Horse Training 101

>then quit asking for it. Give him something else to
Horse training is an art. But it also has rules thatdo. Make it interesting for him.
govern how to work with and train a horse.Another thing I like to do is assess my horse's
For instance, when you're training a horse to dodisposition before I start working with him. I like
something, you don't want to drill him with it soto know what my student is like before I start
much that he becomes sour on it and unwilling tohis education.
do it next time. The trick is to get him doing whatFor instance, is he a nervous horse? If so, I'll be
you ask, then asking him to do it a few morevery quick to reward him and carefully use aids. I'll
times, then stop asking.keep his confidence high by caressing him often.
You can ask him to do it more for you the nextOr, is he a willful horse? If so, I'll have to be more
day but you should stop asking for too much.persistent and patient to get him doing something
Here's a human view on why that's important.I ask.
If you were to get a piece of paper and writeIt's important to know what a horse is like before
the word "training" on it, chances are you wouldtraining like a teacher should know her students
do it just fine.before teaching.
But what if I asked you write it again? WhyIf you were a teacher and the school principal
would I ask you to do that? Because I just wantaccurately described what each kid was like then
to make sure you know to do it. So, I ask you toyou could be a more effective teacher.
write it again.For instance, what if you had a kid that was deaf
When you get done writing it again I pat you onin one ear and a little hard of hearing in the other
the back and say "Way to go. Now, let's do itbut was a fast learner? As a teacher, if you didn't
again."know this you may be inclined to think this child is
Apprehensive and sighing, you do it again. Thislazy or perhaps dumb. And if the child sat in the
time, after you write it, I ask you to immediatelyback of the room the whole time this problem
re-do it because I want it capitalized.would only get worse - and you wouldn't know he
You give me a dirty look and rewrite it.is a fast learner.
Then I ask you to do it again.But if you knew he was deaf in one ear and hard
Now....aren't you getting tired of rewriting theof hearing in the other then you'd want to put
word "training"? After all, you did what I asked.him in the front row and talk louder. Perhaps you
Plus, I asked you to rewrite it and capitalize it. Itmay suggest his parents get him a hearing aid.
was still the same word and you were still doingYou'll do all you can to help your student learn.
what I asked but I just wanted to make sureThis is much like a horse. The teacher must do all
you were doing it.he can to help his horse learn. The teacher must
This gives you a feel for why a horse shouldn'tunderstand his horse first to see how he can best
have to redo something over and over. The rulehelp his student learn.
is once he gets it and does it a few more times