Training Tip: The Jeffrey’s Method: A Must-Do Desensitizing Exercise for Colts
When it comes to getting a colt quiet and prepared to feel a rider on his back, there’s no better technique than the Jeffrey’s Method. To practice the exercise with your horse, you start by rubbing his entire body with both of your hands. Then you lean and rub your body on the colt, acting […]
Question: My 16-year-old grandson bought a horse that was previously owned by a young girl who used him in eventing and for trail riding. She boarded him while she was in college, and while at that barn he was abused, being beaten by a stable hand every day for six months. This horse is very […]
Training Tip: Why You Should Get Your Horse Outside of the Arena
No matter which category your horse falls into – he’s cold-blooded and on the lazier side of the scale or hot-blooded and more sensitive – one of the best things you can do is ride the horse outside of an arena. Riding outside gives cold-blooded horses a reason to go somewhere. They’re already unambitious as […]
Training Tip: Stopping a Horse From Rushing Over Trail Obstacles
Question: I have been training my wife’s new horse for a while now. He is through Intermediate, and has lots of long trail rides under his belt. He has one bad habit, though, which scares my wife: When we come to a step down off a rock, say one foot or so, he will leap […]
A well-trained horse stands quietly while you get in the saddle and waits for your cue to move off once you’re ready to head down the trail. A horse that fidgets, dances around and refuses to stand still when you mount up is not only frustrating but dangerous. In the training guide, “Stand Still for […]
There are two categories of respect: a safety category and a learning category. The safety category teaches you how to establish your personal space, which will keep you safe. The learning category is about how to earn the horse’s respect in order for him to learn what you’re teaching him. Before you can start to […]
Training Tip: How to Stop a Horse From Putting His Tongue Over the Bit
Question: I have a 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding that I bought just over six months ago. He was already “broke” when I got him, but I immediately started him on the Fundamentals. He had (and still has) a very bad habit of getting his tongue over the bit, and I don’t know how to break […]
If your horse cops an attitude when you come near his stall, it’s time for an attitude adjustment. While pinny ears and cranky expressions are harmless in themselves, they lead to bigger, dangerous issues such as biting and kicking. Cranky, disrespectful behavior can lead to terrifying situations when trapped in a small space with a […]
Training Tip: Remove Your Horse’s Halter Correctly
It’s often the day-to-day tasks that speak volumes about how well trained a horse is and how great of a horseman you are. One daily task that I’m extremely nitpicky about is how I put on and take off my horses’ halters. A well-broke, respectful horse will stand quietly and drop his head for you […]
Teach Your Horse to Load in the Trailer Like a Veteran
If just the thought of trailering your horse causes a hard lump to form in the pit of your stomach, you’re not alone. Getting a horse to confidently get on a trailer is a problem that haunts all equestrians on their horsemanship journey at some point, including Clinton. “When I was a kid, I’d ask […]