When I decided to learn the sport of cutting a few years ago, I knew that I needed to find a horse that knew more about the sport than I did. I wasn’t a beginning rider. I’d been riding for some 40 years at that point and even competed in a few cattle classes, but this was different. This was a whole new set of skills. Everything seemed different. How you sat on the horse, how you rode and how you had to have complete trust in the horse beneath you. 

 

For those of you not familiar with the sport, you guide your horse through a herd of cattle and push one cow up and away from the herd. Once you have your cow cut, you drop your hand, and from there, your horse is on auto-pilot. You have no control of your horse with the reins. You only have your feet and your seat. You have to trust your horse, his training and his God given talent for mirroring the movements of the cow. 

 

I’ve read a lot of posts lately about how to get your horse to trust you. But I believe that we need to ask a different question.  I think the question we need to ask ourselves is “how we can learn to trust our horse?” 

 

See, you have to trust a horse first for the horse to trust you back. Anytime you want a horse to perform, whether it’s in a competition, a lesson or trail ride, you have to build a rapport and learn to trust him. 

 

Tips On Learning to Trust Your Horse

 

 

Select a Horse that Knows More Than You 

 

Selecting the right horse is about knowing your skill set and understanding what you want and what you need from your horse before you purchase him. 

 

If you are a beginning rider, you will want to find a horse that is calm and confident in your discipline and one that is forgiving of your mistakes. If you’re a trail rider, you want a horse that is confident on the trail and comfortable in unfamiliar surroundings. An eventer wants a horse that is smooth and confident over the obstacles.

 

Buying a trained and seasoned horse does not let you off the hook from improving your skills however. Horses have a way of seeking the level of the rider over time, so if you begin to notice a decrease in performance, you may want to look at yourself first. Problems linked to a rider not trusting a horse show up in a number of ways. Are you rising to his level, or is he falling to yours?

 

 

Match Personalities 

 

In order to build trust and rapport with your horse, your personalities should complement each other. A timid rider on a sensitive horse, or an aggressive rider on a shy horse, may not be a good fit. 

 

When my friend Michelle decided that she wanted to get a new cutting horse to compete on, she knew exactly what she was looking for. She called around to several trainers and said to them “I’m looking for a gelding or stallion, no mares. I’m an aggressive rider and heavy legged, so I need something that will tolerate my riding style”. She found him too. And went on to be a major force in the cutting pen. 

 

 

Take Your Time

 

You must spend time with your horse. It’s the only way to get a good understanding of his personality, temperament and skills. 

Building a mutual trust between you and your horse is to not ask him for something beyond his capability. Mentally, when a horse is not ready, you are only giving him a reason to be frustrated. Physically, you are tiring him and giving him a reason to want to quit. 

I love this saying, and it relates to trust: “When the horse isn’t doing what you want, he’s telling you something. And it’s usually that you need to get better at what you’re doing”. He is begging you to slow down and give him time to learn. He wants to trust you to give him the tools he needs to have the confidence to perform. 

 

Appreciate The Gifts Of The Horse You Have 

 

Sometimes we get stuck in comparing one horse with another. I’ve seen this happen with riders that have lost their “heart horse”. They have a hard time finding a new horse to bond with because, well, that horse is just not replaceable in their heart and mind. 

 

Open your heart and mind to the new possibilities and the gifts a new horse brings, What’s special about the horses in your life right now?

 

Someone once said “If this were the very last time you ever rode your horse, would you ignore his generosity?”

 

 

Give Your Horse the Benefit of the Doubt 

 

When was the last time you were openly accused, blamed or ridiculed instead of being given the benefit of the doubt? What happened to your confidence and trust?  

How often do we ask our horse to give us the benefit of the doubt? Like when we accidentally kick him in the butt while swinging our leg over the saddle or pulling  back on the reins when we’ve lost our balance? Yet, when he misunderstands us, or is concerned about something that might eat him are we as quick to give him the benefit of the doubt?

 

Final Thoughts

 

This thing called trust is  fragile. It really is a two way street. What’s the secret to gaining your horse’s trust? You must be trustworthy.  

 

If you are looking for your next trustworthy equine partner, be sure to get my free  Dream Horse Buyers Guide by clicking the link below.

 

Enjoy the Ride.