Downunder News
Sort
Start Date Start Date
End Date End Date
Category All Categories
Reset
Search Search News

Training Tips

Training Tips
October 25, 2016

Training Tip: Nothing Beats Experience

If you have a desire to be a great horseman, I encourage you to ride not only as many horses as you can, but a variety of horses. Otherwise, you run the risk of fooling yourself into thinking your horsemanship skills are well-rounded. No two horses have the same personality, move the same or react […]

Read More
Training Tips
October 18, 2016

Training Tip: The Best Way to End a Training Session

If you finish when the horse is frustrated or misbehaving, that’s what he’s going to remember the next day, and then getting him over his problem will take twice as long. If you find that you’re in a time crunch and your horse isn’t performing well at a particular exercise, stop what you’re doing and […]

Read More
Training Tips
October 11, 2016

Training Tip: Invitation Only

The only way the horse is allowed into your personal hula hoop space (what I call an imaginary 4-foot circle around you) is if you invite him in. You’ll only invite him into that 4-foot circle if you know you can get him out of it. Think of how you want your neighbors to treat […]

Read More
Training Tips
October 4, 2016

Training Tip: Understanding Hot-Blooded Horses

While the Method works on all types of horses, every horse will require you to vary your approach slightly. I break horses into two broad groups – hot-blooded horses and cold-blooded horses. Breeds like Arabians, Thoroughbreds and some bloodlines of Quarter Horses tend to be hot-blooded.

Read More
Training Tips
September 27, 2016

Training Tip: Troubleshoot the Spin

For a horse to be textbook correct when spinning, he should plant his inside hind foot. Horses that tend to plant their outside hind foot do so because they’re sucking back too much. While it’s generally a good thing to have a horse thinking “get back,” in this case, you want to get forward on […]

Read More
Training Tips
September 20, 2016

Training Tip: Keep Lessons Interesting for Your Horse

Once your horse understands an exercise, it’s important to move on. There’s nothing horses hate more than being forced to do the same exercise every single day. Humans are the same.

Read More
Training Tips
September 13, 2016

Training Tip: The Foundation of Control

A respectful horse is a willing horse. When you ask him to move, he instantly moves. When you walk, he walks beside you like a shadow.

Read More
Training Tips
September 6, 2016

Training Tip: How Posting to the Trot can Make You a Better Rider

Balance gives you an independent seat, allows you to move in rhythm with your horse, cue him correctly and boosts confidence in the saddle. How do you get balance? By having proper position. When you’re sitting properly in the saddle, you should be able to draw a straight line from your ear, shoulder, hip and […]

Read More
Training Tips
August 30, 2016

Training Tip: If you want your horse to change, you have to be willing to change first

That is the most important concept you can understand when it comes to training horses. When I was an apprentice for Ian Francis, he often said to me, “To change your life, you must first change your attitude.” Ian believes, as do I, that if you’re unhappy with the current state of your life, you […]

Read More
Training Tips
August 23, 2016

Training Tip: Train Your Horse on the Trail

One of the best places to train your horse is outside on the trail. While it may be a little more challenging to you to train with the added distractions of being in an uncontrolled environment, there is no denying that horses enjoy working outdoors. Trail work is so much more interesting to your horse […]

Read More