Befriending The Untouched Horse Demonstration

This video gives you a real insight into the very early stages of working with a truly wild and frightened horse. This particular horse reminds me so much of an American Mustang – completely untouched and naturally wary. Our main aim here is to gently introduce a head collar using absolutely no force whatsoever.

You’ll see how I start by making initial contact using a long stick with a soft sponge on the end. This extra reach is so important as it allows me to connect with the horse without getting right up close and potentially overwhelming them. It helps the horse get used to my presence and my touch in a non-threatening way. Notice how I touch him briefly and then move away as soon as he stands still – in a way, “he’s training me to go away,” which builds his confidence.

Rewarding any sign of calm behaviour is absolutely crucial. Even if it’s just a single step towards me or a moment of stillness when I try to touch him, I make sure to acknowledge it. You might even see him licking and chewing, which is a brilliant sign of relaxation. We also use the principle of pressure and release. I’ll apply a very gentle pressure, either with the stick or a line, and the instant the horse responds positively by relaxing or moving in the direction I’m asking, I release that pressure. This teaches him that moving away from the pressure brings relief and comfort. You can learn more about these techniques in my book, ‘Handling the Untouched Horse’.

Paying attention to your body language is key when working with horses like this. You’ll see me dropping my eyes and turning my shoulders slightly away from him. This makes me appear less like a predator. Sudden movements are definitely a no-no! You can see more about this in my ‘Whispering the Wild’ documentary too.

The process of gradually introducing equipment is broken down into small, manageable steps. Patience is absolutely paramount when you’re working with untouched horses. There’s no rushing this.

Safety is, of course, a huge consideration when you’re dealing with a wild horse that could kick or strike out. Using the stick as an extension of my hand helps to keep me at a safer distance.

Ultimately, the goal is to help this horse associate me with positive experiences, like the release of pressure. We want to create a “sweet spot” where he actually enjoys being with me. You might even see me scratching him in areas where his mother would have groomed him as a foal – that can be a really lovely way to build a bond.

Key Takeaways:

• Working with truly untouched horses demands a calm, patient, and step-by-step approach. Building trust and avoiding any use of force is the priority. The techniques you see here focus on gradual introduction, rewarding positive responses, and really understanding how a fearful horse thinks. You can learn more in my book, ‘Handling the Untouched Horse’.
• Effective communication goes way beyond just physical actions. Being really mindful of your body language to appear less threatening is absolutely vital. You can see examples of this in the ‘Whispering the Wild’ documentary.
• Achieving even small steps, like getting a basic head collar on an untouched horse, is a massive win and shows just how effective gentle and understanding horsemanship can be compared to traditional, more forceful methods.