As a horse trainer, it is important to develop a relationship of caring and of trust with a horse to allow communication of lessons that are needed to train the animal to work properly with a rider.
It is important for a trainer and a horse to get to know each other. The trainer needs to be familiar with the horse’s personality and the horse needs to be comfortable with the trainer’s personality. Some horses are skittish around people especially if the animal has been abused. Some horses have picked up bad habits such as biting, kicking, bucking, and not coming when called, to name a few. If the trainer is not aware of the animal’s bad habits, it can lead to severe injuries. As the trainer and horse get…show more content… These areas are maintaining the health of the horse, feeding the horse and grooming the horse. Fortunately, there is considerable overlap among these three areas. A trainer or owner needs to be familiar with the horse’s normal behavior because a change in behavior can indicate a health problem. A healthy horse is alert, curious and sociable with other animals (Meyers). It has a good appetite and may enjoy playing or being ridden. When sick, the animal may stand for prolonged periods with its head down and ignore activity going on around it. If the animal appears anxious or overly aggressive and sweaty, even when the weather is not hot or it has not been running, illness maybe indicated. A horse that lays down and rolls a lot, kicks out, or looks back at its flank frequently may have an abdominal problem. Long term health issues may effect the quality of the animal’s coat. Feeding the horse a nutritious diet to maintain its coat and skin are part of a good maintenance plan. The horse’s coat should be thick and shiny; hair serves as a barrier for insects, it thins in summer for cooling and thickens in winter for warmth. It also reflects the animal’s state of
