1. Speak with consistency:
- A greeting for the pasture or barn: "How's my boy?"
- Scary walk between objects: "Trust me."
- Steep downward hill: "Keep me safe."
- Mounting: "Stand"
2. Don't wear cologne!:
Want to create distrust in your horse?
Make sure you wear cologne when you ride. Want to make your horse nervous? Change colognes often. Believe it or not, horses need consistency in your smell. It's their primary identifier. Try not to wear cologne or perfume on the days you are working with your horse. If you have to..keep it consistant.
3. No treats. Ever:
Find a place on your horse's body where he loves to be itched. That's the damn treat. It cheaper, it feels better and no-one but you can know it. It's your secret connection.
4. Rub their butts:
When training mules or colts to back: stand closely behind them (if you feel safe) and firmly rub their butts. Don't stop for five minutes. They will love you for this. Then stop and slowly take one step backward. Be patient. Most will eventually step back for another rub. When they do, quietly say: "Back up." Repeat this often. You'll be amazed what will happen when you get on them for the first time. 5. Control the neck:
Neck rein training a broke horse (accomplished in the snaffle): Saddle up and go to woods that are thick enough to avoid trees when turning. Hold the reins in neck reining style. Allow your horse to take the lead on a walk. Give very little direction unless you must. When she turns right...bring your reins 1/2 way up the neck (to keep a loose rein) and bring them over her neck to the right. When she turns left on her own, do the same thing on the left side. At the same time you cross her neck with your hands, apply light opposite leg pressure to nudge her over. You are driving the horse into the turn. It also doesn't hurt to lean in the direction of the turn -- just a little. The combination of the horse's turn, your reining movement, outside leg pressure and a little weight transfer will send all the correct signals to the horse at the same time. Try this three or four time and your horse will be neck reining nicely. |
1. Learn from examples:
Horses, like children, only know what you teach them. When you're not teaching, they're learning what you are not setting as examples. Non-teaching environments are as important as the trail or round pen. So, think through what they will experience before they experience it. Set things up so that the first experience is pleasant, not painful. 2. Create calm consistency:
In the old days, time, speed and compliance were factors in training horses. Horses used to be broke hard into compliance. Now, training occurs more often because horses and riding have become hobbies, sports and even used therapeutically. Many of us put horses in the pet/companion category, which also adds heart felt emotion into training. No matter what your philosophy, training that works requires calm consistency. Slow your heart rate down. Break things into small victories and repeat them three more times than you can stand. Know that when you as a human are getting bored with it, your horse is just starting to get it. |
