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Training Tips

Training Tips
June 30, 2015

Training Tip: Start Your Journey With the Right Horse

When you begin your horsemanship journey, try to pick a horse that will help you learn and will build your confidence as opposed to one that wants to wreck your confidence and intimidate you. I’m a firm believer in the theory that horses teach people, and then people teach horses – in that exact order […]

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Training Tips
June 23, 2015

Training Tip: There’s Only so Much Space Between his Ears

Any horse that has not been trained by human beings only knows how to use the reactive side of his brain. The reactive side of the horse’s brain is what has kept him alive for millions of years. Mother Nature says, “Don’t think – run!” So horses are naturally born with a big reactive side […]

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Training Tips
June 16, 2015

Training Tip: Sometimes You Have to Increase Pressure

Most people want to start with a low amount of pressure, which is great, but when their horse ignores them, or doesn’t move his feet, they don’t increase the pressure. It’s important that you first ask the horse to respond with the lightest amount of pressure possible because a horse will never get any lighter […]

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Training Tips
June 9, 2015

Training Tip: Correcting a Horse That Bolts at Turnout

With a horse that likes to turn and bolt away from you as soon as you take the halter off, one of the best things you can do with him in the pasture is practice Yield the Hindquarters Stage Two to get him hooked on giving you two eyes. Anytime you’re around your horse, two […]

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Training Tips
June 2, 2015

Training Tip: Heart Attacks are Free

One of the biggest mistakes people make when working with horses is sneaking around them and making excuses for their behavior. In reality, trying to protect a horse from objects he’s scared of only makes the situation worse. As a trainer, your goal is to desensitize your horse to as many objects that move and […]

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Training Tips
May 26, 2015

Training Tip: Be Effective With Pressure

Nagging a horse, constantly pecking at him without getting a result or failing to reward him for correct behavior, only teaches him to be resentful and dull. Imagine you’re sitting at your desk at work and a co-worker comes up behind you and starts tapping your shoulder. No matter how you respond, they keep tapping […]

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Training Tips
May 19, 2015

Training Tip: Equal Responsibilities

In your partnership with your horse, you have certain responsibilities and your horse has certain responsibilities. Your responsibility is to be black and white – to make training easy for the horse to understand. Whenever you are a shade of gray, it makes you unclear or inconsistent, which is unfair to the horse and makes […]

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Training Tips
May 12, 2015

Training Tip: The Lightest Amount of Pressure

If a horse can feel a fly land on his hindquarters, he can certainly feel you picking up on the rein or lead rope, squeezing with your legs or sitting deeper in the saddle. No matter what you’re asking the horse to do, always ask with the lightest amount of pressure possible. Even if you […]

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Training Tips
May 5, 2015

Training Tip: Great Desensitizing Tool

Horses are naturally afraid of objects that move and make a noise, something that the plastic bag does both of. Desensitizing your horse to plastic bags will increase his tolerance of strange objects and acceptance of your tools. Remember, your goal as a horse trainer is to desensitize your horse to as many objects that […]

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Training Tips
April 21, 2015

Training Tip: The Sending Exercise

The Sending Exercise is a handy tool that can be used in a number of situations you encounter with your horse on a daily basis. As prey animals, horses are claustrophobic by nature, and when made to go through tight, narrow spaces, they naturally want to use the reactive side of their brains. This exercise […]

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