Beginner’s Guide to Meeting Horses and Ponies

If I had a pound for every time someone tells me a story about how their sister or friend put them on a horse and slapped it on the bottom and the person I am talking to got galloped off with, I would be a millionaire by now.

Horses and ponies are very kind and adorable animals and when approached correctly and handled with respect, become a friend and confidant to many a young person. But, you need to understand how the horse thinks and how to approach them, so you can develop this bond and work with them.

You see, horses and ponies are not used to loud noises and people running around, so the first thing you have to take into consideration is that you are quiet around the horses and their hearing is much acuter than ours. It is ok to talk and if you are walking towards a stable it is a good idea to talk to the horse or pony as they can hear you coming and they will not be surprised if you suddenly appear around the corner of a stable.

Horses and ponies aren’t crossed wired in their brains like us, they have to see and hear everything on both sides as they will not think it is the same thing that is happening to them on their left side as happening on their right side. This is not to say an older, intelligent horse will have more of an idea but, you need to remember that they are a flight animal first and it is in their nature to run and ask questions later.

So they are a flight animal, which means they will run before they face anything that is going to happen to them. This is why their eyes are on the side of their heads, unlike ours, as we are a hunter. This also means that their sight is different than ours as well. You will see a horse pick his head up and look down his nose to get more focus on what they are looking at. This is because they have a better focus in their eyes like this when their heads are down eating.

Horses and ponies also work from body movements and they will be reading the way you move and react to them. Research has found that they can read expressions on our faces and understand if we are in a bad mood. They can also understand the tone of our voices which they will read with our body movements.

Always approach a horse from the side near their shoulder as they will be used to this and will also not necessarily find it threatening. Also try not to stare at them straight in the eyes, as they will think you are a predator and might back away. A horse that is used to you and possibly an older horse might find it easier to look you in the eye, but it always better to not look them straight in the eye when you approach them so they can feel comfortable.

Horses and ponies are inquisitive and will most of the time approach you. This DOES NOT mean they are hungry. Horses and ponies do not need titbits as they will have their feed at feed times and giving them titbits does encourage them to bite. So it is better to ask the person that owns or looks after him, whether they do allow him something occasionally.

They also are not necessarily aware of you and your space. So when you are working with them do not expect them to move out of the way. If they want to go through space, you need to learn how to ask them to move and respect your space. If they want to go through an entrance you need to be experienced to ask them to move out of the way.

Hopefully, if you take all the points I have mentioned above, it will allow you to enjoy meeting your first horse or pony and hopefully, you will have a better understanding of what they might be thinking about you.