How to Get a Horse Under Control

Co-authored by Ryan Corrigan, LVT, VTS-EVN and Amy Bobinger

Last Updated: December 21, 2021 References

It can be scary to be around a horse that you aren't sure you can control. Luckily, whether you’re on horseback or on the ground, there are steps you can take to safely secure the horse and help it calm down. Of course, before you do anything else, take your own safety into consideration. If the horse is panicking or acting aggressive, stay a safe distance back, and call someone for help if you need to.

Method 1

Method 1 of 3:

Calming an Excited Horse While You’re Riding

1
Ease up on both reins for a moment. If you’re riding a horse and you start to feel it getting excited, or something on the trail spooks it, your instinct might be to tighten your grip on the reins. However, this will make the horse feel even more anxious and antsy. Instead, try to loosen your grip on the reins, which may make the horse a little calmer.^{[1]
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- Also, try not to clamp your legs against the horse’s side.
- If you overreact by yanking on the reins and yelling, you’ll reinforce that the horse had something to be afraid of in the first place.
- Since your horse will pick up on your body language, stay as calm and relaxed as possible. You don't want to accidentally cue your horse to become more nervous.
2
Give the horse clear, calm commands. Give the horse a command to slow or stop, like, “Whoa,” "Easy," or “Calm.” Use the same command you used when training the horse, and try not to shout, even if you’re feeling nervous.^{[2]
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- It’s important to be consistent in using verbal commands during training. That way, when you’re in a situation away from home, the horse will know exactly what you expect it to do.
- Most of your instructions to the horse should be through your body language and your use of the reins, but verbal commands can be useful as well.
3
Pull one side of the reins to pull the horse’s head around. Don’t yank or snatch at the reins, but pull one side firmly and steadily until the horse starts to turn. You can turn the horse to either side, but if it has one side that it favors during training, you may want to start by turning the horse that way.^{[3]
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- Turning the horse’s head will stop it from moving forward, and it will also cause it to lower its head, which is a cue to the horse to calm down.
- Leave plenty of slack in the other rein, but don’t drop it.
Safety Tip: Do not pull back with both reins. The horse will brace against the reins and pull back, and it could rear and fall backward on top of you.
4
Use your leg to push the horse's hindquarters to the side. As you’re pulling the rein, press in with your leg on the same side. Squeeze your leg into the horse's side firmly, but don't kick sharply or you could startle the horse, making it harder to control. This is called the hips over technique, and it should cause the horse to step sideways to try to ease the pressure you're applying. If the horse doesn't respond within a few seconds, squeeze your leg against its side harder until it moves.
- Stepping sideways will discourage the horse from moving forward, and it may also distract the horse from whatever has excited it.^{[4]
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5
Release the pressure on the rein when the horse steps sideways. Don’t hold pressure on the rein too long, or else the horse will start to fight against it. Instead, once you feel the horse take a big step to the side, ease up on the rein and hold it loosely in your hand.
- Although the reins should have plenty of slack in them, you should still be holding them securely.
6
Repeat on the other side if the horse hasn’t settled down. While a single turn might be all it takes to calm a well-trained horse, a more inexperienced horse may still be feeling excited. If it’s still jigging, pull back on the opposite rein and apply pressure with your leg on that side.^{[5]
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- You may need to repeat this a few times, alternating which side you turn toward each time.
7
Give the horse constant instructions to keep its attention occupied. After you’ve calmed your excited horse, keep it distracted on the ride by giving it plenty to do. Frequently adjust your riding speed, and have the horse ride around objects along the trail so it will have to constantly mind what it’s doing. This may help shift its attention away from whatever excited it in the first place.^{[6]
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- You can also move ahead or behind other horses if you’re riding in a group.
8
Dismount if you’re still having trouble getting the horse under control. An over-excited horse may not immediately respond to a calm-down cue and the hips over technique. If the horse is panicked, or if it rears, bolts, or otherwise causes you to feel that you’re in danger, you should exit the horse quickly and move away. Remove your feet from the stirrups, push yourself up off of the saddle with your hands, and swing one leg over the saddle. Then, push away from the horse slightly as you slide down to the ground.^{[7]
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- Even if you’re falling, you can avoid injuries by tucking into a ball and landing on your shoulder, then rolling away from the horse. Do not put your arms out to catch you while you’re falling.
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Method 2

Method 2 of 3:

