TRAINING TIPS FOR HORSE-RIDERS

Expert advice for all riding
and behavior problems

Do I need a horse psychologist?

If you have a problem with your
horse or pony - yes, you do!

The essence of any training programme is to build trust and confidence. The trick is to feel your way forward and allow yourself to be guided by the horse.

Every horse is different, so only rarely is there a standard procedure, just a framework to hang the training on.

Rather than fitting the horse to the training, find the training that fits the horse.

Basically, you do what you have to do to get the right result. This doesn't always mean going by the book. Sometimes you have to back-track a step or two, to regain confidence.

Sometimes you have to tread softly, taking care not to frighten the horse. Sometimes (but not often!) it pays to get tough. It depends on the horse and the situation, weighing the balance between what you know without doubt, he can do and how much he is willing to give.

All the way through is a process of building trust and confidence. Put yourself in his place and see the world from his point of view. Any 'misbehaviour' is his way of telling you that something is bothering him.

There are times to ignore it and carry on regardless, and times when you take another approach. Seeing the world from his point of view enables you to tell the difference.

The guiding principle is to avoid upsetting the horse, which is done by breaking the training down into the smallest possible stages, knowing how much to ask and moving on when the time is right.

Too much repetition and the horse gets stuck in a rut and unwilling to move on. Expecting the horse to know what he is supposed to do gets him confused, angry or frightened.

In short, it's a balancing act between what you know the horse can do and his willingness or ability to do it.

Don't try to run before you can walk! If your horse won't do what you want him to do in walk, things will only get worse in the faster paces. So get it right in walk, before you move on.

And move on when the horse is ready - and not before! Once the horse has learned the lesson, it's time to move on. Too much repetition and the horse gets stuck in a rut and unwilling to move on. On average, it takes the horse 3 presentations or repetitions of a lesson to understand and learn it ... or the 3 Cs.

First comes the Confrontation, meeting the lesson for the first time. Then comes Consolidation, when the horse says 'I get the idea'. Finally, comes Confirmation, when the horse says 'Yes, I've got it now'. The lesson has been assimilated. When the horse knows what to do and is happy to do it, then it's time to move on.

Sometimes however, you have to go back to basics, reminding the horse of what he knows, or can do and working upward from there.

If he won't do what you want him to do, you probably have to go back a step or two. Trying to force him to do something he is unwilling to do merely results in conflict - one C you definitely want to avoid!

Summary

1. Allow yourself to be guided by the horse.

2. Find the training that fits the horse.

3. Break the process down into the smallest possible stages.

3. See the world from his point of view.

4. Avoid upsetting the horse at all times.

5. Don't try to run before you can walk.

6. Move on when the horse is ready.

If you would like to know more about training the young horse, need more information or simply want some advice, please send an email

Details of my recommended programme for training the young horse to accept bit and bridle, saddle and rider ... and how to go on from first backing can be found in my ebook "Basic Training for the Young Horse"

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