One of the earlier tips that was sent in, really split the pack, on how to build a horse’s confidence.
Conner suggested crawling underneath your horse to bond and build confidence.
Some of you think it’s a stupid and dangerous thing to do. Some of you don’t.
Anyhow, Joe sent in this video.
I think Ange says it best. I’ve copied her comment from below:
How to build a horse’s confidence
“Its all in the moment – not a thing to construct or copy if u don’t have a feel for it. Taking leadership like that can’t be forced.
The animal has to have accepted you as its safe place because your touch and presence is reassuring.
Then its possible to do this and many other close physical things that could be deemed off limits to young horse normally, like handling ears and legs.
Its just about a balance of being the boss and being the protector and the method is always under review and management. Like any living relationship leadership and mutual respect is negotiated not dictated.
Ange”
How to build a horse’s confidence
And there’s Kath’s comments too which I also thought sensible:
“I think Joe has spent a lot of time with his horse and touching and brushing it in every place possible.
She is very relaxed around him and he is obviously trying to get some meat on her. She is a Tennessee walker x which is a very docile and well tempered breed . I have 2.
Spending time with your horse – that’s how to build a horses confidence and in return build the trust of your horse.
Never try something you don’t feel comfortable doing .
THANKS JOE ! For taking the time to share this video
Kath”
Please do leave a comment below – I’d really love to know your thoughts on how to build a horse’s confidence.
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This is “NUTS”. Develope a bond first. I have done this at later dates, but I deal with horses daily this would be suicide with.You never know at first what the horses previous experience has been,defensive actions could be legitamate UNTIL the horse knows YOU can be trusted.
Not everyone deals with tired hungry horses with their hips sticking out.
I have read that it shows your horse that you trust her… which is important to bonding, too.
I think it really depends on the horse. I can see where it would be handy should you ever end up under your horse. However I am not as lithe as I used to be.
There are professional teams that commonly do this move as part of their demonstrations. I would say that this move isn’t something for the novice horse or rider.
I agree absolutely. This is certainly not something you should try unless you have developed a bomb proof relationship with your horse. Some don’t even like to be touched while they are eating and you can never know when a biting insect might make them move very suddenly.
Yeah… My Holsteiners do NOT like being messed with while eating. My Welsh ponies tend not to mind so much.
This film by Joe is good on a horse you have a good relationship with already, not on a new relationship until the two of you are ready.
I have often done that (crawl under) with my horses,
BUT I have only done this when I have confidence in the horse/pony. There are some horses I would not do this because it can be dangerous.
idd like to see him try it without the bucket of feed lol.
it dependsd on the horse entirely i walk behind the horse first and ike it was said to have confidence first 😀 its very good for some horses but others not…. every horse is different and there is alot of different approaches to bonding… make sure you think about all your options and which one suits your horse best !!!!!!!!! 🙂
This is dumb. Horses are prey animals and domesticated horses never lose their natural instincts. All it takes is a mouse, or a butterfly to appear and the most placid horse may react while you are under it. There are safer ways to establish trust from a horse than this extremely risky method.
I watched the video a couple of times in order to read the horse’s ears. What I found interesting is that the horse doesn’t seem to pleased with being walked under. In the “no-go zones”, I have to wonder if it’s disrespectful to the horse by walking under it. The ears suggest to me that it is.
i agree with mel also he should check her feet she walks kind of strange
Why such a long video?
If your horse is eating grain for 12 minutes, that may be too much.
And everyone knows you don’t bother a horse when they are eating.
(1) Joe and Ginger are profoundly comfortable with each other (2)Joe has spent a lot of time getting to know her. (3) Ginger seems to have been through some bad times before coming to Joe and is now getting proper feed and care. She likes Joe ALOT. Three positive steps to success. Avoid crawling under a horse if the owner isn’t comfortable with the horse, if horse & owner haven’t logged a ton of hours working together, if the horse is not properly fed & cared for and if the horse DOESN’T LIKE THE HANDLER!
Ginger just has a great personality. She is funny like my mare, tossing her feed bucket to the side when finished eating. “Is that all you got for me? I am still hungry!”
I hope there will be no trail riding or camping till her joint pain is dealt with though. That front left knee is a bit twisted.
I personally don’t understand if crawling under your horse will build any kind of relationship with your horse
Your horse can’t trust you if you’re dead on the ground from where you’ve been kicked in the coconut.
The basics never grow old. Solid animal husbandry is what builds trust in a horse.
