Despite knowing that close relationships among humans are formed over time, it’s fairly common for us to feel disappointed when our horses remain distant after weeks, or even months, of special attention. Horses do form close attachments over time, but we should adjust our expectations and allow them to bond with us at their own pace.
Building a Friendship
I’ve owned a Quarter Horse colt named Jackson since he was weaned. Besides handling him morning and evening, I talk to him a lot. While grooming him, or letting him eat “better” grass on the front yard, I’ve filled him in on Kentucky Derby winners, cried over Barbaro’s passing, sympathized with his “picked last in gym” herd status, and generally kept a running conversation. I believe I could talk about hedge funds and Jackson would think all is right with the world.
In many situations, a conversation in the right tone of voice yields better results than a command. When Jackson was 3 years old and being sent to a trainer, he’d been on a trailer only once—the day he came to my farm. The trainer and an assistant came to pick him up and couldn’t get him loaded, so I took the lead rope and coaxed Jackson into the trailer by talking to him as though he was merely standing in the barn aisle. By my calm voice, and the fact I’ve never asked him to do anything that hurt him, I was able to convince him that trailer-loading is no big deal. As I told him, “Heck, if I can get in here, you can get in here.”
One of my “horsey” friends, Lynn DiCello of Salem, Wis., believes my strong connection with Jackson is because I got him at such an early age, before he was spoiled by anyone and lost his trust in people. Lynn believes that a horse has to be receptive or you can try all you want and a deep bond doesn’t seem to form. To develop that deep bond, Lynn says you have to spend time with a horse: feeding, grooming, riding, maybe just sitting out on the grass while he grazes around you. “I think if you are open to a horse, and let him get to know and trust you, bonding will most likely happen,” she says. “You’ll know you are important to him when you go out to the field and he stops what he’s doing, leaves his buddies, and walks over to you on his own.”
Bonding with The Good, The Bad, and The Ornery
Sometimes, bonding with a horse is so spontaneous, it doesn’t even make sense. You instantly fall in love, and the horse, sensing it, responds in kind. How do you know? Well, it won’t be like it is in the movies and television shows—your horse won’t run to get help if you fall off and can’t get up. He’s more likely to run away!
You’ll know when his eyes soften when he looks at you, he tries to groom you when you’re within reach, he whinnies when he sees you (and it’s not time to eat), he turns to you in a crisis, he follows you around, and he quiets when you talk to him.
My first horse, Presto, was my once-in-a-lifetime horse. He was so beautiful that people always made a fuss over him, but he was also generous and forgave my many beginner-rider mistakes. Presto was a big, spirited Morgan, and way too much horse for me from the outset, but I was determined to ride him. Over the years, we became such partners that I could think “move there” and he would, or I’d put a hand on his neck and he’d visibly relax. We were like that mythical creature, the centaur—half human/half horse. Not all my horses have been that into me. A few were ornery and others indifferent even though I’ve treated them all the same. A few years ago, I bought a horse named Bud for trail riding. His previous owner must have had a “if they don’t ask, don’t tell” policy because she neglected to detail the horse’s “playful” side.
Working with Bud was like the proverbial box of chocolates—you never knew what you’d get. I never had the sense that he was a bad horse; I thought he was “naughty.” My husband couldn’t grasp the distinction. Perhaps I am perverse, but I sort of enjoyed Bud’s Jeckyll-Hyde personality. It was a challenge to try to figure out what he’d do next. Whatever tricky thing Bud did, I could almost feel the joy emanating from him. He entertained himself with his plots.
Bud and I bonded by coming to an understanding: If he’d keep his shenanigans to a minimum, I’d cut him some slack.
Then, there are those horses that try oh-so-hard to resist me. I currently own a big bay gelding named, fittingly, Rex (which means “King”). He has so much pride, and such a strong sense of self, that he rarely lets down his guard. He’s like the love interest in Bruce Springsteen’s song, Secret Garden. There’s a place where he won’t let me in. If I pet him, he moves away. If I approach him with a treat, he’ll lean, lean a little more, and practically fall over before he takes a step toward me. He expects me to serve him. I might take this personally, but I spoke with Mary Ann Collins, of Racine, Wis., who owned Rex from the ages of 3 to 14 to see if she’d managed to get closer to him. She said her relationship with Rex was better under saddle than on the ground.
“Rex was always workmanlike and responsive when I rode him, but he was somewhat aloof otherwise,” Mary Ann said. “I think horses’ ability to bond with people has a lot to do with how they are handled as babies. The horse I own now, Declan, was imprinted at birth and our relationship is so close, it’s almost spiritual. It was not immediate though; I had to earn his respect and it took time. I attribute much of our special bond to natural horsemanship and how much time I put into groundwork.”
So, it seems Rex has been consistent throughout his life and simply has a self-oriented personality. Even so, he slips up now and then by forgetting to act like he merely tolerates me and nuzzles my shoulder while I groom him. I don’t gloat, however. It’s important to him to feel like “The Man” around the place, and I’m content to know he sometimes gives himself away.
