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Training Tips

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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Training Tips
October 15, 2024

Training Tip: Working With a Blind Horse

Question: I have a horse that had an eye removed. He is penned with horses that don’t ambush him on that side, so he doesn’t become as jumpy. He is good with being desensitized on that side, but he is really pushy with groundwork, even if I am talking to him so he knows where […]

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Training Tips
October 8, 2024

Training Tip: Practice Transitions on the Trail

When training horses on the trail, focus on transitions on the way home to keep your horse engaged with you. Our usual approach is after letting the horses spend three or so minutes walking on a big, loose rein to relax, we start giving them little puzzles to solve. We might trot forward and then […]

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Training Tips
October 1, 2024

Training Tip: Horse Ducks During the Cruising Lesson

Question: I have a training question about my 15-year-old Quarter Horse gelding. I’ve only had him for a year and really enjoy riding him, but there are some characteristics that I find challenging. I am still in the Fundamentals and am working through the Cruising Lesson. My horse doesn’t trot or canter in circles or […]

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