I think bonding with a horse is more than training, ground work, and riding. I do these things, but in addition I just spend time with my horse. Be near when doing chores, talking quietly, give him/her a rub, go for a walk on halter & lead rope around the property, hand graze for a while. Sometimes I sit and read outside his stall while he eats his grain and hay.
Grooming for my guy is important bonding time for us. He nickers when he sees me get the brushes out of my grooming bag. He is in pasture all day and in late afternoon. There is a lot of rough housing with his buddies and gets the occasional scrape or 2. They are always cleaned and medicine applied. Last step is a good rag rub. He has been known to nod off during his massage. He is an adopted horse, former reiner, used to fast, hot workouts. He expected this and was very up and ready when I got him (1 yr ago). Now he is ready to work, but not hot, does not loose focus, is willing and learns fast. No more prancing, high head and big eyes.
I agree with Rowenna. If your objective is to be the leader your horse needs and wants, the are not going to see you as ‘afraid’. There are other and better ways to establish that. Im not sure this does anything except get them use to you being under them.
I am pretty sure after watching Joe’s video he should learn some Equine nutrition. The little horse looks very under nourished and if it shows through a full winter coat it is going to be much worse once she sheds. If she does, nutrition has a lot to with the appearance and quality of the coat. You can’t hardly see her skinny little body for the width of her head, not good. Plus I don’t believe she should be ridden until the lameness issue is taken care of in the left front. As far as crawling under your horse, there are numerous ways to gain trust without putting yourself in danger. I’m not saying you cannot do it but some people should not, and some horses should never be put in that position. They are all individuals just as we are. Treat them as such and don’t always expect the same results from different personalities.
If you are concerned about one becoming cast and not being able to handle it, take some quality time and teach them to hobble. I do it over a a long period so as not scare them. You would be amazed at the result. Only do this if you have the knowledge. If you don’t ask a professional.
By the way hungry horses are like hungry people. They have little energy and very little stamina. I have saved many who’s personality change drastically with proper nutrition. Not for the bad, just healthy, more aware and happy.
Feed your horse a few more buckets of pellets Joe….. You should be ashamed of her appearance, and lack of soundness.
Debbie
I wouldn’t in general insult my horse by crawling underneath it. But I have to poke my head right up there for dealing with sarcoids and she doesn’t mind as long as she gets a mint or two.
Though I trust her and have crawled through once or twice, I think that we have to respect the nether regions of the horse and their soft belly parts. I would suspect they don’t like human beings messing about there. Instinctive reactions might come into play. I wouldn’t like a head poking about in my nether regions.
Some people don’t mind a head poking about in their nether regions. People are different the same as horses are different.
I don’t know, but I think he should spend less time crawling underneath her & FEED her! That poor little thing looks like she’s starving. I would call the humane society if I saw a horse looking like that. I’m concerned for her. I hope he acquired her in that condition & is trying to nurse her back to health!
I thought the exact same thing. Poor honeypie
🙂 I agree that it depends on your relationship with the horse, it is not saying that you can go underneath your horse from day one, but surely it is a trust thing that you can work on. When I put a rug on my horses, I have to reach underneath my horses to do up the straps. I agree that you could slip and fall underneath so to get the horse used to this or something similar does make sense.
All Ginger cares about his her feed. She doesn’t look like she could work up a good kick.
I use to go under Max with the wheelbarrow!But i would never attemped this with Princess or Paddy,It depends on the Horse xxxxxx
Bad idea. Only experienced horse people and very well trained horses should even be a consideration in doing this. Horses or flight creatures and can be unpredictable. Seriously, forget this method of bonding. 😮
🙂 Been doing that for 50 years. It does depend on the horse, although any I work with will eventually allow it. I would not recommend it in an emergency wherein the horse may panic, it’s going to bolt or lash out. A calm voice and walk-around is a better choice.
😛 I tried this with my horse who trust me, and he didnt budge at all, I know my horse trusts me but I had never done this before and I must agree with is guy.
We don’t know what he has been doing with this horse before. She has her food and her limbic system is activated with the chewing. She is watching him, but doesn’t seem to be concerned. His touching the horse all over with his hands as well as the brush transmits that he is safe and will not harm her.
I certainly agree that crawling under or even squatting along side is putting yourself at risk. I too would be selective with which horses I would do this with.
The book and the groundwork exercises certainly look to be sensible and helpful. I wish her success with the book.
Good grief, I used to do this ALL the time as a kid! Still did it into my 30’s cause sometimes it was the easiest way to the other side. I’m in my 50’s now so I don’t bend as well as I used to. Of course I did this only with horses I knew, and I knew all of my horses very well or I wouldn’t have done it.
