Horse Behavior
Personal Space
How to identify if your horse is too pushy, and what to do about it.
BY CYNTHIA McFARLAND
There comes a time in every relationship when an honest evaluation is needed, and that includes your partnership with your horse. Think about your interactions on a regular basis. Does your horse do any of the following?
◆ Pushes against you when you catch him.
◆ Walks so close when you’re leading that he shoves you from behind with his head.
◆ Has stepped on your foot when you’re leading or grooming him.
◆ Will swing his body into you when you’re grooming him or working with him while tied.
◆ Moves so close to you that sometimes you have to step out of his way to avoid being bumped or stepped on.
◆ Rubs his head on you if he has an itch.
◆ Gets very pushy when there’s a treat in your pocket or hand.
WHO’S THE BOSS?
If you recognize more than one of these behaviors, your horse is telling you how he views your relationship. If this is his normal behavior, he sees himself as being in charge.
“If a horse is being dominant on the ground, it’s going to translate to when you get on his back,” says trainer and clinician Lynn Palm, who is based in Ocala, Fla. “If he pushes you once, next time it will be harder. If he moves into you and you have to take a step away, the next time you’ll have to take three steps.”