First an foremost it is important to remember that any horse no matter how well trained and calm it appears, it is an animal and will at times react by instinct. Horse behavior can be predictable but as a beginner starting to learn about horses, the signs can be hard to recognize and it is therefore recommended to always have an experienced horseman close by to teach and give advice.
Approaching The Horse
Even the calmest, most gentle old horse can be startled if surprised, which is why it is important to always approach a horse calmly from the side by the neck in a manner where the horse has chance to see you. The way the horse is built it has a blind angle in its field of vision so it can’t see directly in front or directly behind its body. In order to see what is going on behind it, it has to turn its head, which is hard when the horse is tied up for grooming or saddling.
Moving Around The Horse
The recommended way to walk around the horse, especially for smaller children, is to walk as far as possible from the horse’ hind end to avoid accidental kicking. Most horses do not aim to kick a person but as mentioned earlier the horse has a blind angle where it can't see what is behind it. If the horse can’t see, but hears something or someone behind it, its natural instinct is to defend itself, which means kicking with its rear legs. Always let the horse know where you are at all times by touching and talking to it. The other way to walk around a horse is to touch the horse at all times, stay close to its body and walk as close to the rear as possible, almost “hugging” its rear. This way the horse is comfortable knowing where you are and has no need for defense. And even if it wanted to kick you, you are too close to its body for it to even lift a leg against you. Again this way is not recommend for little children and make sure they know how not to end up in the blind angle when they are moving around horses.
Walking The Horse
Assuming the horse you are working with is trained, which should of course be the case if you are a beginner starting to learn how to handle horses, the horse should be on your right side when you walk it. You want your right hand about a foot from the horse's head on the lead rope. The rest of the rope should be held in your left hand.
Grooming The Horse
Grooming is a great way to get the beginner comfortable around horses, and if done in a safe manner it can build great confidence for the new horseman. Remember the steps to walking and approaching as you work your way around the horse with the brushes. When brushing the legs forget all about what is best for your back and bend down instead of squatting. If the horse for some reason gets scared and needs to move you want to be able to move away fast, which is close to impossible if you are squatting next to it.
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