Bonding?

Everyone has there own little tips and things to build a better bond, so what do you do? I like to have respect and trust between me and my horses, I respect them and they respect me and I gain that through ground work. Now, I really don't use lunging at all or the join up for the matter because I feel like it isn't needed. I just do a lot of ground work like pivoting, backing up, turning, going over obstacles, and all those other things. Also, a lot of liberty work as well. I do a lot of grooming with my horses to spend that quality time or just chill with them in the pasture. I'll take one of them for a walk at a time around the property to just chill with them and such. They don't rub on me or try to push me around, but they nicker when they see me and always have their eyes on me when I'm around, with my mare, Lady, its such a great bond and people say so, but she's also a very one person horse. But my filly, Tansy, I feel like there can be more. This filly had never had any interaction with humans. I was the first to touch her, halter break her, and adjust her to human life. Also goes along the lines of backing her, starting her, and other such things. I just feel like she respects and knows me, and that's really it. What other things can I do?

I just treat horses with respect, plus a few blows to the no nose help. They really like that for some reason.

Yes, that is true and I do that with most horses but Tansy can't stand it XD

Your horse doesn't like being treated with respect? We may have bigger problems...

lol

I tend to just spend time with them and look for opprotunities to give them what they want without it spoiling them. My older gelding LOVES to be scratched so I like to scratch him after he is fed sometimes. Now when he comes out from the stall he looks at me with ears forward with a hopeful look, "scratches, please?" I love it.

I also like to walk them around the property into new areas they don't normally have access to. It's nice that they look to me for comfort when approaching something new and scary.

Oh, and when I first read the "blows to the nose" part I thought you meant with your hand or fist. I thought, "well that sure will get their respect, jerk" Then I read that they like it and after being confused for a moment I realized my mistake.

I go the gentle training route like has been mentioned above. "Scratches" are the favorite reward in our herd. :)

The word "breaths" might have clarified it. Another thing to try and I have one horse that loves it, is nostril stroking. A horse can be a little touchy at first but take thumb and finger and lightly stroke the edge of the nostril from top to bottom. I put slightly more pressure on the inside with my thumb but not much. Then I will move my thumb a little farther into the nostril. Once used to this it seems to relax them.

LOL - Linda Parelli instantly came to mind at the mention of "blows to the nose." At least in that sense.

You can't always force a friendship along, whether it's with a person, a dog, or a horse. Some just take longer to grow.

I like to take my horses on long, long walks, give them long grooming sessions every now and then, etc... it's worked well for me... Just spend time in general with them, etc...