How to Teach a Horse to Kiss

Step-by-Step Guide

1. 1

   Step 1: Is your horse safe to train to kiss?

   Some horses won't respond well to learning this.
   
   They may bite and this trick may become a habit when your horse is unhappy.
   
   Decide whether your horse has had bad behavior and whether this is a safe trick to teach him/her.
2. 2

   Step 2: Get lots of small yummy treats

   Apples, carrots, and watermelon cut into small pieces are some specific examples. ,, Make sure your horse knows about the ones in your hand. ,,, A light tickle usually works best.
   
   The combination of you tickling his nose, and him wanting to work a treat out of your hand will hopefully make him wiggle his muzzle back and forth.
   
   Try to have your cheek against it when he does! ,,, When you think he/she gets it, stop tickling his/her nose, but keep your hand there.
   
   Pretty soon you can take your hand away, but remember to keep a treat ready! ,
3. 3

   Step 3: maybe 20 per session.

4. 4

   Step 4: Warm the horse up with a free treat so they will know what they're working for.

5. 5

   Step 5: Put two or three treats in your hand

6. 6

   Step 6: and hide the rest in your pocket.

7. 7

   Step 7: Position yourself in front of your horse

8. 8

   Step 8: but facing to the side

9. 9

   Step 9: so without turning your face

10. 10

    Step 10: your cheek is toward him.

11. 11

    Step 11: Lean over to position your cheek beside your horse's nose.

12. 12

    Step 12: With the hand holding the treats

13. 13

    Step 13: tickle your horse's nose with your index finger.

14. 14

    Step 14: The moment he wiggles even a tiny bit on your cheek

15. 15

    Step 15: reward him with a treat

16. 16

    Step 16: as fast as you can so he/she knows what they did right!

17. 17

    Step 17: Repeat the procedure

18. 18

    Step 18: saying "kiss" while you're encouraging the move

19. 19

    Step 19: until he/she starts to get bored (or you run out of treats)

20. 20

    Step 20: not more than 10 or 12 times.

21. 21

    Step 21: Repeat the same procedures once a day until he/she figures it out.

22. 22

    Step 22: When he/she has really got it

23. 23

    Step 23: you should be able to lean in and ask for a kiss

24. 24

    Step 24: and be rewarded with a big smooch!

Detailed Guide

About the Author