Today I intend to start a series of articles about an equestrian world. And I would like to share my own experience in entering this world. I think everyone once saw a horse. And everyone once sat horseback or even rode horseback. But it was just a moment in your life. Maybe it was on a fair or in a circus or anywhere else. Maybe it was a child’s impression or an adult entertainment. But it was just a temporal pleasure. Practically no one ever thought about a huge world that may be opened to you. Practically no one ever thought that it is a whole world.I always thought that a stable is an old-fashioned gloomy and dirty place with bad smells. When I came to a stable for the first time I cardinally changed my mind. It was a shiny, extremely clean place full of beautiful natural aromas. It was a large sport complex but in spite of this there was a very calm atmosphere. It is situated in a countryside and the nature all round was wonderful. Everyone sawed wood and an appeasement reigned everywhere.
My first meeting with horses was exciting. The huge animals walk round with humans and it was amazing. All your skills in bicycling or motorcycle driving don’t matter. A horse is a live creature - not metal. You can not simply push the button on it. You should establish real human relationships with your horse before you will make any demands from it.
When you visits a stable for the first time local staff explain to you behavior rules in a stable and behavior rules with horses. They are quite extensive and you should strictly obey these rules. The wrong behavior can threaten not only health of yours, but also health of people and horses surrounding you.
Horses are very timid animals by the nature and it is necessary to behave always quietly and the main thing you should be predictable for a horse during the contact with it. It is not allowed to shout, to wave hands, to run on a stable, and furthermore to run up to horses. The horse may not understand your abrupt movements and take it for aggression. In this case the horse can try to escape, or start to defend itself. That doesn't promise anything good for you. Horses are big and very strong animals and can easily inflict a heavy trauma to you without wishing it. For this reason the silent and quiet environment is always observed in stables. It is desirable the horse could consider and sniff at you well during the first contact. It is possible to treat it with a bit of bread, apple, carrots or sugar. You need to coordinate it with your trainer or other accompanying. You should always approach to a horse from the front or from one side. It is necessary the horse notice you in advance. You must not scares a horse in its stall. You should greet a horse beforehand and when you will be coming up to it nearer you should continue to talk to it.
In my opinion you can limit the first acquaintance to these animals at this point. Volume of information received for the first time will be enough for judgment for some days. Next time you will feel much surer on a stable and will continue the acquaintance.
Next time I will continue the story about acquaintance with the world of horses and I will tell about the harness used in work with horses. It would be very desirable to hear your stories and impressions of the first acquaintance.
