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Training Tips

Training Tips
August 6, 2019

Training Tip: Set Your Horse Up for Success When Riding in an Unfamiliar Location

When taking a horse out on the trail for the first time or riding him in an unfamiliar location, I do groundwork before getting in the saddle to make sure the horse is using the thinking side of his brain and tuned in to me. I’m setting us up for success. That’s one reason I […]

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Training Tips
July 30, 2019

Training Tip: You Can’t (and You Shouldn’t Try to) Change Who Your Horse Is

The important thing to keep in mind when working with a horse is that you’re not going to change who your horse is. You’re not going to get a 19-year-old gelding that’s been stiff and dull his whole life to be an athletic, soft, supple, talented machine. Can he improve?

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Training Tips
July 23, 2019

Training Tip: Handling a Horse That Refuses to Go Into the Arena

When you’re working with an arena-sour horse, don’t think, “How can I make the horse get in the arena?” Think, “How can I make it uncomfortable for him not to go in the arena?” You’ll do that by working the horse where he wants to be (outside the arena) and letting him rest where you […]

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Training Tips
July 16, 2019

Training Tip: Core Principles of Training

I’m a learn-a-holic and proud of it. I’m always looking for ways to become a better horseman and increase my horses’ performance. If another trainer can show me a technique that’s better than what I’m doing, I use it! However, just because a technique works well for one individual doesn’t mean that it’s well-suited for […]

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Training Tips
July 9, 2019

Training Tip: When Your Horse Won’t Leave the Arena Gate

At some point or other, almost all horses develop a magnet to the arena gate. To deter your horse from hanging out at the gate, make being next to the gate feel uncomfortable to him. Right now, your horse is attracted to the gate because he knows that’s how he gets out of the arena […]

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Training Tips
July 2, 2019

Training Tip: The Spinning Collection Drill

The spin is something that’s difficult to teach horses because it’s very much like a seesaw. Every day, depending on the way the wind is blowing, a seesaw is tilted one way or the other. It rarely stays the same day in and day out.

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Training Tips
June 25, 2019

Training Tip: Head Carriage on a Loose Rein

Q: My horse, a 4-year-old Missouri Fox Trotter, gives quite well when asked for vertical flexion at the standstill, walk and trot. However, when I put him on a loose rein, his head and neck come up more often than not. I’ve heard you say that if a horse’s poll is above the saddle horn, […]

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Training Tips
June 18, 2019

Training Tip: Are You Ready to Use Spurs?

Before making the decision to use spurs when training your horse, you should have a secure, independent seat. That means that you can confidently walk, trot and canter on a loose rein without holding on to the saddle horn or gripping the horse’s sides with your legs. Spurs on an inexperienced rider can lead to […]

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Training Tips
June 11, 2019

Training Tip: Back Circles to Improve Your Horse’s Overall Performance

A large part of training performance horses focuses on ensuring your horse’s entire body, from his nose to his tail, is soft and supple. You should be able to move any part of his body off a feather-light touch. If you can’t shape your horse for a maneuver, there’s no hope that he’ll be able […]

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Training Tips
June 4, 2019

Training Tip: Horse Acts Snarly Around Food

Q: I have a 4-year-old Quarter Horse filly. When I approach her with the grain bowl, her ears go flat back. If I walk away with it, her ears come back up.

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