Let’s Talk Pt11: The Importance of a Strong Equine Relationship

Hi there! Hope you’re having an awesome day! Welcome back to Let’s Talk! Today’s topic is the importance of a strong equine relationship, but before I get into it, I’d like to address something real fast. In my last Let’s Talk, let’s just say it was on a very sensitive topic and it had a lot of different opinions. Now, a lot of people on here, and absolutely no hate towards anyone, they were all so nice, brought my attention to their opinions. I took a look at what everyone had to say, and based on those and doing a little more research, I can now happily say that I agree with everything you guys have said. When I wrote it at the time, I was lost in my head and caught up in everyone else’s thoughts and opinions, and I lost myself through all that. At the time I was struggling for reasons I won’t say, but now that I have a clear head and I am doing a lot better, I’ve found my own voice and that is here to stay. I’m no longer going to let others, who in reality don’t know anything about horses, influence my personal opinions. Thank you so much to this awesome community for making me realize that! Now, let’s get into today’s Let’s Talk!

The Importance of a Strong Equine Relationship

Have you ever had a time where you and your horse were struggling, but you could never figure out why? You tried vet checks, chiropractic work, going back to basics, everything, but it still didn’t work? Well, I’ve got one more thing that might come in handy. You might be lacking a relationship with that animal, and that’s reason why you’re not performing at your best. Sure, you love your horse to pieces, but have you ever thought about what your horse thinks of you? In today’s post, I’ll be talking about why a solid relationship with your horse, is important, and how you can get one.

Having a relationship with your horse is one of the most important things in the equestrian world, it effects everything you and your horse do together. Let’s say, you’re out a nice trail ride with your horse, and everything is going smoothly so far. Then, a little bunny rabbit bursts out of the bushes and runs right in front of you horse while you guys are trotting along. Your horse freaks out, he rears up, and starts galloping back the other way. You fall off and break your arm, and now you’re struggling to pick yourself up out of the dirt, and have to go catch your run away horse. If you had a relationship with your four-legged, things might have ended up differently.

Studies show, that when you take the time to build up a relationship with your horse, it can be beneficial in so many ways. When you take the physical time to work on a relationship with them, not only is it for you to learn them, but for them to learn you. Before a horse would ever think about trusting you, they need to know everything about you, how you smell, how you sound, how you feel, how you look, everything you could possibly think of, they need to know. That’s why going and taking the time to just go hang out with them while their grazing in the field, or going out there just to groom them, is so important. It lets the horse know how you function and how you behave, without you telling them what to do and without you on their backs where they can’t get a good look at you.

Now, let’s say that a few months after that whole trail ride catastrophe, you have built up a strong relationship with your horse. What’s changed? For starters, your horse now trusts you, which now instead of automatically being scared of things he’s never seen before, he’ll ask you what to think. If you had this relationship a few months ago, maybe things would have ended up differently. Now, moving on to a different scenario. Let’s say you and your horse are in the show ring, getting ready to perform a dressage test or go run poles. He will be a lot more willing to work for you, because now he feels a connection too.

Those are just a few reasons why a relationship with your horse is important, just the other day I was riding my horse Flicka when a few wooden beams leaning against the fence fell in a loud ruckus. Instead of freaking out and jumping all over the place, like she probably would have if that happened when I first got her, she just flinched turned her head to look at me. When she realized I was perfectly calm, she actually kept going on her own, walking right past the place where the wooden beams had fell. If I didn’t have a relationship with her, it probably wouldn’t have ended up that way.

Thanks so much for learning about why a good relationship with your horse is so important! Maybe you realized that you’re lacking a relationship with your own horse, and if you have any questions, leave them below! As always, I’d love to hear your guys’ opinions on this! Until next time!

Goodbye!