Does grooming help you bond with your horse?

OKay, I wasn't sure where to put this, I think it would go here though. Hehe Anyway just wanted to know what yall thought. Does grooming your horses help you bond with them?

Personally I think it does. I can spend hours on end grooming and talking to my horses. LOL Yes I do talk to my horses while I groom them or actually anytime really. :) But what do you all think?

The new mini I am getting is bred and her owner said that she is "jumpy" and will need some handling. So I was thinking, I like for my horses to bond with me esp. If they are bred so they will feel safer when the baby comes and I need to be near. I want her to trust me. Anyway back to the point haha will doing a good bit of grooming and little things like that help her to bond/trust me?

Okay I will stop rambling and let yall answer haha

Yes of course!! Grooming is relaxing for both parties. It makes your horse feel good and allows him/her to become familiar with being touched all over, and get used to your voice and presence. I bought my horse as a yearling and didn't start him until he was 2, so for a full year all we did was groom, take walks and start ground manners. It was a great way to build our relationship, and now everyone remarks how close we are.

Thanks so much. I thought so but wanted to hear everyone elses opinions :)

I definitely think that it does. Like someone said above, to both the horse and groomer. Me personally, It is extremely calming for me when grooming. I can just relax and talk to them, or not talk, whatever.

I think for the horse it helps desensitize them to touching all over their body. I also think that it is kind of a positive reenforcement, so to speak, when they are being brushed, bathed, etc because they just have ;to stand there and be loved on....does all this make sense....it is really early...;)

I really think it does too, it is relaxing for the both of us and my mare sure enjoys it with her lip puckered up. Lol

Hehe.. Thanks everyone :)

It definitely does. Not only that, but it's a great opportunity to really look them over and notice if anything is wrong.

Yes, IF the horse enjoys grooming. My parents horse would love to be groomed for hours. My horse, however, despises being groomed. I pick his feet and lightly brush the saddle area if need be, and otherwise leave him alone. He no longer kicks or bites when groomed, but only because he knows he will get in trouble. Instead I take him for a graze, massage him, or do some carrot stretches

I'm with everyone else. If I don't get to ride, I at least go out and groom my horse. I believe you should always talk to them. They get to know the sound of your voice, and it must be soothing. I also give mine a good scratch on the withers, where in the herd, horses do that to show friendship.

It also gets horses desensitized and used to things touching all over their body, and teaches them patience, they have to stand there while you do whatever you want to them. I always brush down my horse's legs, everywhere! He has never really had a problem with it though. He likes to bite the rubber curry, then spit it on the ground. But he only does that once. If I offer it to him again, he just looks like like, 'Why would I want that in my mouth, woman?'

I'm with everyone else, yes it does create a bond with your horse. It is also very good for their overall well being/health to be groomed regularly. Circulatory system, skin , hair and I'm sure I'm leaving something out. You also find out their special spots they like scratched/rubbed.

Hmmmm.....I think I need to be groomed.