If you’re new to horses, you have a lot to learn. Every barn outing, grooming session, and ride can be exciting. But knowing how to handle horses properly while you’re at it keeps both you and your horse safe. Luckily, you can avoid some of the most common beginner horse handling mistakes with just a little know-how. Here are the top four mistakes I see when beginners handle horses. 1. Misunderstanding horses as a species.