Dealing with the Horse from the Ground

1
Don’t chase the horse if you get separated. If a horse panics and bolts, there’s no point in trying to chase it, because you won’t be able to outrun it. Also, since a horse is a prey animal in the wild, its instincts will tell it to continue to run away if you run toward it. Instead, wait until the horse is calm, then approach it slowly.^{[8]
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- You’ll spook the horse if you wave your arms, yell at it, or lunge toward it when it’s already scared. Instead, keep your arms down at your sides or slightly extended as you slowly and calmly walk toward the horse.
- If the horse is calmed down, try to corral it in a corner, if possible.
- Even if you lose sight of the horse, it will typically come back to the group once it calms down. However, if you’re close to home, it may head there, instead.^{[9]
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Safety Tip: Don’t approach a horse that’s snorting, rearing, or otherwise acting aggressively. It could hurt you or run off. Talk to it quietly until it calms down, and call 911 if it’s near traffic or another hazard where it could get hurt or be dangerous to people.
2
Approach the horse’s shoulder slowly once it’s calmed down some. It’s fine if the horse still seems worried or hesitant, but it should be either standing mostly still or only jigging slightly. Slowly walk up to the horse near its front shoulder, since this will help protect you from getting kicked.^{[10]
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- Talk to the horse in a soothing, quiet voice as you approach.
- In some cases, you may need to ask additional people from the barn to come help you corral the horse. They can help you corner the horse into a position where you can catch it.
- If you try to approach a horse that’s rearing or overly excited, you could be seriously hurt, or the horse could hurt itself trying to get away.
3
Grab the horse’s reins and pull one rein down and to the side. Apply firm, steady pressure to the rein, pulling down and outward until the horse starts to lower its head. For horses, lowering their heads is a cue to calm down, and is a trick frequently used by horse trainers to encourage more peaceful interactions with the horse.
- As the horse lowers its head, try to get it to look at you with both eyes. As it becomes more focused, it should also be calmer.
- If reaching for the reins upsets your horse again, try using a halter and lead line instead. Drape the lead over your horse's shoulders, then make a loop with it. This technique can also help if the horse doesn't have a bridle on.
4
Lunge the horse for 10-15 minutes, changing direction every 2-3 circles. Once the immediate excitement has passed, distract the horse by putting it to work. Attach the horse to a long lunge line, then direct the horse to trot in circles at the end of the rope. Stand in the center of the circle, and every 2-3 passes, stop the horse and have it change directions.^{[11]
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- Being put to work will ensure the horse doesn’t feel rewarded for its bad behavior, which might occur if you just put it into a stall with its food after it gets excited or spooked.
5
Mount the horse once it’s calm if you’re in the middle of a ride. If you had to dismount and lunge your horse on the trail to calm it down, get back in the saddle after you’re finished with the exercise. Keep in mind that training a horse often takes consistency and patience on your part, so don’t get discouraged if the horse starts to get excited again later on, or on the next ride. Just keep practicing the same techniques each time.^{[12]
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- If you’re doing groundwork with a horse and it gets excited, you don’t have to mount it once it calms down.
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Method 3

Method 3 of 3:

Training the Horse in the Long-Term

1
Check to make sure your horse isn’t in pain. Sometimes, what seems like disobedience in a horse is actually a reaction to pain. A poorly-fitting bit or a sharp edge under the saddle can cause extreme discomfort to a horse, which may lead it to rear or jig when you’re riding it. Examine the tack thoroughly before every ride, and check your horse’s teeth and hooves to make sure it’s in good health.^{[13]
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- Also, make sure to always properly untack your horse and groom it after you ride it to help keep it healthy and comfortable.
Tip: Just because your horse is hard to control doesn’t necessarily mean you need a harsher bit. This can sometimes cause the horse to misbehave even more.
2
Don’t punish your horse for misbehaving. Sometimes, horses can get a disrespectful attitude toward their rider. Sometimes this is just because the horse is testing the authority of the pack leader, but it can also sometimes be due to the horse being treated poorly. To help avoid this, never hit or punish your horse when it acts up. Instead, give it positive feedback when it does well, so it will know what you expect it to do.^{[14]
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- If your temper is flaring and you're worried you might hit or punish your horse, put the horse back in its stall until you've both calmed down. Then, try again.
- Making your horse feel secure and working with it frequently are both important toward getting the animal to respect you. ^{[15]
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3
Exercise your horse several times a week. Horses need an outlet for their physical energy, and they benefit from constant, ongoing training. Several times a week, lunge your horse for at least 10-15 minutes, as this will tire it out and establish that you’re in control.^{[16]
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- Doing groundwork before you ride can put the horse in an obedient mindset, making it easier to control.
- Focus on changing speeds and stopping during groundwork training. This will help you have better control over the horse’s gait when you’re riding.
4
Keep other horses on the trail to a minimum during rides. If you're going for a group ride, the more horses there are, the more excited your horse will be. This excitement can get channeled to anxiety during the ride. If you've struggled to control your horse during another ride, stick to a group of 2-3 horses on the trail.^{[17]
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- The horse may feel like it needs to get ahead of the group, or it may struggle to keep up. Either of those situations can cause the horse to become excited and difficult to control.
- When you're riding with a group, it's best to know your horse's preferred place within the herd. It might like to be a leader, or it may prefer to bring up the rear. If your horse commonly misbehaves during group rides, try changing up its position in the lineup.
- Riding in pairs or in a group of 3 will ensure there's someone around to help you if you do lose control of the horse.
5
Avoid unfamiliar locations and situations if your horse is hard to control. Until you feel confident that you're able to control your horse, try to limit how often you expose it to unfamiliar situations or areas. Since horses are naturally a prey animal, they tend to get nervous if they don't know where they are or what's about to happen.^{[18]
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- As you gain more control over the horse, gradually introduce it to new places and things, so it won't be as likely to be spooked when you’re out on a trail.
- When you do go on a new trail or in a new environment, speak softly and encourage your horse so it will stay calm. Additionally, pet it along its neck and hindquarters to help soothe it so it stays relaxed.
6
Don’t ride in cold, windy weather if you can avoid it. Horses rely on their sense of smell to tell them when predators are near, and cold, windy weather can disorient them. Since horses tend to be more antsy and rambunctious in this type of weather, it’s best to avoid riding, especially if your horse has a history of being hard to control.^{[19]
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- The best time for a ride is a mild, sunny day.
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Warnings

If your horse tries to bite you, or if it leans into objects while you’re riding to try to crush your legs, consult a professional!

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