Q&A for How to Show Your Horse That You Love Him

Give them a massage! Different horses like to be massaged in different parts of their body. Try massaging your horse all over to find where it does and doesn't like to be touched.

Yes, horses feel safe with someone by their side. Cuddle him and feed and groom him lots so he feels safe.

All over -- from the neck, across the rump, and down to the legs. You can even massage some of the cheeks and forehead.

Deadly nightshade, foxglove, acorns, yew, privet, rhododendrons, maple, horse tails, pigweed, and milkweed are all poisonous to horses. You can find more online.

Yes. You can massage your horse all the way from its neck down its back and all the way to its tail! Horses love a good massage almost anywhere, but if your horse pins its ears back while you are massaging, it means it is unhappy. Do not massage an injury unless the vet shows you specifically how to do it.

If you are having any sort of interaction with him (e.g. grooming him, feeding him, having him come to you, training him, etc.), you are communicating with him. Conversation is not the only form of communication.

That probably means he is very uncomfortable. You should let him see what you are putting on him and feel if there is anything pokey on the underside of the saddle.

Yes, carrots are a good snack for horses.

All horses do that. It means he doesn't like the feeling of the girth being tightened. Don't worry though, you're not doing anything wrong; that's just a natural reaction horses have.

Yes. If you do not put a rug (saddle pad) on under the saddle, your horse will get a painful sore called a 'saddle sore.'

Try giving him a treat. Hand him the treat while you have hold of him, then when he is chewing, slide the halter on. Make sure the halter is comfortable for your horse. Get your horse used to you so that he will accept it easily. Be patient.

Yes! Stallions can be entered into competitions.

During pregnancy, the mare may act differently than normal. To bond, try to pet it and be with it. Keep in mind that the mare's back end is very sensitive during pregnancy and it is best to avoid that area.

Yes, you can tell him that you love him as frequently as you like.

No, if you get closer he will begin to feel safe with you and stroking, grooming, and feeding are all good ways to bond with your horse.

There are many horse sale sites that you can use to narrow horses for sale down to country, state, county, etc.

When leading, it usually shouldn't be too bad unless the horse pulls you off balance. When riding, grass reins can be very useful, along with just gently bumping the horse when the horse tosses her head. If grass reins don't work, then just keeping your hands firm and still when she tosses her head will do pretty much the same thing.

Most of them are safe for horses, but you can do some research online first or consult with your veterinarian to ensure that they are safe before applying them to the horse.

If you're the one feeding them, wait until they aren't nippy and then feed them. Or if they're kicking just stand there until they stop and then feed. If you feed them when they're behaving badly it teaches then bad habits.

It could be that he needs some human attention or love. If you come by often, he probably looks forward to seeing you.

If they bite you, you have only five second to respond and teach them that this is bad behavior. When he does that, give him a quick smack on the muzzle. Also, let the owners know about this behavior.

Instead of desensitizing, build confidence. He may have had a bad experience once if someone just let the saddle plop down on his back and it hurt. Does he have any problems with the saddle pad? Before you place the saddle on him, let him get a good look at it and smell it. Next time, hold the saddle over him but don't place it on him. At any signs of nervousness, lift the saddle back, and then repeat until he is okay with it.

Try joining up with your new horse. This only works if you trust your new horse enough for him to trust you. This also establishes a bond and leadership between you and your new horse.

It means that he missed you and that he enjoys your company and loves you. This is a great thing!

If you are on the ground and somewhere safe like the pasture, don't try to restrain the horse. It will only get more afraid. If you are on the horse, try to stay on and say woah. Don't yell, kick, whip, or pull on the reins as that will anger the horse and make it buck or kick out. When the horse stops bucking or running, talk to it calmly and dismount if you feel the horse shouldn't be ridden at the moment. You need to know what the horse spooked at if possible so it doesn't happen again.

Try not to give the horse too many treats or physical touch like hugging all the time. They aren't dogs or cats and if you let them push you around you could get very hurt!