What should be done if a horse is agitated while being approached?

When dealing with an agitated horse, the best approach is to calmly approach with the lead rope. Horses are prey animals, and they can easily become anxious or stressed in intimidating situations. The key to successfully approaching an agitated horse lies in maintaining a calm demeanor and using a gentle, non-threatening approach. Using the lead rope allows for better control while giving the horse a sense of security as you establish a physical connection.

Using a quick tug on the lead rope may increase the horse's agitation or sense of fear, as it can feel like a punishment rather than a calming connection. Additionally, talking loudly can startle the horse further, and ignoring the horse would prevent you from addressing its distress and could lead to a lack of safety for both the horse and the handler. Therefore, approaching with a lead rope emphasizes a safe and controlled method to calm the horse while reducing its stress.