Groundwork and Bonding – Chicken and Egg?

Bonding is the development of a relationship of trust and confidence between a horse and his owner or handler. It comes from countless hours of working with the horse beginning with our earliest foal imprinting lessons (if we were lucky enough to have that opportunity) and continuing throughout the horse’s life. 

Every time you handle the horse, whether it’s to feed him, brush him, doctor him or pick his hooves, you are unconsciously affecting the bonding process. How you affect it, depends upon how well you understand the principles of natural horsemanship and consequently, how well you… Continue reading →