How to grow a much better bond with my horse?

Treat her like a horse, not a dog!

I treat her with love and respect. What should I do different and how would you say that I treat her like a dog?

The tossing the head thing is her way of saying "Don't want to". You need to remind her that when the lead rope or bridle is attached, you are the one who says where and when.

When she does this I get the lead right under her chin, pull her head up andcallher out on it. Usually she willjust comealong, sometimes shewill give one more head toss before shegives in

I didn't read all the posts, so disregard if somebody already said this. The best way to bond with your horse is to be a good leader for him. Horses respect leadership, plain and simple. Horses want leadership and want it consistently. Work with him yielding his hind quarters, sending him through tight space, and backing him up. Give him a leader. Get his respect. He'll look to you for direction and the bond it will produce will knock your socks off. When you can stand with your horse in a grassy field and have him not even attempt to graze, you're in business.

YES YES YES.

All these folks who think they need to feed and use treats etc to bond baffle me. Food is a requirement not a reward!

I bond with my horse through grooming, 'games' and hanging out. I'm usually at the barn every day and I like to mix things up to keep my horse curious and engaged. For example, one day I'll pull him out of the field, give him a leisurely grooming and reinforce the act of standing while tied. Then, I hand graze him while I carry on a one-sided conversation. The next day, I might take him for a walk on the trails, or jog him around. The third day, I jog around the round pen while he follows and we work on gait transitions as I call them out. On the fourth day, I might turn him loose in the dusty arena and let him roll and get completely messy while I sit on a barrel and read a book to him.

Bonding just happens through time and effort. If you're trying to force a bond, you're going about it the wrong way. It needs to evolve naturally.

Yes, exactly.

Time, time, and more time are what it takes to bond with a horse. Not 'games', and certainly not with treats. Treats without being an actual reward for something only make a horse more pushy, not less.

Your animal needs leadership and guidance, not a BFF. They need to respect you first. Affection in horses comes from respect, not by stuffing them with treats or playing games. If you don't demand respect, you'll never get it.

I wasn't going to go here, but I am. I "reward" Ginger because I CAN. She was left out witout human contact for over three years. She needs to know that we humans are not all bad. She will never beashow horse. I will be lucky if she will ever be a pleasure horse. But while she is in my care, she will be "TREATED" daily. I will continue to work with her to get herto trust me. I like the fact that she has become a dream to catch.It does not bother me that she expects an apple or other treat when we get out of the gate. I like the fact that you can trust that she isn't going to kick if you get close to her side. As much as you can trust a horse. I have been around horses and cattle my whole life.We own a ranch in Mexico, and the horses we have there are working horses. I would call them crazy and there is no way I would get on one or even walk within 10 feet of thier back legs. I know that food is a requirement only. However Ginger is a situation all her own. I have never seen a horse like her and may not for another 40 years. As long as she continues to improve daily I willcontinue her daily regimen of love, feed anda treat {or two}. I may have to send Ginger to a retirement homeand its going to break my heart. Since God brought her into our lives I will take the time to showher love and that all humans are not bad. When you hug her and the kids lay on her head her eyes light up. For those who don't believe in spending money and time on an animal that will never win you ribbons or work your cattle, sorry. Lucky for me I have the time and the money to give them love. I didn't come to the forum to becalled out onmy technique of intoducing love to her. We do try to take the hardest way out of the pasture for brain excercises, we cross the little water run offs where she is forced to pick her feet up. We have also conquered the stop when I stop and don't graze problem. All we are waiting for is to see if she is going to be 100% and then we will get serious. The trainer. Barn owner,vet tech and who knows what titles more he carries says that I am doing all I can In the right ways for Ginger. We are only waiting now. Sorry if I amcoming off short or rude. I amreally a nice person with alot of love for animals. I believe that they are here to enjoy as much as they are here to win us ribbons,belt buckes or money
Have a wonderful day.

Once again - yes, yes and YES!

You can love a horse and yet demand respect. If the horse has no respect for your space, etc and hurts you - or worse - then what?