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 […]
A horse that is soft and supple is able to perform his job well and is a pleasure to ride. “A horse can never be too soft or supple. I have never had someone ask me what they do with a horse that’s too soft or moves his body too well. But, I do get […]
Training Tip: An Important Exercise to Prepare Your Horse for His First Ride
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. You start by rubbing the colt’s entire body with both of your hands. Then you lean and rub your body on the colt, acting like a giant human curry comb. […]
Training Tip: Handling an Aggressive Mare in a Group Ride
Question: I have a mare that tries to go after any other horse that rides near her; she even threatens horses at the opposite end of the arena. I spur her on and correct her as soon as I feel her intentions. Is there any way to overcome the problem without always having to be […]
Training Tip: Check In With Your Horse on the Trail
One of the best ways to deter a horse from bolting or doing any other dangerous behavior on the trail is to check in with him every once in a while by asking him to move his feet and soften his body. As you’re walking down the trail, ask him to two-track or sidepass. Do […]
