Many owners don't realize horses existed for thousands of years as prey. For instance,
horses have eyes on both sides of their head rather than in front (like humans).
That way they can constantly be searching for danger. In order to help with
their survival, horses have developed a very keen memory associated with their
experiences. According to research, horses will remember a single experience
for around 10 years (talk about holding a grudge!).
These memories combine to form the relationships your horse has with the world
around her. Some experiences can be positive such as feeding or grooming your
horse. Others can be negative, such as getting a vaccine shot from a vet. Too
many negative experiences can lead to an overall strained relationship where
your horse may associate you with distrust or fear. On the other hand, feed
your horse forage she likes and she'll be thinking positively about you for
a long time. Wouldn't it be great if everyone remembered a good meal for 10
years?
Strengthening your relationship with your horse comes down to thinking about how
experiences will affect her beforehand. Obviously you can't always have positive
experiences. The trick is to balance the negative ones with the positive so
your horse's overall bond with you stays one of trust and respect.
The quickest way to a horse's heart is through its stomach. And nothing makes a
horse's stomach happier than eating the right forage. Click the button below
to find out which type of forage your horse should be eating!
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