of Your Leadership Role
Horseback riding is a sport where horse and rider enjoy working together. The relationship, however, is not equals. Some might think, ‘Is the big, fast horse that actually moves and carries a rider superior?’ but the reality is the human is the leader.
If horses were the leaders, they might run off on their own or even drop their rider, which would be dangerous. Therefore, it’s crucial that humans recognize their leadership role and control the horse effectively.
In this section, we explain the characteristics of horses that help you act as a confident leader.
Low Self-Esteem in Horses
People vary in self-confidence, but horses are generally animals with low self-esteem.
It may be surprising that large, beautiful horses capable of running fast often have low self-esteem, but since horses are herbivores, they don’t prey on other animals and only eat grass. As prey animals, they cannot fight off predators, which explains their cautious and timid nature.
They are aware that they cannot do anything, cannot fight, and can only run away, making them naturally timid and easily startled animals.
Even when mounted by humans, horses often seem to accept their lower status, as if to say, ‘I am beneath you,’ by allowing the rider to sit on their back.
Gentle and Submissive Nature
Horses are well-behaved animals. Given their constant threat of predation, they instinctively seek safety. They tend to respond positively to people who show kindness and trust, demonstrating a submissive attitude and willingness to cooperate.
This means that even if they are feeling uncomfortable or exhausted, they may continue with training or competitions, or even collapse from heatstroke to meet human expectations.
Communicate Clearly When Giving Commands
One of the important points for building trust with horses is to give clear commands. You might think this is simple, but there are some key points to keep in mind.
Clear Instructions
Imagine receiving instructions from someone during daily life, such as