When people think of trick training, dogs come to mind more often than not. This makes sense given the global stage that dog trick training has, and the versatility of creative tricks that you can teach a dog. From jumping through hoops and painting to basic obedience commands, the sky is truly the limit when it comes to trick training a dog.
Dogs are well-known for their intelligence and eagerness to please, making them an ideal candidate for learning fun tricks together. However, horses are known for the same qualities, and yet it’s much rarer to train horses to do much outside of the standard competition events and the horse version of basic obedience. Now, most horses are much larger than most dogs (Great Dane vs Miniature Horse? It’s a close call.), and therefore safety must be prioritized for everyone’s well-being, hence the stronger focus on basic manners. Horses also often require a bit more time in training and preparing for their respective events, as they mature slower and live longer than dogs, so there doesn’t seem to be as much time to fill in the space with more “fun” things to learn.
But teaching horses fun tricks can be a great bonding exercise, but also keep them engaged and well-stimulated for better focus and behavior in other areas. Not that it’s unheard of entirely, but teaching a horse to sit isn’t exactly the sort of trick to start with. Every horse is also wildly different and learns at different paces, so it’s important to keep in mind that the training is supposed to be fun for both of you, and to be patient if they’re not grasping it right away.
With that said, here are a few “fun” tricks to teach your horse that you may not have considered before, and can at least try it out as a bonding exercise and new experience for both of you.
Playing Fetch
No, seriously. For many horses who are offered the patience to learn the game, this is a great deal of fun for both horses and humans! Horses have incredibly sensitive nerves and whiskers all around their mouth and nose, which leads them to naturally explore the world more through their mouth and lips. This makes it pretty easy to convince a horse to grasp something with their mouth so long as they enjoy the sensory input, but since every horse is different, you may have to try a few different items before finding one that they enjoy.
A jolly ball is a great place to start for many horses, but they also tend to be fond of stuffed animals, cowboy hats, or even ropes. From there, you can teach them to play just like you would your dog, starting off by rewarding them to give the object back to you and increasing the distance they have to cross to do so. Once they get the point, you can transition to throwing the object further and further away for them to chase after and bring back. This is a great way to both physically and mentally exercise your horse, and is fun for you, too!
The best part is once they get good at the game, you can transition to other objects and even teach them to “fetch” while you’re actively riding, so if your hat falls off or you drop something, they can pick it up and hand it to you on command without you having to get off. Playing fetch is one of the easiest and most beneficial tricks you could teach your horse.
Follow the Leader
This is another fun game where you teach your horse to follow you and copy your movements. Start off small with the halter and lead rope still attached. Ideally, your horse would already respond to having their lead rope tugged forward to move forward and tugged backwards to stop. But the idea is to start teaching them to stop right next to you on command, so when starting out, stop your feet and gently tug back on the lead rope to get them to stop where you want them. Then, gently tug them forward. Keep repeating this and rewarding their correct behavior until you don’t have to tug on the rope anymore for them to start and stop.
You can then transition this game into all kinds of cool maneuvers, from teaching them to side step, spin in a circle, back up, and eventually not require a lead rope at all to copy your movements.
Pick Up Their Feet
This is one of the most useful tricks you could ever teach your horse, and despite many horses knowing it, it’s still a cool trick! Picking out a horse’s hooves and for many, getting shoes put on, is just an important part of everyday life. If they have to do it every day, you might as well make it fun for them and let them feel proud of their accomplishments!
You can start off by rewarding your horse every time they offer you their hoof, if you need to, you can gently pull up on their leg until they give it to you and then gently put it back down. This will take some repetition, but the payoff is so worth it! Once they get the hang of lifting their legs, you can then teach them to do it on command, either by voice or simply approaching the hoof you’d like to examine and gently tapping it. Many horses get really good at this quickly, and it makes the general maintenance of their health that much easier and more enjoyable for everyone.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. Can horses learn fun tricks?
Yes, horses are intelligent and can learn tricks, though they require patience and proper training techniques.
2. Are horse tricks safe?
Yes, if you prioritize safety, start with simple exercises, and use positive reinforcement. Pay attention to your horse’s behavior to determine how they’re feeling about the training, and keep sessions short for optimal results.
3. Why teach horses tricks?
Trick training provides mental stimulation, improves focus, and strengthens the bond between horse and rider.
4. Do all horses enjoy learning tricks?
Horses have individual personalities; some may enjoy training different tricks more than others.
5. How long does it take to teach a horse a trick?
It varies by horse and trick, but patience and consistent practice are key for successful training.
