Basic Horse Training    This page links to articles on various aspects of horse training, but particularly ground training and training for basic manners. The fact we call it "basic" horse training does not infer any kind of inferiority, or even that it is only for unbroken or green youngsters. Most "broken" riding horses could benefit from basic training. Mastering basic horse training techniques will give you a much better understanding and communication with your horse (and other horses) , furthering both of your educations. Also it will help you to develop a bond with a new horses, regardless of whether one or both of you are experienced riders. The same techniques can help in problem solving and in furthering the usefulness of green horses. There are various qualities you need to develop for horse training, all of which are useful qualities for having around horses, whether you are just showing them in hand or taking part in 3 day eventing. The first of these is belief in your horse (or horses). You must believe in your horses value as a horse and potential as a useful companion!  Young or old, big or small, trail horse or expensive competition horse, whether you think he's pretty or pretty ugly! It doesn't matter what your horse looks like, or how much you could sell him for - all horses have the potential to do something useful, most have the potential to do things much more remarkable than most people would give them credit for (including their owners). Recently I met a trainer of falcons. I asked him about how he trained them, to which he simply replied "lots and lots of patience", and I responded "pretty much like with any animal then". That includes horses. Loosing your temper with a horse is usually counterproductive. Do you remember learning something new? Do you think you would have been enthusiastic about learning if you knew you were going to get a good hiding every time you didn't understand something? Do you think you would have liked the teacher that did that reprimanded you even though you were trying? Would you want to go further, on to more advanced stuff, where making mistakes was going to intially be inevitable? Or would you stay within your comfort zone, where you knew you'd get it right and avoid being beaten, shouted at or made to look a fool? Now imagine all that, only this time you and teacher barely understand each others language, something which the teacher appears not to have really noticed. There are people who treat there horses as though none, or some, of the above hasn't really occurred to them - don't be one of them. By and large horses are eager to please when they are being treated right and have learned to trust their owner. Always remeber that a horses most prominent responses includes fear, they don't try to be awkward on purpose, in the way we humans sometimes do! You need lots of patience, you need to be consistent, and you need to develop a good sense of timing. Horses don't understand human languages, and they don't reason in the way we do. If you feel yourself getting exasperated with "your stupid horse" take a break! Apart from anything else perhaps the horse needs one right now to absorb anything it has learned. You need to persevere with your horse, it's true. It's also true that if you vary your lessons sufficiently and take short breaks here and there you can go on with your horse for surprisingly long amounts of time without either of you getting fed up. But... when you are getting bored, or especially if you are getting annoyed, it's time for you both to have a break! Make sure you plan your training (writing it down can be good, especially for a start), and then review your progress, and your plan regularly. Plan your training to be as fun as possible! You need to spend regular time with your horse, in general the more often you work with your horse the further you will get. Few people spend too much time with their horse - few people could have the luxury! This doesn't mean hours of the same boring lesson though. Vary your work, don't spend all your time in the round pen, training barn or arena, go for trail rides (you can train while you're out too). Keep your horse interested in you, in life. Finally you need some understanding of how horses think and learn - useful knowledge whatever you intend to do with your horse! Knowledge you might be able to learn from your horse alone, but it will be at the cost of time, mistakes and probably your nerves too. Much better to learn from others, through lessons, through reading, through watching others, and through DVDs and videos. Learn as much as you can - your horse can't read for you!

Basic Groundwork Breaking In or Educating Stopping a Horse from Biting Does your Horse have the Feel?  Sing-song Voice Aids Training Trew - video