What is horse training?

Horse training is simply being able to communicate with and instruct a horse.  This can take place using any number of methods.  In recent years, we, the horse loving public, have become more aware of gentler and more humane methods of training.  I say recent years, though, this is, in fact, in error.  These "new" methods have been around for many years.  Various methods have been around for as long as 2 millennia. Some early writings that we have are from Xenophon, from the 4th century B.C.  So, these methods aren't really new, we have just brought some of these old ideas to a new light.

There are many different methods of training horses. One method that might work really well for a certain horse might not work well at all for another horse. The study of one type of training should not exclude other types of training. While not all methods are going to be right for one horse, this does not mean that only one method should be considered.

I teach and study both Western and English styles of riding.  Both styles appeal to me and I study and practice both methods.  Both disciplines should be studied to understand more about how to train our horses.

Horse training is not the act of making the horse do something; it is the act of training the rider to communicate in a way the horse understands. It must be understood that no matter how hard the rider works, it is the horse that must, in the end, perform the movements. From this comprehensible type of communication comes a bond or an understanding between horse and rider. This does not mean that we and the horse are equal, but we, as riders and trainers, become, in a sense, benevolent dictators. We are calling the shots; telling the horse where to go, and, if the horse learns and listens, all pressure is released and he is able to relax.

Experts

If you watch any good rider or trainer work with a horse, whatever he or she is doing will likely look easy. They can make it look easy because they have spent years, if not decades, perfecting their techniques and honing their skills. This innate ability to teach a horse is not something that shows up over night. It can be learned, but only by practice and repetition. Then, those skills begin to become instinct and, to us, it comes to look like magic.

Do not be discouraged if you can't do it as quickly or as easily as the experts. Continue practicing and eventually, you will have your friends thinking that what you do is magic. Like with any skill, it takes time and hard work to perfect and more time and hard work to make it look easy. Don't give up hope, just keep at it.

Gaited Horse Training

I train gaited horses to gait without your having to pull on the bit or get their head set.  I train them to gait on a loose rein.  As a result, they are nicer to ride and still have the super smooth gait that comes with the breed.  Teaching it this way sometimes takes longer though, but in the end, it is certainly worth it for the fun of not having to pull on the reins all the time!