I’ve heard it said a horse has an excellent memory. I’ve been amazed by this memory from time to time when I ride a horse that hasn’t been ridden in years but who as a youngster might have had some good training. I apply a familiar cue and the horse responds with easy familiarity, as if they learned the response yesterday.
But because of this excellent memory… Continue reading this POST
Training a horse, whether it’s working with an un-started 2 year old or teaching an advanced movement, always involves a system of pressure and release. From the day we first start working with our horse, we want to teach him to “move away from pressure”. When he moves “away” from pressure, his reward is release of pressure. This involves the critical element of timing. It is in our timing that… Continue reading this POST
Raising your own horse is like baking a cake from scratch. If you start with quality ingredients, follow the recipe, take your time, don’t open the oven door before the timer goes off, test for doneness, and don’t over-bake or set the heat too high, you end up with something delicious! In horse speak – if you start with a healthy horse, use tried and true training/handling methods… Continue reading this POST
When I sense that a horse is fearful I’m going to approach how I work with him differently than if I sense challenge or indifference. There are different types of fear and I need to have a feel as to which type the horse has. There’s the fear a young, green horse will have with a new person in the round pen. This horse isn’t necessarily mistrustful of people because… Continue reading this POST