Horses’ are strong enough to carry heavy loads. They can safely carry 20% of their body. For example, larger draft horses weighing about 2,000 pounds can theoretically have someone weighing roughly about 400 pounds on their backs. Are horses strong enough to carry humans? The maximum weight a horse can Read more…
So any bit of anxiety or nervousness is picked up by the horse. Can horses feel your anxiety? According to results of a study conducted by researchers at the University of Guelph in Ontario, Canada, horses do seem to read some signals to indicate whether a nearby person is stressed Read more…
If you ride long enough you will fall off a horse – period. It’s just one of those risks we take when riding a horse, but with the right equipment, knowing how to fall, and knowledge of what goes on in your body after a fall you can reduce the Read more…
shy2 verb (shied, shying, shies) [intransitive] if a horse shies, it makes a sudden movement away from something because it is frightened The horse shied, throwing Darrel from his saddle. How do I teach my horse not to be shy? Start lower on the neck again, if you’re working on Read more…
Horses are very apt at learning verbal commands: “whoa”, “walk”, “trot”, “canter” or similar words are quickly understood. The actual words usually do not matter, as long as they are consistent, though the tone of voice and the accenting of the word have an influence. Do horses respond to voice Read more…
Begin by gently scratching his chest, shoulder, or withers. Watch your horse’s body language as you touch him. An abused horse may be especially skittish and prone to making sudden movements. Talk to your horse. Do not ever raise your voice with him. Spend time talking with him for at Read more…
In horses of any age, bit chewing can signify anxiety. Different horses mature at different rates. Even if your horse seems physically prepared to perform at his current level, he may not be ready mentally. Try reducing the pressure: shorten your schooling sessions, take him on trail rides and so Read more…
Head pressing is usually a sign of a neurological disorder, especially of the forebrain (e.g., prosencephalon disease) or of toxicity due to liver damage, such as portosystemic shunt and hepatic encephalopathy. What does head pressing mean? According to the PetMD website, head pressing is defined as “the compulsive act of Read more…
Horses sometimes bite themselves when they’re in pain. For example, a horse with colic may nip at his flanks. Silver may also keep looking at himself, as if trying to see what’s going on. Why would a horse try to bite you? Typically, a horse bites someone as a sign Read more…
Pawing with the front legs usually indicates boredom or stress, but some horses will do this when angry. His hind leg may be cocked or raised to indicate irritation or that he may be preparing to become aggressive and kick. If anger escalates, he may strike out aggressively with his Read more…