| If you like riding and want to spend more time | | | | Be Sparing With Your Treats |
| around horses, riding lessons are a great way to | | | | You don't want to give your horse an excessive |
| accomplish this. Of course, you may eventually own a | | | | amount of treats. If you do, he'll be eager to get |
| horse of your own, and so you will have to know | | | | them every time you appear, and that eagerness |
| how to handle your animal, whether you're riding him | | | | can eventually turn into biting if you aren't careful. |
| or he's off-duty in the stable. These basic guidelines | | | | You'll get instructions about giving treats during your |
| may help you. | | | | riding lessons, since barns don't want their horses to |
| Be Your Horse's Comfort Zone | | | | be biting clients! |
| The horse is a herd creature, and so needs to have | | | | Develop a Working Partnership With Your Horse |
| a leader that can be trusted and respected. It's | | | | In a way, your horse is also your "working pet" - just |
| essential that you treat your horse fairly: don't make | | | | like Border Collies help farmers by herding sheep, but |
| demands that he can't respond to and make sure | | | | are still a beloved part of the family. |
| that his physical needs are handled correctly. In this | | | | Your horse is dearly loved; that said, he is still |
| way, you will be your horse's comfort zone, and he'll | | | | responsible for performing a special service. When |
| be willing to do what you ask of him. | | | | you are too cuddly and mothering toward a horse, |
| Give Your Horse Time Outs | | | | he'll stop wanting to do his job and you'll find that he |
| He may feel perfectly comfortable in your presence | | | | isn't obedient when you're in the saddle. The key is |
| but he still needs to spend time with other horses, | | | | to make him respect you, without making him fear |
| grazing and wandering together. Don't underestimate | | | | you. |
| the importance of letting him be with his own kind. | | | | When you deal with your horse as if he is a child |
| This means you can't isolate him so that the only | | | | who needs TLC mixed with a firm hand, your |
| other figure in his life is you. Doing this to a horse | | | | relationship with him will become especially rewarding |
| isn't fair to the animal, and in time he will become | | | | - whether you are on the saddle or not. |
| unhappy with these circumstances. | | | | |