In January 2007, Rex really gave it away. That winter, I suffered two strokes. When I got home from the hospital a month later and started visiting the barn, Rex knew something had happened to me and now looks out for me the way old geldings often shepherd foals.
Avoid Creating an Equine Monster
Who says food isn’t love? Horses love food and we love giving it to them, but your pure intentions could create a monster. Treats are fine in moderation. Just make sure you decide when and where to give them.
How to feed treats is a matter of some controversy. Hand-feeding is heresy to some horse owners and standard practice for others. Some hand-fed horses will begin to nip and root around for treats, so owners need to correct this behavior before it becomes an ingrained habit.
Horses have an uncanny ability to size up the people around them, and they often take advantage of permissive owners. For example, if you let a horse take a few steps as you mount, he is leading and you are following, albeit on one foot. If you allow a horse to push ahead of you when you lead him, he’s actually walking you. Horses are genetically wired to test you, so it’s in your best interests to always set limits.
Punishment is a key issue literally defined by setting limits, yet is difficult for some owners to mete out even when it is justified. All horses require a reminder of the limits at some point; if the reminder is fair and warranted, they do not resent it and won’t hold it against you. You’re merely reminding them that you’re in charge and not to forget it.
Why Bonding is not PsychoBabble
Some people may think “bonding” is borderline touchy-feely psychobabble that isn’t necessary as long as a horse does what he’s told. This might be true in a majority of cases, but there can come a time when friendship and respect make the difference between a close call and a tragedy.
One August morning, Presto got out of his pasture when a painter left a gate open. By the time I found my horse, he was buried up to his shoulders in a muddy, boulder-filled riverbed. Even though Presto had already suffered enough neurological damage to die several days later, I’ll never forget how hard he tried to pull free when I encouraged him. He fell back numerous times before he finally lunged up the steep bank onto dry land. Presto followed me back to the barn through a 7-foot high cornfield with his nose pressed against my back.
You should try to build a relationship with your horse that is strong enough to compel him to try his hardest for you, whether it be in a World Championship class or in a muddy creek. Perhaps you have a new horse that you want to be able to catch in a large field, or a new trail horse that will take you long and far … you never know when you’ll need to draw upon that “bond equity.”
Further Reading
Equine Emotions
Getting a Rescued Horse to Trust You
A freelance writer who works from her small farm in Wisconsin, Louann Chaudier has formed a tight bond with all her horses, dogs, cats and wallabies.
This article originally appeared in the 2009 issue of Horses USA.
This article gives me hope for my situation. I just bought my first horse at age 51 (Me, not the horse!), and he was a beloved family pet to the previous owners. I felt very much like the intrusive outsider in his life. But I’ve been grooming him, leading him on walks, and talk, talk, talking to him every time I visit. and the other day he actually rubbed his face against me! After reading this article I feel maybe i can become a friend to him after all. Thank you for this encouraging piece.
I defiantly agree that a strong bong with your horse is important. Once when my appaloosa and i were cantering on a trail ride she tripped and i lost my grip on the reins, the reins broke and luckily she wasn’t hurt, but we were quite a way away from home with no reins! I took off her bridle so she wouldn’t trip on the reins and used my legs to point her towards home. We headed home and she would trot when i told her and stop as soon as i told her as well, all without a bridle! The funny thing is she’s a really defiant horse but we still have such a great bond.
I fully agree you can have that special bond with your horse. I have a palomino mare her name is Butterflykisses, she thinks she’s a princess. I’ve had her since she was a two yr old. I bought a bottle fed arabian colt for my daughter.(big mistake). He thought people where something to play with. I was opening a gate to a field one day and he started to climb up my back. I screemed and out of nowhere Butterfly came and plowed him down. I could not beleive that she did that, not only once but twice. I guess no other horse is to bother my. I am her person. And that is fine with me. Because there is no other horse for me
What an informative article. It was also heartworming. I’m getting ready to ride my 12 year-old half Arab/Paint cross. I love him so much but have learned that I need to do the ground work to remind him that I am his leader.
It’s not often that you read an article that is both informative and heartworming. I’m going to read it to my Morgan mare and save on Ivermectin! (just kidding, couldn’t resist)
When my husband is talking to and rubbing our geldings face and I walk into the barn his eyes are on me!
Shortly after we bought him we connected, literally speaking face-to-face contact (he spooked), we looked at each other and came to common ground after that.
He likes to challenge me and I him. Sometimes I ask him to try something new that I know there is no way a horse could do but he looks at it, thinks about it, and attemps it for me anyway. What heart!
This is a very common sense article. Works for horse and rider. Builds confidence on both sides too.
I loved this story, and the bond the writer makes with her horses… BRAVO~
I have just purchased a horse and will be bringing her home soon. I have a deep love for horses and hope we bond as I have read in this article.
I leased a horse that you could think, lope, before asking and he’d being loping on the right lead. Now im at a new barn with my beloved 2 yr old saddlebred and i am training him. we have a bond that will keep growing and growing and i cant wait to get on him.
