Sample Our Newsletter
"Slowing Your Horse," from my FREE monthly newsletter

From the Horse Riding Instruction Series:

"To help slow my horse, I hum. I hum because it naturally changes my seat. So when I'm practicing loping, and my horse is going faster than I want, then I sit down and I count or hum. So, I'll pick up speed and I'll say go faster, then I'll sit down and hum. If I change my seat and he does not slow down, then…"

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From John Lyons Trainer Keith Hosman

Trailer Training Horses
A Downloadable Book

A sample from Day 2:

"Think of the control you've built over the past two days: We've got individual body parts moving forward and backward, left and right. Throw in "up and down" and you've got the only 6 directions the horse can go. When you approach the trailer tomorrow, keep that in mind. No doubt your horse will not perform as well there as he does with no trailer in sight – which is why we've first "over-practiced" in a quiet area. When the time comes to actually begin loading up, be quick to isolate body parts and use the tools you've developed to straighten things out.

Not only have we learned to move specific body parts in specific directions, but we've become something more than the servant who brings the food. That transformation takes place when we consistently cause the horse to move without causing him pain. With the newfound respect also comes a certain measure of trust – and it goes without saying that "trust" is something we'll need from the horse when we ask him to load up.

Tomorrow we'll begin loading your horse, putting into practice the exercises we've done so far. We'll use these methods to position the horse, to protect ourselves, and to motivate the sucker to get in the dang trailer.

"

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- 5 Days, 5 chapters
- Learn at your own pace

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Available Downloads:
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"How Slowing Down Speeds Up Horse Training"
By Bonnie Martin

How many of us have witnessed someone so in tune with their horse that they make difficult things look easy? Many of us have probably gone home to try the same with our horse and become frustrated at our lack of success.

Usually what happens with us humans is that we do too much direct line thinking and go for immediate results without breaking it down into teachable segments that the horse will understand. We end up confusing our horses and frustrating both them and ourselves by being in too big a hurry to get what we want accomplished.

Let's take a simple example to analyze what often happens versus what should happen to teach the skill. Backing through two poles laid parallel on the ground looks and sounds simple enough. All you have to do is turn your horse around and back him a few steps until he is clear of the poles, right? Simple enough to begin-- IF the horse is comfortable with having the poles behind him with one pole visible in each eye. Lots of horses aren't comfortable with that though and they will not line up to even begin the back through. They will often swing their butt one direction or the other and refuse to stand still. Or, if by chance you are able to get the horse started, often he will rush and bang a pole or step over it instead of going straight back.

This is frustrating for the direct line thinking rider who didn't consider that the horse needs to get comfortable seeing the poles on both sides of him before being expected to move backwards through them. Breaking the task down into smaller segments and teaching them in progression may seem slow, but it will actually speed up the learning process and give a much nicer outcome with less stress on horse or rider.

Start by making sure your horse will be comfortable with the poles on both sides of him by walking him forward into the opening and on through a few times. Then, ask him to stop at different points within the space. Repeat these two things until it's no big deal for your horse. Add a request for one backwards step, and then let your horse stop and think about it. The stop is the reward for having done well. Do some back and go forward, and back again at different points within the poles before asking your horse to do it with his body farther and farther out of the poles. Once he is comfortable with going forward and backing on request, then you can walk him all the way through the poles, out, and then ask him to back into them. Always ask for just one step at a time in the beginning. There's time for more and more speed later on.

Teaching this or any other skill on the ground before trying it under saddle will probably lead to good results even faster. Stay in the habit of practicing all your new skills slow and right, and then later when you ask for it to happen faster every now and then, you'll get a much nicer response.

Bonnie and her husband own Gemara Farm Foxtrotters located in Barnesville, Georgia. They currently have nine fox trotters of their own and practice natural horsemanship with them. Bonnie coaches others in natural horsemanship and enjoys the training as well as trail riding. There are usually some fox trotters available for sale. http://www.gemara.homestead.com

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Next, I'd Read:

Recommended articles featuring the methods of John Lyons:

• Slowing Your Horse
• Keys To Improvement
• Four Things You Need to Train Your Horse

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