Horse Training Tips

I found these handy tips at HorseTrainingSuccess.com.

All these tips are found in their book "Horse Training Success" by Phil Tragear. To sign up for the free 8 part Mini Course Click Here.

Make The Most Of Your Training Sessions

Hold them on consecutive days. It's much more effective than spreading them out over a week or two. Consistent, repeated training sessions are needed until a learned response becomes habit. Once the lesson has stuck in the brain through concentrated repetition, it will be retained over longer periods of time. If you spread the lessons out over non-consecutive days, you will need to go over previous steps far more.

Is Your Horse Listening?

If your horse is listening to you, is relaxed and thinking, he'll be chewing and licking his lips.  When teaching a lesson, wait for this signal from your horse before proceeding to the next lesson. It's the sign that he's relaxed, comfortable and ready for the next step. Cos you can't teach a stressed horse much, other than to be scared.

Misbehaving Horse? Check For Pain

A horse can’t turn his head back toward his rider and say, 'Hey, my back is sore, my neck is cramping up, and my hocks are killing me. Do something!' The only way they can express themselves is through action, or refusal. When they act up in an attempt to communicate or avoid pain, we tend to attribute their behaviour to bad manners, and ‘fix’ the problem by disciplining them for it. Sometimes bad behaviour is dominance or fear. Sometimes it is pain.

Bombproof A Horse To Loud Noise

Did you know that you can introduce and totally bombproof a horse to a giant noisy drum in less than an hour?

Take Advantage Of Your Horse's Laziness

Take advantage of the horse's laziness. Set up the lessons so that the horse always has several choices of what to do in response to a cue or request. And make sure that the right choice (the one you want the horse to do) is always the easiest choice for the horse physically. Horses learn very quickly this way. They stay happy and develop that 'want to' attitude.

Horse Training Success Is All In The Work From The Ground

The time dedicated to building a proper foundation by establishing control on the ground makes the transition to riding much smoother and much much simpler.

 

You Are A Predator And Your Horse Is Prey

And this small but very significant fact makes a world of difference. To view the world from a horse's point of view, you need to put yourself in the position of feeling like everyone else's dinner on legs.

Going Backwards To Go Forwards

Give your horse the time to think about what is being asked of him. If he doesn't get something, it's time to go back to the previous step that he can do. If you ever think you are going too far or too fast in one session, it's ok to take a step backwards. You can always come back to this lesson in another session. Or put another way, give bite size pieces to learn. It's much more effective. After all, you didn't learn to read in one sitting now did you?

Yes, Horses Do Talk

Horses and people do talk. Horses talk to you in different ways if you pay attention. By watching your horse's body language (including body stance and eye and ear expressions) you can decipher what your horse is afraid of. Your horse is telling you the lunge whip is the problem when his fear expressions increase as the whip is raised and he begins to throw his head in the air while lunging. A 'horse whisperer' is not using magic, or indeed anything that anyone else can't use. The difference is that they really know how horses think, act, react, and communicate. You can learn to be aware. Be observant. Learn how to 'see' what is being said. Remember that if you don't understand, it won't be because you aren't being told. Listen with your eyes.

Horses Are Psychic

Horses can sense when you are feeling nervous or confident or angry. They are acutely aware of your emotional state. How each horse responds to your emotions will vary from horse to horse. If a horse senses that you are angry, one horse personality may become scared, while another personality may see this as a threat and challenge you. Most people know how to train their horse but let themselves down with lack of emotional control. You need to be projecting calm confidence at all times.
Big Animal Responds Best To Small Pressure

Contrary to what many people seem to think, a 'harsher' bit does not help you control your horse 'better'. The bit is only a means of communication. Not one of control. You should only be indicating to your horse what you want through the bit, not demanding. If you're using the bit as a control device, you have fundamental problems to deal with and it's time to return to the basics. So, choose the gentlest bit you can and be friends with your horse.
Lead Ropes Don't Lead Horses, So What Does?
 

Lead ropes do not lead horses, leaders (people) do. That tiny bit of rope does not 'control' your horse. It might indicate speed and direction, but actually, your horse will - or should - be taking all those cues from you. Your body language and voice commands are what he is following.
What A Horse Leaning Into You Really Means
 

It means you're being tested. Are you the leader or can you be pushed around? If you give in and let the horse push you out of his space, you've lost. And that will only be test one of many more. If you want your horse to listen to you and respect you, stand your ground.
Don't Let Your Horse Kiss You
 

Not just for reasons of hygiene! No, letting any horse nibble or kiss you is sending him down the slippery slope of developing a biting habit. After all, a bite is just a firm nibble isn't it? And a biting problem is not one you want to be dealing with. Painful for you, and difficult to get rid of. So, no kisses, alright?

A Key To Catching A Loose Horse

Walk up to him. DO NOT RUN. Chase him down by walking. If he's attached to something that's scaring the life out of him, do not go near it, but free him from it as swiftly and calmly as you can. Do not run up to a horse. You're almost guaranteed to scare him.

By Phil Tragear author of Horse Training Success.