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Horse Training

 

   When training horses, you should loook at it by the horse's prospective. A horse cannot understand what you are wanting them to do, unless you are patient and teach them. I have pulled a few articles from a book by Cherry Hill called "How to Think Like A Horse".

 

What a horse don't like?

  1. Horse's don't like to be afraid.

  2. Horse's do not like physical pain.

  3. Horse's don't like inconsistency.

  4. Horse's don't like surprises.

  5. Horse's don't like restraint and restriction.

  6. Horse's don't like isolation.

  7. Horses dom't like being chased.

 

These are things that you should remember while training a horse:

  1. Horse's are cooperative and willing. They are generous and forgiving and make patient teachers. They have the precious trait of curiosity, which we should take great pains to preserve. They are trusting and once we have earned their trust, we should maintain it.

  2. Horses are adaptable to a variety of situations, are good leaners, and have an excellent memory.

  3. Horses are not naturally aggressive and can quickyl learn to be submissive, so much so that others often take advantage of them.

  4. Horses have a special sense that allows them to detect our moods or a shift in the weather before it occurs. They seem to know where there is "something in the air", whether it is something playful and impending doom. Without physical contact, they can read and pick up very subtle signals from a human. That is what makes horses so valuable for the rehabilitation of people who have suffered physical, emotional, or mental damage.

 

12 Training Rules from the Horse's Viewpoint:

  1. No breaking.. Bend me, but don't break me. Present me with simple lessons that I can master. and build on those. Don't force me to change me; invite me to change. Be calm and patient, and you will be amazed at what I will do for you.

  2. Be Clear.. If you can tell me what you want me to do and I can do it, I will do it. If I don't understand you, don't punish me; ask me another way. I want to cooperate.

  3. Treat me like a horse.. I'm a horse and proud of it. Although we can be good friends, I am not a person and I'm not your puppy either. I'm a horse.

  4. Be flexible. I know you want me to master a certain action today, but cut me some slack if you see that I am distracted or tired or confused. Sometimes I need the reassurance of reviewing something simple that I already know.

  5. Focus, Please! You always ask me for my attention when we work together, so I'd like you to pay attention to what we are doing, too. Turn off the cell phone; forget about the sales contract on your desk or the fender bender your kid had or your recent medical result. Be here with now, okay?

  6. Set the scene for success! Since you know that I am afraid of loose logs or lawn mowers next to the arena, help me get over those fears first before you ask me to do something while thosr things are going on. Eventually I'd like to be able to do anything, anytime, any-where for you, but I have a lot of insecurities to overcome. With your help, we can do it.

  7. Bond with me my way. I like to be rubbed on my forehead and my neck; that makes me relaxed and content. Don't tickle the end of my nose or my flank or my belly, and please don't slap me hard, thinking I like it. Just use firm, circular, rubbing motions and we'll be buddies forever.

  8. Take your time! When you are in a rush and move around me in a hurry, you smell anxious and I can sense your accelerated heart rate. Sometimes I get lost and then can't remember the simplist task. I like it best when you move smoothly around me, letting me know what you are doing and taking as much time as it takes for us to figure it out together.

  9. Be optimistic! When you walk toward me, I can tell if you are expecting things to go well or badly. If you are projecting a smile, I feel positive about working with you. On those days when you are in a rush or anticipate problems, I pick up on that and tend to shift into defense mode, because giving the choice, I'd rather flee than fight. If you're happy, I'm happy.

  10. Be fair and Realistic!! I really appreciate that you understand me, because then you won't ask me to do something that I am not physically capable of doing. You'd never ask me to carry or pull too much weight. And you'd never ask me to cross an impassable bog or go down a dangerously steep cliff. As long as you treat me fairly and only ask me to do reasonable things, I will never refuse you.

  11. Be consistent!! When you are first asking me to do something, such as put my head down so you can examine my ears, if you ask me the same way a few times in a row, I;ll get the idea and, hey, no problem. But if you work with me a few times in a row, and then let you're friend Joe handle my ears, and he does it differently that you, I may get startled and he may get angry. It is going to be harded for me to figure out what I should do. If you are consistent until you see that I've got it, then you can start varying and adding. If you take your time, you will be surprised at all the variations I can learn. If I have trouble catching on, you can always review the first way I learned, which is locked in. Just give me a starting point and be consistent. I like that.

  12. Be Objective! When you and I are working together, report what you see, not what you interpret. Once you get to know me, you'll understand why I do certain things and give me the benefit or the doubt. In this way, you can help me overcome my fears.

 

Ideal Length of a Training Session:

 

Age                              Length of Session                        Frequency

Foal                               15minutes                                 5 times a week

Weanling                         30minutes                                5 times a week

Yearling                          30-60minutes                            3-5 times a week

2yr. old                           60minutes                                4-6 times a week

3yr. old                           Up to 90 minutes                       4-6 times a week

4yr. old                           Up to 2 hours                            2-6 times a week

5-20yr. old                      1-6 hours                                  2-6 times a week

21+                                30-90minutes                            4-6 times a week

 

Each training Session Should Include:

 

  • A WarmUp (longe trotting, lunging)

  • Review Work (Something your horse knows very well)

  • Break (Let your horse stretch and blow and relax)

  • New Work (Something your horse is in the process of learning and you want to work together)

  • Break (a little longer after all the hard stuff)

  • Review Work (go back to working on something that your horse knows very well and really enjoys)

  • Cool-Down (Some long trotting and walking on a loose rein)

 

Rules to Follow By:

  • Don't be afraid

  • Show Mutual Respect

  • Pay Attention

  • Move

  • Stop

  • Yield

 

Training Tip:

  • Always use the natural horsemanship methods of training

 All information in this article was pulled from a book by Cherry Hill called, "How to Think Like A Horse."

 

I pulled out different pieces throughout the entire book to put on here. There is a lot more information in the book. Common vices, and common problems.. And she also explains how likly you are to be able to get the horse trained, and she gives several suggestions on how to get your horse trained!

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