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"Speed Up Your Slow Horse," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the How to Break a Horse Series:

"The fix for the lazy horse can be done while doing any riding exercise. The first thing that makes a horse responsive or lighter is having a clear cue. A cue is something that you ask the horse and can get the horse to do. That means a cue to stop will be picking up the reins. That would be a cue to stop. A pre-cue is something you do before the cue. A pre-cue is "ho." If I go forward and I say "ho," and he doesn't stop, I'm going to say "ho" and pick up the reins to say "That meant stop." So pretty soon, when I go forward and I say "ho" the horse stops. So a pre-cue is something you do before a cue that makes a horse lighter and more responsive. It's the same thing with your legs. What do you do before you use your legs? You sit forward, pick up the reins, kiss to them. But what's the first that you do before you squeeze or kick your horse? You take your legs out. You take your legs out, then you bring them together. So practice that. Practice taking your legs off and if he doesn't move, then tell the horse "Hey, that meant move" with a kick. And when you bring them together, be prepared to kick them until something happens. So practice that and pretty soon, when you take your legs away from the horse's side (as if to kick), that'll mean "move forward." So I'm not using my legs to keep kicking my horse. Practice this and remember, when you bring them together, bring them together hard enough to get a change of leg speed. If you kick him and you just kick him to keep him going, then…"

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Round Pen First Steps
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 2:

"Stop about halfway across the pen and kiss to the horse. If he simply stares at you, then get those hips moving (one side, then the other, as earlier) to give him the idea that we want him to move forward. You might also try simply sending him off, then immediately asking for an inside turn, suggesting with your body language that he turn in and come to you. He'll quickly begin to associate your kiss with "come" and all you need to do is gradually increase the distance from which you make your request. Teaching the horse to trot or even lope to you is simply a matter of sending the horse out and around at your chosen gait then asking for the inside turn as before. If the horse is in a stopped position when you ask for him to trot or lope to you and he simply walks, then put some energy into him to suggest "speed up." Send him back around at a higher clip if need be; the energy you put in is the energy you'll get out. Which bring up an excellent and final point: Don't teach a horse with any sort of aggressive tendencies to come at you with speed."

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Available Downloads:
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"How to Pick a Horse Trainer"
By Edna X Wilson

When looking for a trainer, you need to decide what your goals are. They may change depending on what you and your horse decide to do, but at least have an idea of what you want to do. Do you want to show or just take lessons? Do you want to trail ride and just want to learn how to control your horse and ride better?

WHERE to look for a trainer

You can start with your vet, horse-related magazines, local tack store, friends or the classified advertisements in your local paper. Tack stores usually have a bulletin board, where they allow barn owners and trainers to post announcements when they have stalls available and if they’re accepting new clients. If a tack store has been established for a while, they can usually tell you about the local barns, trainers and their disciplines. Compile a list from everyone and give the trainers and/or barns a call.

Pleasure or show?

Showing your horse is quite different then just riding for fun or taking lessons. If you’re serious about showing and winning it requires a different mindset then taking lessons and going trail riding or hanging out with your horse. Its also much more expensive. Show barns usually charge more for boarding, but usually have a trainer available if the barn owner doesn’t train and show horses. Make sure the trainer has shown in the discipline you’re involved in.

VISIT THE BARN

After you get a list of trainers, call them to set up an appointment. Go to the barn they work out of. Check out the facility. If the barn isn’t in great shape, don’t worry. Instead, look at the horses – are they well fed and cared for? Do they have plenty of grass and turnout? How’s the fencing?? Is the barn neat and orderly? Does it look and smell clean?

MEET THE TRAINER

It’s helpful to watch a trainer teach a lesson, so try to schedule a time when a few clients will be at the barn. Talk to him or her in between lessons. Find out about their personal riding experience. How long did they show as a kid or adult? Where and on what circuit? If they still show as a professional, that will take away from their time to teach. And if they’re on the road with advanced students a couple months a year, they may not be the right trainer for you. And find out how long they’ve been teaching. If they’re new to teaching, they may have more time for you and your horse. Just because they’re new, doesn’t mean they don’t have talent. Ask the trainer for references and if they’re reluctant, don’t enlist their services.

And finally, remember finding the right trainer is a personal choice. You need to like and trust the trainer you choose. They should be willing to answer your questions about their training philosophy and what they’re doing with your horse. Lastly, go with your gut instinct. If you click with a trainer who’s relatively unknown, that will turn out to be a better choice then going with a well-known trainer that everyone knows, that you don’t click with. Riding and having a horse should be fun. If you do your homework beforehand you’ll have more options and make the right choice for you and your horse.

About the Author: Edna X Wilson is a writer for www.HorseClicks.com, popular classifieds of horses for sale, used trailers and ranches for sale.

Source: www.isnare.com
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