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Training: Western
Why You Need Good Hands
Any horse's performance is directly related to how far he moves,
how fast he responds, and how little pressure it takes from his rider giving a
specific cue to get him to respond. In this article, we'll focus on the rein
cue. You'll work on getting your horse lighter and more responsive to... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Stop Balky Behavior
Q: I'm 13 years old and own a 7-year-old Quarter Horse gelding named
Louie. My grandmother bought him for me last April. Louie is now in a pasture
with five cows. When I first started riding him, I could ride anywhere. Now,
when I want to ride in the field, he stands still, then backs up,... | read »
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Training: Western
Riding Like Clockwork
The clockwork exercise you'll encounter here will take the
previous training steps to the next level as you teach your horse to move his
shoulder in any direction you cue him to move. It might help to think of this
maneuver as "shoulder reining" rather than "neck reining." You'll still use... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Mount Up!
If your horse walks off as you're trying to get on, chances are,
you've taught him this frustrating behavior. If you've ever allowed your horse
to start walking without a cue and as soon as your pockets hit the saddle,
you've taught him that the cue to walk is you sitting on his back.
As... | read »
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Training: Western
Pressure, Then Reward
A woman cut her bacon in half before she put it into a big frying
pan. She was asked why she did it that way. Did the middles cook differently if
the pieces were shorter?
She shrugged. "That's how my mother did it."
Her mother gave exactly the same response. "That's how my
mother did it."... | read »
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Training: Western
All Good Training Begins Here
The most important thing we may ever do with our horses is to
take a fresh, unbiased look at them. Then, because our horses become our
mirrors, we need to take another truly honest look at ourselves.
We're told that horses are stupid or stubborn. We're told that
they're hard to train.... | read »
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Training: Western
The Groundwork Waltz
Since riding is your goal, let's practice some groundwork
steps that apply directly to your riding. You'll focus on moving one spot at a
time in a specific direction, then you can observe how this action affects your
horse's performance, or what your horse does as a result of moving that one... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Nip Biting in the Bud
Q: My 3-year-old Quarter Horse gelding has been started well on the
ground and under saddle. But he nips at me at times and has actually bitten me
on my arm twice. I do hand feed him treats, and he does get mouthy, looking for
a treat when I'm leading him. What do you suggest to correct this... | read »
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Training: Western
from the pages of Trail Rider
Ground-Tied and Respectful
Whether you're on your horse's back or dismounted to clear a path,
check a hoof, grab lunch, or help a trail buddy, it's important that your horse
knows he must follow your directions. If you ask him to stand still, he should
stay put without continuous prompting. To accomplish this goal,... | read »
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Training: Western
Tie-To Choices for your Horse
Imagine your horse tied by his reins to the top fence board at
your neighbor's farm. You rode over for a visit and are only planning to step
into her house for a quick glass of tea. You figure your horse will be fine for
the 10 minutes you're there. Suddenly, a gust of wind blows, and from... | read »
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| Bonding Exercises |
| Question: I have a 7-year-old grade-horse gelding that’s very receptive to training. I'm aware of the importance of bonding — that is, building mutual respect and trust to create a positive relationship. I was wondering whether you could suggest some specific exercises... | read |
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