Loved the stories shared in this article. I have a 17 year old gelding who will stand patiently for anything, and will stop, trot, turn, etc when I just think it. On the other hand, I just got a mare who would rather do her own thing than pay any attention to me. I keep working with her and hope to build a special bond with her as well.
Excellent advice…
Very good article, but the problem is no human understand what mean “TRUSt”. You will never build trust by giving treats or working in arena or round pen. How many of you spand time by midnight with your horse(s) in pasture? No one. To understand any living thing you have to understand what is and what mean trust, and then hou to build trust.
To understand trust you have to know what mean and what is “commonsense”.
How many of you know?
Remember, love and commonsense you will never buy. (Only Proverbs will start our road at commonsense ) Emil
The only way to truly bond with your horse is through ground work. You build a relationship, leadership, trust and respect. We work with adults and youth daily in learning skills development with working with horses in their natural state and holy does a human learn quickly with the horse being the teacher vs the other way around. We had a kid once say to us at Equine Connection when we told him we were not his teachers but the horses were, that he had always wanted an animal for a teacher (he was 9 yrs old). Love what a prey animal can teach a predator.
nice article
Very true. I’m very thankful to have a perfect partnership with my horse based on mutual trust.
good article, esp. the ending where you never know when you need to call on your bond with your horse to get that extra will to overcome some obstacle, etc. from him/her.
I have had my mare since she was born i helped her into the world, i have talked to her endlessly worked through the early years with her, have competed her and hacked out on our own for hours, she knows me inside out, i have never hurt her always loved her unconditionally, yet I have lost her she no longer trusts me with her safety, i cannot ride her and struggle to handle her away from her field buddy. I miss my best friend so much but don’t know how to convince her that being with me is ok
I have had my mare since she was born i helped her into the world, i have talked to her endlessly worked through the early years with her, have competed her and hacked out on our own for hours, she knows me inside out, i have never hurt her always loved her unconditionally, yet I have lost her she no longer trusts me with her safety, i cannot ride her and struggle to handle her away from her field buddy. I miss my best friend so much but don’t know how to convince her that being with me is ok
I’ve had my horse for 15 years but I wasn’t sure we would make it to year two. He was very aloof at first and acted as if he didn’t know me from one visit to the next. Then one day we went on a long trail ride on a hot day in July. The park we trailered to was supposed to have potable water but the horses refused it. I poured my bottled water into my hands and ….he drank it! Gratefully! From that moment on he trusted me and I began to see what a reliable partner he was and began to trust him more and more. Over the years he has hauled be out of some dicey situations. I always said he was a more experienced trail horse than I was trail rider so many times I have “thrown him the reins” and he comes through like a champ. So if you are not bonding with your horse, ask yourself “could I be doing something to impede him/her from trusting me?” He is now 25, I’m 60 and we are riding off into the sunset together. I thought my soulmate would be human…he turned out to be a little chestnut gelding.
Me and my horse have a bad relatsion ship and i need your help i am only ten but i love my horse i feel that he thinks i am going to hurt him or leave him alone and never come back i show at clark county fair and he dosnet like judges or beltchers he gets all movey and jumps around i only get to ride him once in a while so what should i do ?
I’m 17 years old and just bought my first horse. I’m having trouble trying to bond with him. I take him to graze and he’s always anxious and throwing his head up as if there is someone out to get him. I take him on a lot of trail rides. Today I decided to take him to a park where there’s lots of grass. I put his halter on and let him eat for about an hour. At around 6 I took him to the pavilion and put his bridle on where he freaked out and ran to eat more grass. Before I could approach him he cantered off where we came through from and ran half way home ending up into the neighbors yard. I’m frustrated because I’m only trying to bond with him. He is always good on the way there but once we get there he wants to run home so I stopped taking him there. When I’m grooming him he doesn’t like me to curry his face. He throws his head up multiple times. But I notice he relaxes his thing when I’m grooming so I can’t tell if he’s upset or content. I try to greet him calmly when in the field. The little pony he is in the field with will follow me all around but my horse will not! He will only follow me when he sees me
Going torwards the feeding area. For the most part he’s calm but I’m having trouble as being inexperienced I can’t train him or disinclined him I don’t know what to do but I love him so much, he is my world and the only reason I work. Could you email me with suggestions?
We just lost our first horse – a Belgian Draft named Handsome Bob. The bond we had was amazing. When he was young he pulled logs for an Amish farmer, then he pulled carriages in Memphis. He was retired because he had azma and the Memphis heat was too much. We gave him a wonderful life. I’m not sure I will ever experience the same bond… and the pain from the loss is overwhelming – but I wouldn’t change one moment that I shared with Bob.
The bond is very, very, real. Respect. Trust. Time. I was in a saddle before I could walk, I’ve seen bad owners & good owners, & bad horses are made from bad owners. Trust & security can mend a broken horse. Just put down our 34 yr old q-horse. Had him for 33.5 yrs. That’s a long time. My younger boys are just as bonded.