When you started, was the emphasis on caring for your horse or on riding? It seems to me that you should learn their care, and get involved with that before you ever ride.

It's like, you have to earn that right, earn the right to ride them. You have to start building a relationship with them first. You know what I mean?

Well I can not speak for a horse, but if I were a horse, I would rather bond with my rider than have him/her jump on my back and go "Giddy up". If horses even remotely think like humans do, don't you think that would kind of be a bit rude, esp. if the horse has never been broken or trained proper? :)

I definitely think that it would be a bit rude! I just wasn't sure where the rest of the world stood on it. Like I say I am new to this.

For an unbroken horse, do they really start to trust you just by their grooming?

Our beginner riders are expected to learn how to groom and tack their mounts before riding. Riding is a privilege earned after showing you have taken care to make sure your mount is comfortable and safe.

When I got my horse I got to know her first before riding. I devoted the first couple months to grooming, and taking care of her. I would talk with her or sing so that she would get used to my voice and feel how much I care for her. I believe that horses have feelings just like we do. What do you think?

So then how would a horse feel about being at say, kid's shows? Where they may have twenty different riders in a day, none of whom know the horse? Does the owner leading it help at all?

I went riding all the horses ive ever been with. I think cleaning them is disgusting. It may be a good idea to "bond", but it is almost impossible for a human to bond with an animal. An animal has animalistic nature. An animal wants to survive. Live, breath, eat, reproduce, and thats it.

The simple fact is Austin that horses are smart animals. It's not like you are dealing with savage beast who cannot be adapted and learn to moderate it's behaviour.

You CAN bond with a horse. In fact you can bond with many animals if you give it time and they decide they like you. I had a cat as a child who would follow me to school every day and sit and pine outside of my class. She would then snuggle down in my coat and I would walk her home at lunch time.

The mucking out, as disgusting as it might be, is no different than changing your child's diaper. It helps build trust between the child (or animal) and you.