Horse Training Guides Detailed articles to master your horsemanship skills

Stop Your Horse from Stumbling

It’s normal for a horse to trip or stumble every once in a while. Just like us, sometimes they take a misstep, especially if the ground is rough or uneven. But if stumbling on the trail is becoming a regular occurrence, your horse is in need of help.
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Deaf Horses

Horse trainer Clinton Anderson Answers a question from a No Worries Club member about deaf horses -- what causes it and will it limit the horse's career.
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Take Charge of a Jigger

Jigging is a symptom of nervousness or a lack of foundation and can wreck an otherwise pleasurable ride. Read this guide to learn how to stop a jigger.
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Smooth Saddling

The first saddling of a colt can be dangerous because you’re introducing a new object. In this guide, Clinton shows you how to saddle as smoothly as possible.
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Stopping a Grass Snatcher

Is your horse too busy eyeing his next meal on the trail rather than paying attention to you? Use these easy steps to put yourself back in control.
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Ear-Shy Horses

Ear-shy horses make haltering and bridling impossible and dangerous with their head tossing, pulling away and worse. Here’s a guide to taking away their fear.
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Correct Cross-Tying Problems

When it comes to horse-tying situations gone wrong, nothing is as scary as a horse reacting in cross-ties. This guide shows you how to properly use cross-ties.
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5 Mistakes to Avoid When Dealing With Spooky Objects

Your job as a horse trainer is to desensitize your horse to as many objects as you can. However, most people unknowingly commit these 5 mistakes.
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Put an End to Pawing

Pawing the ground with one front hoof is a sign of impatience and frustration. In this guide, Clinton Anderson helps you put an end to pawing.
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Biting and Kicking Other Horses

Horses that misbehave in group situations are a hazard. In this guide, Clinton Anderson discusses how to stop your horse from biting and kicking other horses.
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Chilling Out a Busy-Minded Horse

Some horses are naturally hot and nervous, even after training. In this guide, Clinton shows you how to turn your idea to slow down into the horse’s idea.
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Solving Cinchiness

It’s normal for a horse to be reactive when its belly or flank area is squeezed tightly. Clinton explains what makes a horse cinchy and how to saddle your horse safely.
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Lying Down on the Trail

A horse that lies down and rolls riding him is very dangerous. Horse trainer Clinton Anderson teaches you how to stop your horse from lying down on the trail.
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Flexing the Head & Neck

The secret to a soft horse is gaining control of he head and neck, poll, shoulders, ribcage and hindquarters. One important technique is to flex the head and neck.
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Introducing the Snaffle Bit

It’s important to eventually switch a colt to a bit if you want to get him broke. This article outlines the steps to move a colt from a hackamore to a bridle.
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Feeding P’s and Q’s

Your horse either thinks about food and getting to it or being respectful. If your horse acts dangerous when you feed him, here's how to correct his behavior.
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Pasture Respect

Your horse shouldn't push into you, rear or rush past you as you lead him to the pasture. Here, Clinton Anderson shows you how to get your horse to follow you.
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Squeeze. Cluck. Spank.

A horse should seem like he is responding to invisible cues from the rider. In this guide you'll learn how to get your horse to respond to the subtlest of cues.
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A Case of the Nibbles

If a horse is bored, he may nibble on things. In this guide, horse trainer Clinton Anderson shows you how to keep your horse's mind busy so he can stop nibbling.
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Bundy’s First Bath

Water is scary to horses and a great way to desensitize them to water is by giving them a bath. In this guide, horse trainer Clinton Anderson shows you how.
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Stand Still for Mounting

A horse that moves when you slip your foot in the stirrup is dangerous. Clinton Anderson teaches you to keep your horse standing while you mount.
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Nix Trailering Troubles

A horse should not be afraid of being trailered. In this guide you will learn how to get your horse comfortable around and in trailers as well as backing out.
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Train Your Horse to Stand Still for Clipping

Whether it’s around the head and face or the legs, a lot of horses are frightened of clippers. In this guide, follow these steps and you'll be able to clip your horse without having to fight him.
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Blanketing Made Easy

Blanketing a horse can be a struggle because blankets are objects that move and make a noise, which makes them very scary to horses. In this guide, Clinton Anderson shows you Blanketing made easy.
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Attaching Mecate Reins to the Slobber Straps and Headstall

In this guide, Clinton Anderson shows you how to attach mecate reins to the slobber straps and headstall and how to safely tie with mecate reins.
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Stand Still!

If your horse won't stand still while you groom him then follow Clinton Anderson's instructions in this guide to stop fidgety behavior.
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Mind Your Manners

Cranky and disrespectful behavior turns dangerous quickly because you’re trapped in a small space with a 1,000-pound animal. Clinton Anderson covers two common problems associated with horses in stalls and shares his fixes.
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Lead Smart

When walking your horse, don't let him lag behind and snatch grass. Horse trainer Clinton Anderson teaches you how to be a leader.
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Safely Ride Your Horse in a Group

With other horses present, your horse needs to pay attention to you. Horse Trainer Clinton Anderson shows you how to teach him using the cloverleaf exercise.
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Address Horse’s Head Tossing

A horse that tosses his head has one of a few things going on. If it's not a dental issue, it's probably one of these 3 possible causes. Here is how to address them.
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How to Reform a Bucker

A horse usually bucks out of fear. In this guide, Clinton Anderson teaches you how to respond to and stop your horse's bucking.

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Stopping the Bolter

Riding a 1,000-pound animal that's running out of control can be terrifying. In this guide, Clinton Anderson teaches you how to safely stop a horse that bolts.
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Sweeten a Barn-Sour Horse

Horses are social animals that can make them reluctant to leave the barn. In this article, Clinton Anderson teaches you how to sweeten a barn-sour horse.
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Put Fear in its Place and Canter with Confidence

Many riders don't canter their horses enough. In this guide, Clinton Anderson will help you put fear in its place and canter with confidence.
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Reverse Your Horse’s Arena Phobia

A horse that refuses to go into the arena is frustrating and embarrassing. In this guide, Clinton Anderson helps you reverse your horse's fear of the arena.
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Correcting a Horse That Rears

Rearing is a very dangerous situation for both horse and rider, and if left uncorrected it's a problem that only gets worse. This guide will help you correct a horse that rears.
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One Rein Stops

Few riding experiences are as frightening as being on a thousand pound animal running out of control, but learning a simple exercise and preparing yourself for the unexpected can boost your confidence and put you in control of any situation.
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A Good Gas Pedal

It's important that your horse moves forward at the speed and gait you ask--walk, trot and canter. Here are 4 tips on how to give your horse a good gas pedal.
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Help Your Horse when He’s Spooked

Having a fail-safe approach to handling a spook and remaining in control of the situation will make the incident a minor inconvenience rather than a ride-ruiner.
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Take the Worry Away from Fly Spray

Help your horse overcome his fear of fly spray with these steps.
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Troubleshoot: Yield the Forequarters

Here is what can go wrong when you first teach a horse how to yield the forequarters exercise and fixes for each.
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Tying a Horse Up Correctly

When tying your horse up, safety should be your biggest concern.
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Young Horse Development

Learn more about horse training and young horse development from Clinton Anderson. Gain tips and insights with our step-by-step guides and how to articles.
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