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NEWS & ARTICLES : Is Your Horse Training YOU?

This horse has clearly taught his owner "you will not put me in the trailer"!

Whether it’s snow, rain, mud, ice, wind – whatever – it’s a great time to evaluate your relationship with your horse, and set new goals for your training time. Even in less-than-ideal weather, there are things we can do with our horses.

Horses are so much smarter than we give them credit for! Many challenges are actually situations in which the horse is training the human; only the human doesn’t know it. When you discover this is happening, evaluate all areas that may be affected, and then set about to change them.

Pawing at feeding time means “Give me my food -- now!” Solution: never give food until and unless the horse gives you a “happy face”, with zero pawing. This may mean you walk away repeatedly, but the horse will catch on fairly quickly if you have good timing and consistency.

Raising the head to get out of the bridle (or halter) means “Get that off of my head – now!” Solution: never remove the bridle unless and until the horse lowers the head. The bridle “magically” comes off when the head is down. Other bridling issues can be solved with this mindset.

Moving around while saddling means “Don’t saddle me, I don’t like it.” While this can indicate saddle-fit problems and other various issues, many people back off until the horse is still, then try to saddle again. Resolve other issues (fit, fear, etc.), then saddle no matter what. Just “go with the flow”. Pretty soon, the horse realizes the futility of moving around, and stands still.

Many horses make their humans move back, over or away. This can happen in very subtle ways. Stepping into the human’s space means “I move YOUR feet, therefore, I am the leader.” Solution: never let the horse move your feet. Always move because you wish to move only, as in walking around to groom the horse, or when leading the horse. Otherwise, block and protect your space vigorously at all times, and be the one to move the horse’s feet, not the other way around.

With acute observation, I’ll bet you discover little ways that your horse has actually been training you. It won’t take long to turn the tables, and resume your leadership role in the relationship. The payback will show up as your relationship with your horse dramatically improves.