Use this exercise to teach your horse to confidently cross and jump over a variety of natural and man-made obstacles. Giving your horse a purpose will make training sessions more fun and exciting for both of you and will...
Riding a horse that refuses to go forward is like having a Ferrari with no gas pedal; sure, it's nice to look at, but it's absolutely useless. I teach horses to move forward off my legs using three separate...
Regardless of age or background, I begin all horses’ training in the round pen. As far as I’m concerned, the round pen is the safest area for you and your horse to initially build a relationship because you’re not...
This exercise teaches your horse to lead forward and turn left and right in response to gentle pressure to his muzzle. A lot of horses are defensive about being touched around their muzzles and faces in general. Getting the...
If you’ve been to any equine event, you’ve likely seen a horse steadfastly refusing to load into a trailer and a group of frustrated humans determined to change his mind. It’s the perfect recipe for someone to get hurt....
Round-pen work — also known as free longeing — is used by many horse owners, but the level of success achieved varies greatly. Used properly, this form of groundwork can be a valuable tool in building a solid foundation...
If you think training a horse is difficult, you should try keeping a trained horse happy and interested in his job. Drilling on the same exercises and routines tends to cause horses to get bored and sour. I’m always...
As a prey animal, your horse is naturally cautious of the world around him. After all, horses have survived for thousands of years by relying on their flight or fight instincts—their ability to flee a perceived danger or stay...
Q: My mare constantly paws at the ground as soon as I walk away from her. I have tried leaving her tied until she stops, but it never works. What can I do to stop her?
A: Pawing the...
With this exercise, you will teach the horse to walk forward and bend his whole body around you in a small circle and to yield his hindquarters. The more you can get the horse to soften to the bridle...
