We talked about how to keep yourself calm before you go see your horse and when you are with your horse. By staying calm, your horse knows that you aren’t worried and that if you feel safe, he will feel safe.

This also allows your horse to feel that he can trust being around you. All this can be done from the ground right now and it will translate into the saddle once the trust is developed.

However, we didn’t talk about how to calm your horse down if the above-mentioned techniques aren’t working. We discussed the first three calming techniques to use on your horse if needed. All of these are to be done from the ground. If your horse is not calm on the ground, it is safer not to get on him.

You remain calm to keep your horse calm using calming techniques on yourself.
Groom your horse in a gentle soothing way and find his favorite spots that make him feel comfortable which calms him down.
Use your words in a soft and gentle manner to reassure your horse that he is safe with you in order to calm him down.

But what if those don’t work?

Here are a few other techniques that I’ve used that may help you as well in calming your horse down if the first 3 don’t work.

It’s important not to rush these or forcefully try to calm your horse down by laying your hands on him. If he doesn’t trust you, forcibly putting your hands on your horse could result in further mistrust and even possible injury to you or your horse.

Once your horse gets used to your touch, like in grooming, you can use a variety of relaxation techniques to help your horse if he is being stubborn or fearful.

Stand in front of your horse’s head, facing the opposite direction as he is. So, you both will be facing each other. Don’t stand too close to his head. If he raises his head quickly you should be far enough away that he won’t hit your head. Then put your hands on either side of his head on the lower part of the halter and slowly bend down at the waist and knees pulling your horse’s head down with you. You only want to have a steady, slow, and gentle pull for about 5 seconds and then release the pull but continue to hold onto the halter and then try again. If your horse moves his head down with you, only bring it down about 4-6 inches and then slowly release the halter. If he puts his head up again, repeat this procedure. This should pull your horse out of his alert, highly stung position and over time he will see that he can safely let his guard down around you.
Stroke or scratch your horse with your hand and reassure him again with your voice, but don’t pat him. Patting is not something that horses do to each other naturally in the wild. Stroking or scratching mimics the way a horse might rub against another horse in the wild, and it’s the best way to soothe an anxious horse and get him used to your touch. Make sure to do this in a location that you know he is comfortable with. For instance, my horse knows that me standing next to his front shoulder and looking with him in the same direction while I scratch his shoulder makes him feel safe. It’s the two of us together against whatever spooked him. He calms down immediately in this position.
Use your index finger to gently stroke the groove that runs down the top of your horse’s muzzle. Stroke gently and run your finger down the entire length of the muzzle. Rub from top to bottom. This can be incredibly relaxing in some horses. Only do this if your horse is already comfortable with you touching his face. Again, be careful not to have your face too close to your horse just in case he moves his head quickly.
Again, if your horse is comfortable with you touching his face you can do this technique. Stand in front of your horse and gently rub the top of his nose. Once he brings his head down a bit, using both thumbs, gently rub the front of your horse’s forehead. Rub from inside to outside with your other fingers on the side of his head. Your palms should be above your horse’s eyes so you don’t cover his eyes. Be very aware of where your head is compared to his head. We don’t want any accidental head bumps here.
If your horse is not comfortable with you touching his face, you can do this technique. Stand on your horse’s side, next to his mane. Put both hands gently on the top of his neck (wherever he will allow you to start) and gently rub back and forth with both hands going in the opposite direction. Intermittently add a gentle squeeze to the top as well. You are massaging your horse’s neck at the top of his mane and going from the top (close to the ears) down towards the front shoulders. Do this in one sitting and in one session without taking your hands away. Think happy thoughts and calm yourself down using your breathing techniques. This will help both of you stay relaxed and to calm down.

All of these techniques will help you build a long-lasting lifetime trust with your horse where he will feel that not only can he trust you but, he will see that you trust him as well.

Calming Techniques For Your Horse

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Teddie's Fundamentals

Training Lessons (TF)

Bonus Lessons (TF)

Foundation Of Trust

Introduction to a Foundation Of Trust

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The Nourishment Stage

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Introduction to Mark’s Journey

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