Horse glossary
Flat Palm
A safe way to offer a treat on an open hand.
In Spanish: Mano plana
What it means
Flat palm is the safe way to hand-feed a horse: hold your hand open and flat, with your fingers together and your thumb tucked alongside them. The treat sits in the middle of your palm, and the horse picks it up with its lips.
Why it matters
Horses can't see what is right under their nose, and they grab food with their lips and teeth. Fingers that stick up or curl around a treat can look like part of the snack and get bitten by accident.
Example
Use a flat palm so fingers stay safe.
Try this
Practice the flat-palm shape with a friend before you try it with a horse. Keep your arm relaxed, hold your hand a little below the horse's mouth, and let the horse come to you rather than pushing the treat at it.
Common mistake
The most common mistake is pinching the treat between your fingers or pulling your hand away at the last second. Both can startle the horse and make a bite more likely.