When you know how to calm a horse, this is a great skill you can use in your day-to-day with horses and people. Whether you’re at a show, on a trail ride, or just in the barn, having the skills to calm your horse can help prevent accidents and improve their overall well-being. In this blog post, we’ll discuss some techniques you can use to calm your horse down.
Stay calm and relaxed
The first step in calming your horse down is to stay calm and relax. Horses are incredibly intuitive and can sense your emotions, so if you’re feeling anxious or nervous, your horse will pick up on that energy. Take a deep breath and try to remain as calm and relaxed as possible. Speak to your horse in a soothing voice and let them know that everything is okay.
Use gentle touch
Gentle touch can be very calming for horses. Try rubbing your horse’s neck or withers in a circular motion. This can help to release tension and relax their muscles. You can also try placing your hand on their shoulder or hip and applying gentle pressure. This can help your horse feel more grounded and secure.
Give your horse a job to do
Sometimes horses become anxious because they don’t have anything to focus on. Giving your horse a job to do can help them feel more engaged and less anxious. This can be as simple as asking your horse to stand still and wait for you, or asking them to perform a simple task like picking up their feet or walking in a circle.
Distract your horse
If your horse is feeling anxious or nervous, distracting them with something else can help to take their mind off of what’s making them anxious. This can be as simple as offering them a treat or asking them to focus on a nearby object. You can also try singing or talking to your horse in a soothing voice.
Walk your horse
Walking your horse can be a great way to calm them down. The rhythmic motion of walking can help to release tension and promote relaxation. If your horse is feeling particularly anxious, try walking them in a quiet area away from distractions. This can help them to focus on the act of walking and help them to feel more grounded.
Use aromatherapy
Aromatherapy can be very effective in calming horses. Lavender oil, for example, is known for its calming properties and can be used to help relax your horse. You can place a few drops of lavender oil on a cloth and hang it in your horse’s stall or on their halter. You can also add a few drops to a spray bottle filled with water and mist your horse’s coat before riding. Using a diffuser or spray with these scents can help to create a peaceful environment for the horse.
Practice desensitization | Show Your Horse New Things
Desensitization is the process of exposing your horse to new and potentially scary stimuli in a controlled environment. This can help your horse to become more accustomed to new things and less reactive when they encounter them in the future. Start by introducing your horse to new objects in a quiet, controlled setting. Gradually increase the intensity of the stimuli as your horse becomes more comfortable.
There are many techniques you can use to calm your horse down. Whether you’re using gentle touch, distraction, or aromatherapy, it’s important to stay calm and relaxed yourself. Remember to give your horse a job to do and to practice desensitization to help your horse become more comfortable with new experiences. By following these tips, you can help keep your horse calm, happy, and safe.
A few unexpected ways to calm a horse
Singing: Horses are known to respond well to soothing sounds, and singing can be an effective way to calm a nervous horse. Soft, gentle songs with a slow tempo can help to relax both the horse and the rider.
Massaging: Just like humans, horses can benefit from a gentle massage. Massaging the neck, shoulders, and back can help to release tension and promote relaxation.
Grounding: Grounding techniques, such as standing barefoot on the ground or using a grounding mat, can help to calm a nervous horse. This is because horses are sensitive to energy and can pick up on the calming effects of grounding.
Visualization: Visualization techniques, such as imagining a calm and peaceful environment, can be effective in calming a horse. This is because horses are highly intuitive and can pick up on the energy and emotions of their riders. Instead what we humans often do is picture the behavior that makes us so uncomfortable and we keep showing it to the horse telepathically over and over again. Instead, show the horse an image of standing calmly, enjoying food, going for a ride, playing with other horses. Send them comments like “It will be OK.” See if you can perceive the source of the anxiety — it may or may not be possible — and see if you can’t alter the environment to remove the cause.
Several advantages to having a calm horse, including:
Happiness: A calm horse is a happy horse and a happy horse makes for a happy human.
Weight: A calm horse keeps weight on better than an anxious horse. A horse who paces or runs the fence line can worry themselves skinny.
Safety: A calm horse is less likely to spook or bolt, which can be dangerous for both the horse and rider. A calm horse is also easier to handle and less likely to cause accidents.
More fun to Ride: A calm horse is easier to ride, as it is less likely to be distracted or agitated. This can make the ride more enjoyable for the rider and allow them to focus on other aspects of riding, such as technique and form.
Easier to Teach: A calm horse is easier to teach because it is more receptive to learning and less likely to become frustrated or anxious. This can speed up the training process and lead to better results.
Improved performance: A calm horse is able to maintain a consistent pace and focus on the task at hand, which can lead to improved performance in competitions or other activities.
Better temperament: A calm horse is generally more pleasant to be around, as it is less likely to exhibit negative behaviors such as biting, kicking, or refusing to cooperate. This can make horse ownership more enjoyable and less stressful.
Not all horses were meant to be calm, but you can bring out the inner calmness of your horse with these best practices. I’ve also used horse calming powder, especially the first few days after we have moved to a new stables. Here’s one that may help:
