Approach a horse in the box and lead it to the rope
You have just bought your horse and have started by learning the different ways to interact with it. Unfortunately, you sometimes have difficulty approaching a horse in the box and leading it to the rope. Fortunately, we thought of you. In this article, discover how to do it.
Approaching the horse in the box
As with any horse handling, entering the box must be done calmly and without rushing. The worker attracts the horse's attention by calling its name. Before entering, make sure that the horse's head is pointing toward the box exit. If the horse presents its rump, the worker must wait for it to turn around before entering the box if he does not want to risk receiving a kick.
To avoid startling the animal and trying to turn it toward the gate, the worker can speak calmly to the horse and call it over. If the horse really does not want to turn, the worker can stand to the side of the rump (while ensuring that there is an escape route) and push on the upper thigh of the animal, firmly asking it to press down.
When faced with an aggressive horse, the groomer must not be intimidated. If he backs down, the horse will take this as a victory and may become more and more aggressive. When faced with this type of animal, the man must stand tall and move firmly towards it while remaining attentive to outline a possible attack. The box is a confined space where the possibilities of escape are reduced, so it is strongly advised not to groom or treat a horse directly in the box. Indeed, the animal can turn around suddenly and pin the man against a wall. To care for a horse, it is preferable to take the time to lead it into a grooming room that is large and clear enough to avoid being crushed.
The horse must be tied to a fixed element (bar, ring fixed to the wall, etc.), because if the tie is to a mobile element (Nadar barrier, stable door, etc.) and the horse pulls, the element can move or fall and injure the animal and the human. The tie must be made using a safety knot that allows the horse to be quickly released in the event of a problem by simply pulling on the free end of the rope. To make this knot, the rope is passed through the tie ring, the free end is passed over the rope and then under it. The end of the rope is then folded in two and the loop thus formed is placed in the space in the middle. Some horses quickly find the trick to untie themselves, so it is recommended to secure the tie.
Lead the horse to the rope
Once the horse presents its head towards the door, the worker comes to stand on its left to put a quality halter on it whether he bought it from La Sellerie Française or not . He must position himself in front of the shoulder, a little behind the head to avoid receiving a blow. To properly lead a horse to the rope, the groom must stand on the left of the animal and hold the rope with both hands.
The right hand is placed about 20 centimeters from the rope snap hook to give the horse's head enough freedom (but not too much), the other hand is placed further on the rope. The rope should not hang in the feet of the worker and the horse and should never be wrapped around the hand. In this case, if the horse gets scared and pulls, the trainer can burn the palm of his hand or fracture several phalanges. If the horse becomes uncontrollable, it is better for the worker to let go of the rope if he does not want to be dragged behind the horse and be seriously injured. It is then necessary to wait until the horse calms down before removing the lunge line or luring it with a bucket of food.
When horses have not been out for a long time or when it is cold (horses are often more nervous), some precautions must be taken. The rope is simply passed through the ring of the halter without attaching the carabiner and the worker holds the carabiner and the other end of the rope in his left hand, the right hand still holding the double rope 20 centimeters from the ring of the halter. If the horse becomes too difficult to hold or starts at the entrance to the meadow, the man can let go of the free end of the rope while keeping the carabiner in hand so that it does not get stuck in the ring.
Another tip for slowing down a horse that is a little too nervous is to place your elbow in the hollow of the animal's shoulder. To avoid burning your hands, the worker can also wear gloves with non-slip palms. The worker who lets go of a horse must also make sure that once he reaches the entrance to the paddock or field, he turns the animal around so that its head is facing him. Indeed, it is common for horses to kick up in joy when they are let go, but this can seriously injure the worker if the hooves hit him.