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Discipline Your Horse

© Caryn A. Tate

While anyone who reads my articles knows that I'm a big advocate of patience, understanding, and kindness with horses, I'm also an advocate of disciplining them when they need it. By this I do not (nor would I ever) mean abuse or acting out in anger. What I do mean is teaching your horse what he has done wrong and what the right thing to do is. In some ways it makes me think of using discipline with children. While it can be unpleasant, the reason a parent disciplines their child is because they want to teach them right from wrong. It's much the same with horses.

I hear a lot from people whose horse is acting up, or whose horse does something to test their person and see how they'll respond. It's important in these situations to rise to the occasion and teach your horse that he can't run all over you. A lot of horses I've seen will really take advantage of a person who allows them to run roughshod over them. After all, why not? If they're allowed to do whatever they choose, why wouldn't they do it? On a side note, one reason this is so important is because (I hate to mention something too obvious, but it's necessary) your horse is a huge, strong animal. Sometimes when we become friends with our horses we forget how powerful they are, until they do some little thing that they don't think twice about but which causes us injury. So keep that in mind--trust me, I've had the experience of it.

The key to disciplining your horse is making sure that he takes you seriously. Again, I have to mention children. You know how kids know which adult they can slide past and which one they need to listen to? It's a lot like that. One key point: our relationship with our horse should be a partnership. But you should be the leader of that partnership, not your horse.

Never resort to anger or abuse, but be firm and stand your ground. Teach your horse that he needs to listen to what you want from him before what he wants for himself. Most horses I've seen will do just about anything for their person, and once you teach them this discipline, yours probably will too.

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