Question: My friend bought a horse that has a cribbing habit. He is a very willing horse, smart and well trained for cow work and ranch riding. My question is do you think a horse that cribs is a big problem?
There are some horses that are naturally really hot and nervous, and even after they’ve been taken through the Fundamentals groundwork and riding exercises and the foundation trail exercises, they still have a lingering desire to be in a hurry everywhere they go. “This is the off-the-track Thoroughbred that starts and ends a 20-mile trail […]
One of the hardest concepts about training horses to get across to people is that horses do not think like we do. Your horse is a prey animal and you are a predator, which means he sees the world in a completely different way than you do. One of the major differences between us is […]
Vertical flexion with your horse is something that you’ll build on with each give. First the horse has to understand that when you pick up on the reins and apply pressure with your legs he needs to maintain whatever gait he’s in and give to the pressure. As soon as he understands that concept, then […]
Training Tip: Catch Your Horse in the Pasture Challenge
Can you go out to the pasture and catch your horse and lead him to the gate without having to halter him? How your horse greets you and what he’s willing to let you do with him when you enter the pasture says a lot about your partnership. As you progress through the Method and […]
Training Tip: Horse Continues to React to the Saddle After Numerous Saddlings
Question: I have a mare that I’ve started with the Colt Starting Series. She has responded well to the training, except she is still reactive to the saddle, even after saddling numerous times. She saddles sometimes and does not panic, and the next day, I will do the same saddling process and she will panic […]
Training Tip: Disengaging vs Engaging Your Horse’s Hindquarters
To be effective when training your horse, it’s important to understand the difference between disengaging the horse’s hindquarters and engaging them. I tell people to think of the horse’s hindquarters like the gas pedal of a car. The hindquarters are where all the horse’s power comes from. When you disengage a horse’s hindquarters, asking him […]
Question: My horse has always been good out on the trail, but bolshie on the ground and lacks manners. His previous owners were scared of him. I recently moved yards, and he is now turned out in a lovely field 24/7. On our third ride at the new yard, he spun and bolted with me […]
Training Tip: Horse Pins His Ears When You Walk Past His Stall
A horse pins his ears and acts defensive when you walk past his stall because he is protective of his area. It’s an all-too common problem at boarding stables. The fix is making your horse realize that you can control his feet anywhere, whether it’s in the roundpen, the arena, the pasture, on the trail […]