Kid's Horse Information

A lot of children love horses, and rightly so. Horse riding is a very enjoyable family experience and it is best to educate children at a fairly young age as to the correct way to behave towards and around horses. Explain to them about horses and their characteristics. Having such a large and powerful animal around children obviously has inherent dangers. This article will teach you the basics about horses (in case you are not sure yourself) and the correct way to pass this horse information on to children so they can stay safe and enjoy their experiences with horses.

The Rules of being around Horses

 

There are set of rules that should be taught to children before allowing them to go near a horse or stables etc. Make sure that the child knows them and can repeat them on request. These include things like they should never run or make loud noise in the barn or the stables. Children are naturally quite excitable so you need to make sure that they understand about horses.

 

Stay in Front, or to the Side of a Horse

 

 

A horse cannot see what is behind it and they get very nervous and jumpy if they sense that something is behind them. Any movement, no matter how slow can startle a horse and it will kick out. Show children the safe distance that it is ok to walk behind a horse as well as showing them the hoof to explain how dangerous it would be to be kicked by a horse. Teaching children about horses and how they behave is an essential piece of horse information that could save them from getting hurt.

 

Information about Teaching Children to be Calm and Quiet around Horses

 

 

Children should know to show some restraint and calm when around horses. Children should know about horses and any movement should be done in a slow and deliberate manner. Any talking, either to the horse or to another person, should be done in a quiet, calm and low tone as much as possible because hearing is one of the horse’s most acute senses. Horse trainers and known as Horse Whisperers for a reason. One of the best ways to make children understand all this horse information is to show them it first hand. With an assistant, use a horse that is well trained and fairly calm and show them the difference between the way a horse reacts to loud, sudden noises and movements and then the way it reacts to a quiet and calm person.

 

Patting a Horse on the Nose

 

 

It is a common misconception that a horse enjoys being stroked and patted on the nose, this is not true. In fact, a horse’s nose is one of the most sensitive parts of their body and it is not normal behaviour for a horse to be touched on the nose. It is much more common for them to greet and touch each other in the area where the neck meets the shoulder. Again, this is useful horse information to know as it will change the way the horse reacts to the child in the future.