Bonding...

[express_75]

Im a new horse owner and was wondering about the signs to notice when you're bonding with your horse?
My mare does lots of affectionate gestures; she tickles me with her nose, plays with me and gets a very soft look in her eyes and rests her head on my shoulder and i feel a lot of trust from her (apart from when she gets stressed in the school)
She's 5 now and i just love to hear abour riders and their horses bonding....
x

 

[NeilM]

We have a 'young' 6 year old New Forest gelding. I am going through the same process and in a similar situation, as a returnee rider. I have the advantage of being an ex austringer (hawks rather than falcons), so I have been through the 'manning' process before.

Grooming and general chat I find very good for getting to know one another and I am starting to see some real humour coming out. Harry can be a little nappy when separated from my wife's NF and so as well as riding, I have been doing some work in hand, which along with an occasional treat and lots of praise when 'monsters' are successfully dealt with has helped him to build up a trust in me. I also get nuzzled, pushed, licked and rested upon. His favourite being resting his chin on my head and leering at people passing our field.

You sound like you are at a similar stage to me, and really starting to bond.

 

[AmyMay]

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Im a new horse owner and was wondering about the signs to notice when you're bonding with your horse?

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The key thing for me is that they seem to 'look' for you. Oh, and they seem happier to bite you

 

[NeilM]

Ah yes, I forgot about the biting

H can get his head (teeth) to the back of my leg as I am either picking out his front hooves or doing up his girth. Nothing of note yet, but that's just cos I've been quicker than him so far.

I'm sure he finds it funny to see me jump away shouting 'don't you dare bite me you bugger'

 

[WishfulThinker]

Beau is just a soppy sod. He'll groom you as you groom him sometimes - the tounge down the back of the trousers seems a fun game to him! Sometimes if I lean over his door he comes and put his head on my arms and falls asleep, and he asks for hugs but putting his head over your shoulder then pinning you to his chest with his head.
He doesn't really bite tho -unless REALLY hungry and mugging for sweeties then he plays and pretends to sneak up on you, then when u see him he puts his head back like ' Who me, nope not up to anything me' then you start to get the 'maybe if I look all pretty I'll get something' then its deteriorates into 'look mum I can do freaky things with my head to impress you'.

But some nights when I go and I close up the barn he will just be looking at me and I dunno if its waiting till I'm gone so he can start a party or cos he wants me to stay (and feed him again!)

 

[muddy_grey]

My old mare recognise mine and OH voices. I would stand on the hill in their fields (100acres) and shout and she would come over. Also when I was selling her they wanted to try and catch her and I had to hide adn whisper until they arrived or she would stand by the gate and whinny.

 

[Natassia]

I've had mine for 4 weeks now and he 'talks' to me quite a lot, usually when wanting something and when I first arrive in the morning and he's in his stable. And he watches me when I'm doing things on the yard if he's in, which I think is really sweet! He comes to me in the field most of the time as well.
But I'd like to know other things which show whether he likes me!