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Welcome to the June 2008 issue of "Lyons Training 101," written by John Lyons Certified Trainer Keith Hosman.
Want easy steps to teach neck reining? How about learning the first steps to a reining spin?
Does your young horse struggle with its balance, tipping into turns like the proverbial drunken sailor? Or does he stay fluid, upright and confident, turning from left to right like a tuned sports car?
This month's featured article "How to Teach a Horse to Pivot on Its Hindquarters" is a step-by-step guide to the "Reverse Arc Circle," the starting point for neck reining, spins and greatly improved balance.
You'll find the article sampled below. To read it in its entirety, simply follow the link provided. If the links don't work or you're not getting the emails properly, scroll to the bottom of this page.
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How are you going to train your new baby? We don't train babies the same as we do adults. It's very similar - you go through similar motions - but babies are fragile and have their own set of rules.
Check out the following books and videos:
- Early Learning (imprinting, DVD)
- Foal Handling (ground manners, DVD)
- Bringing Up Baby (20-lesson workbook, a classic)
- Foaling Fundamentals (prep for the novice, DVD)
- Foaling Primer (birth to weaning, book)
Want my recommendations? "Bringing Up Baby" and the "Foaling Primer" are the books you'll refer to time and time again - usually at 3am when nobody else can tell you why your horse is doing this, when to expect that - and what the heck it all means. You waited 11 months for the baby - you'll want good advice when it arrives!
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Remember, previous issues can be found 24/7 at Horsemanship101.com/Articles. Most can be printed out and saved for reference later.
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Jump directly to the full article: "How to Teach a Horse to Pivot on Its Hindquarters"
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Questions answered in this article: How do I teach my horse to pivot or turn on its rear legs? How do I teach my horse to do a reverse-arc circle? How do I (begin teaching) neck reining? How do I (begin teaching) a reining spin? How do I improve my horse's steering and balance? How do I (begin teaching) a horse to move its shoulders?
You teach your horse to pivot (turn) on it's hindquarters one (or both) of two ways: by concentrating on moving a foot or by concentrating on moving a shoulder. The mechanics are simple for both, really: focus on a body part, make it move. Both methods have the same challenge: The horse must stay soft (relaxed) and moving forward. You'll pay more attention to the shoulders when teaching movements like a reining spin; you'll focus more on the feet when teaching "steps," such as sidepassing. In a general sense, it really doesn't matter which route you take to teach your horse to pivot on its rear legs – and in the real world, you'll undoubtedly use "a little bit of everything" by the time you're horse is finished. We'll discuss primarily shoulders in this article. To learn how to place feet onto specific spots, study and practice the Clockwork Exercise. (The Clockwork Exercise is also excellent to teach the back up, backing at an angle, diagonals, sidepassing and the like.)
As you read this, be thinking of how you would use the steps to teach related movements: neck reining, spins, shoulder control in general or how to improve things like your steering. Becoming a better horse trainer is simply a matter of building (and carrying in your head) a more robust set of horse-training tools. Think of each simple concept as a "widget." Collect enough widgets and assemble them into whatever suits your fancy: a horse that spins, a horse that steers more easily, a horse that moves away from a fence before crushing your knee and so on....
keep reading this article
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"Round Pen: First Steps"
- Spook In Place, Pick Up Feet
- Come To You, Sacking Out
- Bonus: Trailer Training Using a Round Pen
- Print from home in 2 minutes, be training in 5!
Find out more
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Now Get Any Two: Rein In Your Speed, Stop Bucking, Round Penning, or Trailer Training
- Get one for $4.99 or
- Get 2 FOR NOTHING!
- Print out in 2 minutes, be training in 5!
Find out more
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If you're having trouble with links and want to continue reading today's edition, you'll find all issues listed here:
http://www.horsemanship101.com/Newsletter
Just cut and paste that into your browser window.
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If you're using IE7 and links don't work in your emails from anybody anymore, try this: Start up Internet Explorer and click Tools > Internet Options > Programs > Reset Web Settings
That has worked for most folks. You can also try this page for further suggestions:
http://www.horsemanship101.com/
John-Lyons-Trainer-Clinics/technical2.html
You'll need to cut and paste that address into your browser window. Make sure to include both lines of that URL with no spaces.
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If some of our emails reach you and some don't, here are some suggestions.
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Trailer Savings!
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Find a trailer selling near you at great prices on eBay. See my new site:
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John Lyons Reins
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- Get the same reins we use in our clinics for $41.99
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Get the bit John recommends $38.99 |
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Training by Topic
Find answers fast:
- rider confidence
- young horses
- trail riding
- bucking, rearing
- tying/pulling back
see 300 more topics |
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Wanna Teach Trailer Loading?
My Downloadable Book "Trailer Training" can help!
Here's a sample
from Day One:
"Is this you? On a good day your horse will get in the trailer after a few minutes of cajoling. More often than not, it's about fifteen. Today you're headed to a riding club event and the group leaves at 10am sharp. You're running a bit late, but as you lead your horse to the trailer, you're figuring you'll make it fine if the horse is having a "good-to-medium day." If he loads by 9:15; you can drive the speed limit and stop for coffee. If not, you gotta do 80 – past Starbucks. You "like" your horse at this point. Problem is, your horse has gotten up on the wrong side of the manger and he's thinking "I'll die first and take you with me." Insert your own worst nightmare here. Forty minutes later you're thinking things like "It's just a stupid trailer," "I'll drag your butt in" and "Your (expletive deleted) mother was the same way."
Horses either get in smoothly or they balk. If your horse balks, he doesn’t load. Period. Trained horses simply walk into the trailer. Not after 10 minutes of begging. They just walk in. That's lesson one and our ultimate goal. If your horse has become a hard-luck case then it's going to take time, consistency and work from you to get this straight – but you will. The good news is...
To read more, see this page
5 days, just $4.99
Also available:
"Stop Bucking"
"Rein In/Speed"
"Round Pen"
Get more info
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