A horse is a prey animal

Everything a horse does starts from one question: am I safe? A horse that feels safe is calm, and a calm horse is a pleasure to ride. These three habits help it feel safe with you.

• Approach from the front or the side, never directly behind. A horse cannot see directly behind itself, so let it see you coming.
• Keep your voice calm and quiet. Sudden noise or movement can startle a horse. Slow and steady is the whole secret.
• Follow your guide. They know every horse on the ride. Do what they ask, and tell them straight away if anything feels wrong.

Soft is strong

At Leyden Horsemanship we ask one thing of everyone who handles our horses: leave the horse calmer, safer and more willing than you found it. You do not need any experience to do that, only patience and a quiet hand.

Want to know what your horse is thinking?

If the ride leaves you curious, our free online course picks up where this briefing ends. Course 100: Equine Science and Care teaches how horses learn, how to read them and how to care for them. The whole first section is open to read with no account.

See you at the barn. You are going to love it.