Articles & Tips
Training a horse is like dressing your kid in Garanimals. It's mix and match so you'll find lots of articles listed in multiple categories below.
Remember, a carpenter can use the same hammer and saw to build a penthouse, dog house, or outhouse. You should use the same simple principle here. If your horse isn't doing something you want it to do, ask yourself two things: "What body part do I need to control?" and "What cue is my horse ignoring?" The cue to stop? To go faster? To drop it's head? A horse that's rearing won't drop it's head on command. A horse that won't turn needs to learn "shoulder control." If you've got a horse that moves too fast, you can teach it to slow by gaining control over the hips (the driving force behind all that power).
Ask yourself those two questions. Use that understanding to chart your course, using the articles listed below - in order or a la carte - to build your "dream horse."
Remember, a carpenter can use the same hammer and saw to build a penthouse, dog house, or outhouse. You should use the same simple principle here. If your horse isn't doing something you want it to do, ask yourself two things: "What body part do I need to control?" and "What cue is my horse ignoring?" The cue to stop? To go faster? To drop it's head? A horse that's rearing won't drop it's head on command. A horse that won't turn needs to learn "shoulder control." If you've got a horse that moves too fast, you can teach it to slow by gaining control over the hips (the driving force behind all that power).
Ask yourself those two questions. Use that understanding to chart your course, using the articles listed below - in order or a la carte - to build your "dream horse."
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Need a little more guidance?
Training plans for each stage of your horse's life:
If you're feeling overwhelmed by the sheer number of training articles you find online or you're confused by conflicting advice offered up by friends at the barn... If you don't even know where to begin... Then might I suggest the following?
- To train a foal (there's lots of time before it can be ridden - here's what to do in the meantime): Get "Your Foal."
- To start a colt, begin with round pen training. See my book (it's brilliant), "Round Penning: First Steps to Starting a Horse."
- After the roundpen, it's time to break your colt to carry you and a saddle. Get "How to Start a Horse: Bridling to First Ride."
- If your horse was saddled and ridden for the first time today, then tomorrow you need to turn to my basic training book called "What I'd Teach Your Horse." Not only will you find all the how-to you need to take a horse from "barely broke" to "broke," but it'll show you exactly what to do - and in what order. You can see a sample - and even listen to an entire chapter - by following the following links:
