6 "must touch" areas on your horse - every day!

April 08, 2019 8 Comments

DONT RIDE UNTIL YOU CAN DO THESE THINGS:

You must be able to touch your horse in these 6 areas. And... your horse must show absolutely no signs of tightness or resistance.

Nose:

Ideal experience: Your horse lets you touch, hold, rub, all around the chin, lips, and nostrils, any time, any day, anywhere. If you can't, you might not think it's a big deal, and you're right, it's not a big deal, it's a MAMMOTH sized deal! It means the trust you share with your horse only goes so far. What you want is a trusting relationship that has no bounds. You want your horse to comply and know that by complying there are massive rewards waiting for him. It makes life feel good for both horse and human when the relationship doesn't suffer from resistance and/or resentment.

Eyes:

Ideal experience: Your horse lets you cover the eyes, rub around the eyes, even medicate the eyes in certain situations. If they won't let you, that means it's your job to make a game of it and reward good behavior. It's an important part of leadership. If your horse won't let you cup your hand over his eyes, or if he/she reacts every time you raise your hand near his face, you've got a problem you need to fix right this second. Your horse needs to trust you won't hurt him and the eyes are a huge part of building trust.

Ears:

Ideal experience: Your horse lets you touch, hold, clean, trim/clip hairs, and scratch all over and around the ears, even inside. If you're horse won't let you, it may be because he doesn't like it, but just because he doesn't like it, that doesn't mean you shouldn't expect him to tolerate it. Kids don't like getting in the bathtub, but they still need to behave when you ask them too. Dogs don't like getting washed, but they still need to behave when you wash them. It's the same with horses and their ears. They must learn to keep their head down and soften the muscles that cause all that tension around their ears.

Tail:

Ideal experience: Your horse lets you touch, hold, lift, and groom every inch of his tail from the bottom to the very top, even underneath. If he/she doesn't, or if he/she expresses tension in any way, you've got a problem that needs to be fixed. Spend time everyday grooming, lifting, holding underneath. Be careful not to get kicked, but realize this is an important part of the trust that your horse needs to develop with you.

Special ticklish places:

Ideal Experience: Your horse lets you touch, scratch and clean all around the special places under the belly and between the back legs. If you can't, you shouldn't ride. I'll say that one more time... If you can't touch your horse in these places, you SHOULD NOT RIDE. The reason I'm so clear on this is to illustrate how a horse that is scared of being touched will always reserve a certain amount of energy to resist and resent you. Plus... I've seen people bucked off their horse or kicked because the horse gets surprised by a simple touch in a sensitive area. This can all be fixed with a simple program to gain the horse's complete trust in every area.

All four feet:

Ideal Experience: Your horse lets you pick up all four feet, clean them, trim them, rub and clean the fetlocks and pasterns, and even allow clipping hair. If you can't do this, you shouldn't ride because your horse is hiding resistance and trust issues in the feet. I want my horse to know that I care about his whole health. That means mental health and physical health. Sure it's important to clean the feet for the physical health of the horse, but it's far more important to clean the feet for the mental health of the horse. It once again proves that the horse truly is connected and bonded with you in a complete, trusting way.

If your horse won't let you touch these areas, you have a huge problem that you need to begin addressing right this minute, but first, finish reading. Make a daily program where you touch your horse every day in a kind, thoughtful way in these six areas. Don't do it once, do it every single day. Make it part of your day. Your horse may not like it at first, then the trust will grow and you'll have a true partnership.

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8 Responses

Laurie Bender

June 29, 2020

I’ve been around horses I know how to ride a horse and have done so. Now I own a horse and it scares easily like my shirt snagged on our fence and the sound made him jump that didn’t help with the him not letting me get close to him or touch him it has been 3 months of owning him and I talk to him everyday for hours throughout the day but he still will not come up to me he has tasted my eldowd with his lips I need him to become trusting and get closed to me so I can start brushing him and able to touch the tryst areas he has seene cry a couple times because he hurt my feelings I have never yelled at him and I am always calm and speak nicely to him for hours. Do you think he is able to live me back what can I do to gain he trust if I can’t evfo horses live in the moment and not remember on a day to day badis I have brushed him once does he remember this he had also let me scratch him and pet him but that was just the one time can he remember this

Laurie Bender

June 29, 2020

Kimberley Timpanelli

December 15, 2019

I just adopted a 14 year old quarter horse who has been somewhat neglected. This is my first time owning a horse. I found you when I was searching for info on why he won’t let me touch his face. Your video is very helpful and I am going to work on these things. I hope I can gain his trust.

laura dunn

November 03, 2019

I just found you today. i have a 14 yr old haflinger rescued from the New Holland auction, he was an Amish work horse. It’s been 2 years. I didn’t know to try these exercises although i do the mouth and eyes without difficulty. But now i know to try it everyday. He has a huge issue with his ears the trainer that worked with him said he must have been twitched. I’ve owned 2 other horses in my life, an Arab and a Quarter Horse. They both lived till 30 years old and I loved them dearly. I also have 2 minis, only bought one but found out 10 months later I actually bought two. I should never have rescued a horse that needs so much work as I’m not that experienced and i’m 59 years old with a back surgery 8 years ago. But i promised him he had a forever home with me and I will continue to try and make it work. I’m so grateful for your videos and can’t wait to watch them all. God Bless you and the kindness that you show your animals.

Sara

April 11, 2019

We are with our four horses daily and handle/touch them routinely in most, if not in each of those six areas deliberately every day. It’s just part of what we do. . .It makes me smile to read the piece because I remember how charming our horses’ “thank you,” whether it’s soft eyes or reaching out with the billed-over upper lip of their noses.

Kathy

April 10, 2019

Don. I do all of these things with my horses but what you have brought to mind is the degree to which I ask for relaxation like lowering of the head and lifting of the feet. I will now be working on that to feel even more connection. Thank you

Traceylynn Hommel

April 10, 2019

I can do all of the touch spots you mention, on both of my horses. I haven’t done this each day though, it sounds like a good plan and I will get a regimen going for this each day now. Thanks Don!

Marilee I Donovan

April 10, 2019

You continue to amaze me after all of these years. (I think I first started video coaching with you in 2008.) In the therapeutic riding program for Veterans, where I teach, we have a knowledge portion at the beginning of each lesson. About once a month, your blog serves as the basis for that knowledge segment. Thank you for continuing to improve the lives of horses and those they help.

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