Do Horses Actually Like Being Ridden?

I also lay out some posts and have him step over them on the walk. Then I will move them closer and have him step over them. I step down in the stirrup on the side where he is stepping because this will shorten his stride. If I step down in the opposite stirrup when he takes a step, it will lengthen his stride. This is fun, but sometimes it becomes difficult to get it right.

This kind of practice is a game, and Major does like games. This is also a part of the Western pleasure class. I try to make everything that we do together into a game. Always do this with any horse because I believe it‘s important for both the horse and rider to have fun. One time one of my neighbors came by and noticed me and Major out playing in the round pen and stated that the horse really liked what we were doing, and he stayed for a while and watched.

Every Horse Is Different

Major is a very good all-around horse, and next, I will start working with Apache, a smaller black and white paint horse that I own. His disposition is much different than Major's, and he is afraid of practically everything. I have had him for a couple of years and have mostly worked on making friends with him.

So, now the game begins. I will start with a black hose about 5–6' long. I will lay this piece of a water hose in a serpentine pattern and attempt to walk Apache over it to see what his reaction is. This is done in the 50' round pen. On the second attempt, I will lead him to the hose and let him smell it. This goes on for a few days until he gains confidence in me.

Next will come something that makes a screeching type of noise—usually, I use an old type of mailbox that has a bent door so that it makes a noise. I lead him up to it and try to open it; this goes on for about 7 days.