Q: My 4-year-old horse is usually very laid-back about everything. However, when we start loping, he starts bucking. I have checked my tack and nothing seems to pinch him, so maybe he is just young and excited. How can...
Q: My horse is great at the walk and jog on the trail. However, when we are loping in a group, he bucks and shakes his head. I try to keep him at a slow lope, but he wants...
Loop the lead rope around the horse’s neck so that it isn’t dragging on the ground.
Position yourself so that your belly button is...
Have you made the mistake of coddling your horse and indulging his every whim? Allowing your horse to bump into you, nuzzle you for treats and nip at you creates a spoiled horse—one that’s pushy and has no respect...
When a horse lunges forward with his teeth bared or turns his hindquarters and kicks out, it usually evokes one of two responses in people: fear or offense. The reaction is either to run the other way and allow...
We’ve all seen trail-string horses tied to a hitching rail with their legs cocked and heads nodding in the sunshine—no anxious behavior or antics.
How did they learn to stand so calmly? There are a number of ways to...
Circle driving gets a lot accomplished by working on several key areas at once. It teaches the horse to be soft on the halter and bend his ribs around you in a circle. It helps horses that are reactive...
So many times we fall in love for all the wrong reasons. Just as it happens in human relationships, with horses we’re often initially attracted by appearances or preconceived ideas. All too frequently people buy horses based on looks...
It’s important to realize that your horse’s respect for you isn’t automatic; you have to earn it. The best way to do this is by using the same tactics horses use to gain respect from each other.
"You earn a...
Q: My horse spooks every time he sees a rope when we’re trying to catch cattle. Do you have any pointers?
A: Many horses will accept an object as long as it’s at their eye level or below. But...
