Personal space
Explainer
A horse should respect your space and not come up against you uninvited.
Goal
Understand why a bubble of space around you keeps you safer, and how to protect it calmly.
The horse's body language
A horse that respects your space keeps about an arm's length and pays attention to you. Pushing with the head, barging or leaning on you are signs it is entering your space.
Common mistakes
- Letting the horse lean on or push into you
- Standing right in front of the chest or directly behind the horse
- Hand-feeding treats, which makes the horse pushy
Safety
- Stay out of the three danger zones: the bite zone at the head, the strike zone directly in front of the shoulders and the kick zone behind.
- Work most safely beside or just in front of the shoulder.
- Do not let the horse into your space uninvited; most accidents happen up close.
Stop at once if
- The horse repeatedly invades your space or pushes you aside
- The horse threatens to bite or kick
Supervision
Repeated barging or threatening is work for an experienced helper, not something to correct yourself. Young riders should always keep an adult nearby.
More about this
Personal space is not a punishment for the horse but a safety agreement. When everyone keeps their place, the horse can see you well and you can react in time.
Discover more
Sources: International Society for Equitation Science · Oklahoma State University Extension · Penn State Extension. This page has had a safety review. Descriptive and safety-conscious; not a substitute for guidance from an experienced instructor.