Last Updated on February 22, 2022 by Allison Price
We don’t mean to hurt a horse by breaking it, but we do not intend to. What does it actually mean to break a horse, though?
A horse being broken is taught to ride a rider . This can be very difficult as a horse is afraid to have a rider on its back. Let’s look closer at what causes a horse to be broken.
Table of Contents
- Where Does the Meaning of Breaking a Horse Come From?”
- Are Unbroken Horses Difficult To Handle?
- How do you break a horse?
- 1. Teach your horse to trust you
- 2. The Bridle and Saddle
- 3. Supporting your horse
What Does it Mean to Break a Horse?
It is important to understand what it means to break a horse from the beginning. “Breaking a Horse” means the horse is being trained how to ride a rider . Although it sounds dramatic, this should not be too stressful for the pony or horse.
Horses that are already trained to ride can be used by most people to learn how to ride. They are already trained to ride with a rider. Many people don’t get to see the fun of riding a horse.
A patient, understanding trainer with experience working with novice horses is necessary to break a horse. This will teach horses to love riding, not fear.
To teach a pony or horse how to ride a rider, he/she must be patient and gentle. You must help the horse or pony understand how to ride a rider.
From Where Does the Meaning of Breaking a Horse Come From?
It is difficult to break a horse. Horses don’t like having anything on their backs. Because they are prey animals, they fear that any weight on their backs could lead to an attack by a lion or other tiger.
Horse riders used to try and ‘break’ horses by sitting on bucking horses until they became calm and docile. The term “breaking” is derived from this: the rider tried to break the horse’s spirit so that it would accept a rider. This is how horses used to be broken to ride, if you’ve ever seen a rodeo horse rider on a Bucking Bronco.
The methods for breaking a horse are much easier over the years. The methods of breaking a horse have improved over the years.
Today, horses are allowed to become comfortable with the entire process of breaking them. Modern-day breaking helps horses trust their rider and learn what is expected of them.
Are Unbroken Horses Difficult To Handle?
Horses that are not broken can be dangerous and difficult to handle. How calm and respectful they are will depend on their breed and past experience with humans.
Horses that are either cold-blooded or native breeds will usually be quite calm and open to human contact. Horses such as partially broken horses, which have not had much human contact, are at the opposite end of the spectrum.
Horse training is best done with human contact. Horses who have been around people since a young age are easier to handle. Because they have already learned to trust people and feel safe around them, this is why horses who have spent time with humans as young animals will be easier to handle.
A novice rider or one who is inexperienced with horses should not be able to handle them. Unbroken horses can be dangerous and unpredictable. You need to be able to read the body language and movements of a horse or pony when handling them. This will allow you to predict how the horse or pony might react and keep you safe.
How Do You Break a Horse?
Anyone can learn to ride a horse. To be able to teach a horse how to ride, you will need to know how to train it.
There are many steps involved in breaking a horse. To help your horse gain confidence, take each step slowly. Don’t move onto the next step until your horse is comfortable and relaxed.
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1. Teach your horse to trust you
Your horse should feel safe around you. You should be able to touch him anywhere on his body, including his stomach and back. Also, you need to ensure that he is able to be touched from both sides.
It is important to have a basic understanding of before backing a horse. Basic groundwork skills such as leading, turning and stopping, wearing a harness, and how to use it are all very important for teaching horses to understand basic aids.
2. The Bridle and Saddle
Your horse should feel comfortable wearing a halter if you’ve done all the necessary groundwork. Next, get your horse used a bridle.
A soft, gentle bit should be used when your horse is first wearing a bridle. Sometimes called a mouthing little bit. You should use a halter-style bridle with the same texture and feel.
The saddle is next. The saddle is often more difficult for horses to accept because he won’t be used to weight on the back or a girth around him belly.
First, place a soft saddle pad on your horse’s back. Once your horse is comfortable with this, you can apply light pressure to the pad with your hands. Next, wrap a soft towel around the pad. Then move your horse around to feel the sensation.
You are ready to saddle your horse if he is comfortable. Be aware that the saddle can be very heavy so don’t panic if your horse is afraid.
3. Supporting your horse
It’s time to support your horse! To get your horse to adjust to the weight, gently lay down on your back . When your horse is happy and relaxed, you can swing your leg over his head and get into a sitting position. Allow him to relax and then ask for assistance to take him on a walk.
Congratulations! Your horse is now backed!
Summary
As we’ve seen, breaking a horse means teaching it how to ride. This can be a scary and difficult experience for horses, so it is best to have an experienced trainer. Each step should be taken slowly. Make sure your horse is comfortable and relaxed before you move on to the next.
Do you believe you can ride a horse? Maybe you have questions about how to break a horse. Leave a comment below and we’ll respond!
