Basic horse training: If your horse isn't safe for you (or others) to handle, he isn't safe to train. Here are some valuable tips and techniques to help your horse learn to trust, respect, and cooperate with humans.Basic horse training begins with ground training and ground manners. Your horse needs to respect humans--not fear them, respect them. That means she doesn't crowd you, walk in front of you, or pull on the lead rope when you lead her. It means she stands quietly while you groom her, and picks her feet up for the farrier. It means she walks calmly into a trailer. It means she's a joy to be with! How do you get there? Let's start first with asking how the pros teach wild mustangs to behave like brave angels!
Think your horse is a handful? Imagine trying to handle a wild mustang!A horse training challenge! Wild mustangs may have never even seen a human before, much less been handled by one. Now imagine getting not one but three wild mustangs ready to show in 100 days. That's quite a horse training feat! Here's how the pros do it.The top 10 mistakes that keep trainers and students from progressing in their riding skills.Here's how you can avoid making them.Enlightenment in a western saddleA recent issue of Dressage Today magazine featured an article with that title. An advanced dressage horse training rider described how she found the solution to a problem we’ve all faced: Her talented young warmblood worked amazingly well at home, but shows were a different story. Everything spooked or distracted him. The solution, she found, was to work with a student of Earl Hunt, the legendary Western trainer, on exercises to improve his confidence and gain his trust. She was rewarded with splendid performances at local shows courtesy of the new-found confidence she and her horse discovered in those lessons and exercises. In this interview, horse trainer and champion barrel racer Darren Woller tells how he performs the same magic with horses and students. His goal? Confident horses and riders who enjoy each other’s company and demonstrate their personal best at shows. Click here for Darren's interview.Basic horse training pop quiz: Horses can be right- or left-handed, just like humans. True or False?Click here for the answer.Here is the single best way to improve your horse's performance.Stop interfering with your horse's movement by improving the balance and security of your seat.Do you longe your horse?Then here are some crucial facts you need to know.No matter what level of expertise you've achieved, this situation will bring your riding to an end.Make sure it doesn't happen to you.Return to successful horse training and care from basic horse training. |