Obviously this is a young horse standing on very uneven ground so comments about confirmation are really unwarranted. Ears flickering back, did you hear the heavy highway noise? Bottom line you have to know your horse and that takes a lot of time. Getting on their back is the ultimate sign of trust as they are prey animals and I don’t really understand all the hype about going under their stomach. Walking/grooming behind them can be just if not more dangerous. Just don’t startle them as flight instinct can engage. I have a one eyed Thoroughbred so I have to make sure she is aware of my presence on her right side especially. All this to me just seems to be common horse sense nothing new. Broke (gently)my colt in 1971ish when I was about 14 years old. Again common horse sense is all that’s needed.
Joe, please get a healthy horse that when you get on it your legs do not drag on the ground. THIS IS A PONY you huge, HEAVY, man. You and a saddle on this poor baby? Really? Lots of trail riding? You will kill her. She is obviously underweight and not healthy. Get her teeth checked and her feet/knees. You are good with her just apparently have no clue about weight abuse. Give the old girl a break and give her to a child-get a horse that can carry you. OR strap a volkswagen on your back and see how you like the trail.
I consider this “tip” totally irresponsible. I would imagine there are several young readers on this list. All it takes is one horse fly landing on the horses stomach and the horses automatic response to kick at it, for a kid to end up with a caved in head. Gaining a horses trust does not require crawling around underneath them.
If a branch on the tree next them them snapped and fell at the same time he was under her, for sure he would get kicked or steped on. Having said that, I also go under my horse too, but I have good insurance. it is a position that could get you injured, all horse spook sometimes.
This is not a “one rule fits all”. There are horses that you can do this with, and some that could kill or cripple you. This is not a good idea for novice horse people.
this horse does look on the skinny side shouldn’t crawl under a horse horses like to be left alone while they are eating.
The horse is clearly underfed and is more concerned with eating than with what he is doing. I believe there are other ways to bond with a horse without doing this. I think it is a bit far fetched but that is just my opinion.
Who cares, really, if this fellow wants to risk getting seriously hurt. It’s his choice. Doesn’t matter whether we agree or not. There are so MANY other non risky ways to bond with your horse that I don’t see the sense in taking such a risk myself.
AS MUCH AS U MAY LOVE YOUR HORSE
AS MUCH AS U MAY TRUST YOUR HORSE
ANY HORSE ….
NO MATTER HOW GENTLE…CALM…TRUSTWORTHY
CAN SUDDENLY REACT TO A NOISE….
SOMETHING BLOWING IN THE WIND
YOUR LIFE
YOUR RISK
PERSONALLY……FOR ME
BETTER SAFE THAN SORRY
Its all in the moment – not a thing to construct or copy if u don’t have a feel for it. Taking leadership like that can’t be forced. The animal has to have accepted you as its safe place because your touch and presence is reassuring.Then its possible to do this and many other close physical things that could be deemed off limits to young horse normally, like handling ears and legs. Its just about a balance of being the boss and being the protector and the method is always under review and management. Like any living relationship leadership and mutual respect is negotiated not dictated.
If you trust your horse, you also honor his instincts and startle reflexes. I can do this with my horse, but the older I get the more I think,”why take a chance of being hurt or worse.” It is not worth it to prove a romantic notion that your horse “loves” you and wouldn’t hurt you.
I think Joe has spent a lot of time with his horse and touching and brushing it in every place possible. She is very relaxed around him and he is obviously trying to get some meat on her . She is a Tennessee walker x which is a very docile and well tempered breed . I have 2. Spending time with your horse will give you confidencet and in return build the trust of your horse. Never try something you don’t feel comfortable doing . THANKS JOE ! For taking the time to share this video .
I have 2 thoroughbreds that I use for Polocrosse – when tacking them up before a game it is quite common for me to crawl under them to get their boots and bandages on and often when I am grooming them.
I believe that it is all about trust and respect from both sides.
Maybe he just. bought her under weight and is bonded but there are alot of un answered questions here. I thought she looked quite skinny also and my horse @I have a great bonding and I don’t feel I need to walk under her to proof that…she trusts me and visevirsa……
I enjoyed watching this video. I felt that he did a great job with the mare and I appreciated his and her demeanor. Thank you for posting
That horse looks seriously malnourished. I’m not going to take bonding tips from someone who clearly doesn’t know the basics of horse care.
I think you could get a group of people together who could safely have a picnic under that horse….It is so weak and malnourished that it probably wouldn’t have the energy to do anything should it feel threatened. 🙄
The only reason I’ve stepped under my horses was to get to the other side. It’s the shortest way. I guess maybe it was the right thing to do according tto this guy.