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Training Tips

Training Tips
September 29, 2015

Training Tip: Balance Out Your Training

To balance your horse so that both sides of his body are equally relaxed and responsive, you’ll spend two-thirds of your time working on his bad side (the side that is stiffer, pushier or more reactive), and one-third of your time working on his good side. For instance, if your horse is spookier on his […]

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Training Tips
September 22, 2015

Training Tip: Safely Handle Horses That Rear

Rearing is a very dangerous situation for both horse and rider, and if left uncorrected is a problem that only gets worse. Here are three tips to handle a horse that rears. #1 Go back to basics. Horses that rear can generally be put into two groups: Rearing out of fear (he’s hot and nervous […]

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Training Tips
September 15, 2015

Training Tip: Introduce Scary Objects to Your Horse

Trying to protect a horse from objects he’s scared of only makes the situation worse. I’m sure you’ve experienced this yourself. Your horse is afraid of fly spray, so you slowly tiptoe up to him with the bottle safely hidden behind your back. When you reach him, you tentatively reach out to pat him on […]

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Training Tips
September 8, 2015

Training Tip: Calling Out to Other Horses

Oftentimes, busy-minded horses are guilty of sending shrill whinnies up and down the trail, hoping to hear a response from another horse. From nervous whinnies to deep neighs, horses’ voices carry very well, which can attract a lot of unwanted attention. When your horse whinnies, he’s telling you in big bold letters that his attention […]

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Training Tips
September 1, 2015

Training Tip: Kicking in the Trailer

Because horses are prey animals, when they are made to go in tight, narrow spaces – such as a trailer – it’s natural for them to feel trapped and claustrophobic. When a horse feels trapped and claustrophobic and his ability to run and move his feet is taken away from him, his only other option […]

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Training Tips
August 25, 2015

Training Tip: There is No Such Thing as a Magic Bit

Bring up the topic of bits around horse people and you’re sure to enter into a conversation that’ll turn into a heated debate ranging from one end of the spectrum (you need a different bit for every horse in your barn and every situation you ride them in) to the other (only a cruel barbarian […]

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Training Tips
August 18, 2015

Training Tip: #1 Desensitizing Rule

Whenever you desensitize your horse to an object, use the Approach and Retreat Method. Build the horse’s confidence by approaching him with the object that scares him and then retreating (taking the object away) when he stands still and relaxes. The number one rule to remember when using the Approach and Retreat Method is to […]

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Training Tips
August 11, 2015

Training Tip: Buddy Sour at Horse Shows

Show environments can be stressful to horses, and it’s not uncommon for horses to buddy up at the showgrounds and then react when taken away from one another. This is especially true when one horse is left at the trailer and the other one is taken away from it. The one left at the trailer […]

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Training Tips
August 4, 2015

Training Tip: Groundwork vs. Riding

I often get asked if when teaching a horse the Fundamentals if you can work on the groundwork and riding exercises at the same time. People often wonder if it’s better to teach all of the groundwork exercises first, and then start to work on the riding exercises. At the ranch, when we get horses […]

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Training Tips
July 28, 2015

Training Tip: Improve a Little Every Day

When you’re working with your horse, remember that you’re not trying to perfect every single lesson every day; you’re just trying to improve each one a little bit. If the horse is doing better today than yesterday, quit – you’ve done your job. It’s time to move on to a new exercise. The worst thing […]

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