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Training Tips

Training Tips
January 14, 2025

Training Tip: Why You Should Use a Hackamore

If you’re starting a colt, you’ll want to have a hackamore in your tack room. I prefer to start colts in a hackamore and continue to use it through the colt’s first 10 to 14 rides. Throughout my years of experience starting colts, I’ve found that the hackamore gives colts a chance to learn how […]

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Training Tips
January 7, 2025

Training Tip: Thoughts on Hand Grazing Horses

Question: When I finish a trail ride and get off my horse, while I’m loosening the girth, he’ll drop his head down and eat grass. Or, if I’m walking him to his turnout, he’ll stop every once and awhile and grab a mouthful of grass. I didn’t think much of it, but a fellow boarder […]

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Training Tips
December 24, 2024

Training Tip: Proper Bit Placement for Your Horse

Question: I’m getting ready to move my colt from a hackamore to a bridle with a smooth snaffle bit. Can you give me some guidance on how high or low to adjust the bit in his mouth? I’m confused about what the proper fit is. – SANDYJ Answer: I want the bit to sit right […]

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Training Tips
December 10, 2024

Training Tip: Horse Misbehaves on the Trail

Question: I have a Paint mare that is about 7 years old. She’s a little bit slower than our Rocky Mountain Horse, and when we go trail riding, if she gets too far behind him, she starts throwing her head and rearing up. Nothing I do will make her stop until she gets close to […]

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Training Tips
November 26, 2024

Training Tip: Training Session Plans for Lazy Horses

Question: When you’re teaching a dull or lazier type of horse to move away from pressure on the ground, do you spend more time sensitizing them and less time rubbing them to a stop than you would with a more reactive horse? In your videos, it seems that you spend more time rubbing it away […]

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Training Tips
November 19, 2024

Training Tip: Transitions Will Help Your Horse Become Softer and More Supple

If you want your horse to be tuned in to you and be responsive to your cues, get in the habit of practicing transitions. Transitions are asking the horse to stop, slow down or speed up when you cue him to. They simultaneously work on the horse’s gas pedal and brakes and his overall suppleness. […]

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Training Tips
November 12, 2024

Training Tip: Horse is Sour About Spurs

Question: My 4-year-old gelding is just starting to learn Bending at the Walk. He knows all the Fundamentals groundwork and half of the Intermediate groundwork exercises. The first few times he was ridden with spurs, he was a tad cranky, but he suppled and bent his ribs nicely. The fourth day of working with spurs, […]

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Training Tips
November 5, 2024

Training Tip: Transitions Teach Your Horse to Read Your Seat

If you want your horse to be tuned in to you and be responsive to your cues, get in the habit of practicing transitions. Transitions are asking the horse to stop, slow down or speed up when you cue him to. They simultaneously work on the horse’s gas pedal and brakes and his overall suppleness. […]

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Training Tips
October 29, 2024

Training Tip: Horse Won’t Accept the Bit

Question: I have a young mare that I sent out for training. We were able to put a bit in her mouth and ride her and we began simple exercises. We changed bits, and now I can’t get a bit in her mouth. I got a D-ring snaffle, which should be a milder bit, but […]

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Training Tips
October 22, 2024

Training Tip: Practice Transitions to Engage Your Horse

If you want your horse to be tuned in to you and be responsive to your cues, get in the habit of practicing transitions. Transitions are asking the horse to stop, slow down or speed up when you cue him to. They simultaneously work on the horse’s gas pedal and brakes and his overall suppleness. […]

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