Bonding?

I ride my horse hard in hard country. We sidle around slip faces , we slide on our bums into creeks where we have no idea whats in the bottom or how deep they are, we climb banks and wade through hock deep bogs. We walk up and down ridiculously steep tracks and ride razor back ridges where there is only a couple of feet between you and certain depth. I find challenging terrain to be an excellent way to bond with your horse. If my horse and I didn't trust each other we would have come to a very sticky end by now.

I treat them with respect, as they do to me. I love to reward my horses, but I don't use treats. These are specially saved for tricks or when I'm out giving him a groom. He much prefers a pat anyway.

Bonding, I just spend time with him. Along with the groundwork and riding time I spend with him, which is bonding too!! I will just go sit out in his paddock. I don't ask him tomdo anything, I just sit there. If he comes up, I'll give him a pat. Otherwise, he just grazes quietly while I watch. I'll sometimes do schoolwork or read to him as well.

With my horse I do a lot of lunge work before riding to the point where he comes to me with my back turned to him and then follows me. I also groom him real well, pat him when he's done good, give him treats after a long ride, taking time to pet him in the pasture when I put him up, and riding outside the arena when he's had a good day of riding inside the arena (cause he really likes that). It definitely has increased our bond within the 6 months I've had him. However, I'm ready for him to nicker at me when I'm out at the barn. :)

The best way I bonded with my horse was by not pushing him too far too fast, but also by not letting him get away with anything.

My bond with my horse has taken at least 6 months to develop, and it is not a strong bond yet, but there is definitely something there. He had a hard past, and so he was pushy, semi-aggressive, and just overall not fun to work with. I rewarded him for the small things, and did not put up with the bad. I also worked him on the ground for a solid 4 months before going any further with saddle training.

My horse gets overwhelmed easy, so I went at HIS pace of learning, which is a LOT slower than mine. He is now almost up to speed with me, and has cut out virtually all his bad habits. I established my leadership while also proving to him that I would not expect more of him than he can handle in one day.

I also always change up my routine with my horses. I almost never do the same thing 2 days in a row. One day I will go out, pet him, feed and water him, and then turn and leave. Some days I'll sit in the pasture and talk to him. Other days I will do a full out grooming session. Still others we work in the arena, pasture, or go for a trail ride, either under saddle or just on the ground.

Two words, PACK TRIP, longer the better

I like to take my horse away where it is just me and him and just talk to him and scratch his belly (fav spot for him) and just stroke him

Not to mention all the different things I do with my horse to make our bond stronger, I have one general rule - spend at least as much undemanding time with your horse, as you spend in training, never less. :)