Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people who have not studied it. Even more mysterious is a behavioral problem a horse has that causes his owner stress and frustration.
What many horse owners don't understand is often the handler, not the horse, is causing the problem.
That being said, that is the first consideration in unscrambling the horse's ill behavior.
For instance, a common problem riders have is a horse being spooky. In layman's terms, that means a horse is nervous and afraid something is going to "get him". Thus, whenever the horse and owner go for a ride it's not usually a relaxing moment.
As a matter of fact, both horse and rider are on edge.
So if we take the premise that the rider is causing the horse to spook, then we must ask, "How is the rider causing this."
An uninformed rider may not be aware that perhaps he is sitting tensely in the saddle. Also, maybe he's stiff as a board and has a white-knuckle hold on the reins.
Believe it or not, the horse can sense and feel this tense. When the horse is in the habit of feeling it then the horse's spookiness is also the rider's.
Picture it like this. Two deathly scared kids are walking home at night. They both hear sounds and see things. One kid thinks he saw something and nervously asks, "D-d-d-did you see that?" Seconds later the other kid hears something and cries, "D-d-did you h-h-hear that?" Together they intensify each other's fears and their anxiety grows leaps and bounds.
So it is with the rider and horse. Maybe not to that extent, but still it happens.
And since the rider is human and capable of reasoning, then he or she must be the one to interrupt the pattern of behavior. The rider must loosen up while in the saddle. Relax. Have fun. Learn to watch the horse's signals that he has spotted something - and then talk to the horse and start giving him confidence.
Soon, the horse's demeanor will change and the result will be a more relaxed, fun to ride horse.
Whether the rider realizes it or not, he or she is training the horse by just riding. The horse simply reacts to the stimuli he gets. If the stimuli is consistent, the horse's reaction will become a habit until changed. If the stimuli is tense, causes fear reactions, and so on, the result is a spooky horse.
This is but one example of how us humans can actually be the reason the horse does or does not do something we ask of him. Although it's true that the rider is not the cause 100% of the time, it's a good place to start untangling the problem because it's often where it begins.
About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.
German Shepherds were among the first dogs trained for police... Read More
Do you really know all there is to know about... Read More
Part 2: Protecting your petIf you own a cat, then... Read More
I would like to write a few words about my... Read More
Losing your cat is a worrying experience, use these 'How... Read More
Dog TrainingSo, we've got a new best friend that needs... Read More
Without agility, the most muscular person in the world couldn't... Read More
Scottish Terriers are short-legged dogs, at a height of ten... Read More
Just south of Snowdon, in the grey-stoned village of Beddgelert... Read More
"Magoo was a big, playful Labrador retriever who often got... Read More
According to recent statistics, an astounding 65% of all U.S.... Read More
Training a dog is a fairly difficult task. Some find... Read More
Americans are more concerned about health than ever before, so... Read More
1. Clipping the quick when cutting nails.Don't be in a... Read More
Making sure that accidents don't happen in the first place... Read More
Is your dog up to dirty no good again? Did... Read More
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with... Read More
Obesity is one of the most important health concerns facing... Read More
In most cases you should not be too concerned about... Read More
Just as humans allergies can show up as a sneeze... Read More
For heat dissipation and body cooling, a horse trotting at... Read More
Mum, dad, can we get a puppy? Its a plea... Read More
You can look at westhighland terriers and know if it... Read More
When I first started my interest in reptiles I was... Read More
Having a pet is an experiance that I think everyone... Read More
Got a mischevious mutt on your hands? Then you may... Read More
The American Kennel Club recognizes 150 different dog breeds. There... Read More
A couple of years ago a Japanese electronics company came... Read More
Whether purely for looks or for a bird's home, bird... Read More
Training your dog can be time consuming and frustrating at... Read More
Showing off your dog in front of friends and family... Read More
All puppies are small dogs ? some, however, won't be... Read More
The 10 Greatest Puppy Training Tips of All Time According... Read More
Interacting with a pet bird outside of it's cage is... Read More
Pet's, any kind of pet can be a welcome addition... Read More
Are you ready for a Boxer?The answer is "no" if... Read More
My name is Shadrach, and I am a dog -... Read More
Standing and walking on the hind legs are tricks that... Read More
Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More
1. Clipping the quick when cutting nails.Don't be in a... Read More
The other day, I was invited to see my friend's... Read More
Let me introduce my dogs. I have 3, Nikki and... Read More
A well-train dog usually leads a happier and healthier life... Read More
Many pet owners often wonder if it's worth it to... Read More
Pet adoption is a fabulous option if you're seeking a... Read More
Of all the parasites a dog can catch, worms take... Read More
Even with the best care, cats can become ill. Sometimes... Read More
If you are seriously considering keeping fish as pets or... Read More
In compiling some information on achieving a proper fit to... Read More
Even the most dedicated cat lover has little patience with... Read More
Pet Pet |