Improving your relationship with your animal through your daily routine...... with Penny Hollings.

Penny and Whittaker's Prince

Penny Hollings is a well-known Producer, Judge and Instructor and is a regular contributor to our blog.

This month, Penny gives guidance on how to improve your relationship with your horse or pony just through your daily routine....


It is easy for your daily routine to be rushed as you dash from ponies and onto work/school/college and back. Taking a little time to interact with your horse (without annoying them to death!) can improve your relationship with them .

When  I’m feeding, I insist that the horse moves back and allows me to place the feed in the manger, I really do not like being mugged!! With some horses I have to be quite sharp and assertive. Getting the horse to respect my space in this way, as it would another horse, is useful when it comes to holding him outside or leading as they are already aware of you. Some animals are very defensive and shy, with these animals I allow them to move away to where they are comfortable and then move slowly to the manger, allowing them to process the fact that I am not threatening and therefore encouraging them to relax. I also adopt this approach when mucking out. Our animals are tied up while we do this and learn to move over without us having to ask them.

I’ve noticed that a lot of people either walk in front of the horse when leading or are towed. Again it is important to be aware of eachother’s space and to keep the animal’s attention on you thereby avoiding accidents. Focusing on your horse and reading their body language  contributes to a much calmer  and trusting relationship.

Grooming is incredibly important. Most horses love having their faces brushed and - for shy or indifferent animals - it soon builds trust through contact. Our horses learn to pick up their feet just by me touching their leg or saying “this one”. I believe that consistency in the routine encourages them to relax and therefore be easier to deal with.

Playing with the horse over the door encourages nipping and lack of respect so I discourage this although I do tend to stroke their noses as I go past!

In conclusion I encourage people to respect their horse but always treat them as a pupil rather than a sibling, I find this gives them more security and they relax.

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Best wishes,

Sarah