Here are some training tips we've compiled
from working with our clients and their horses over
the years. Some of them are common sense, and
others may be new to you.
Know exactly what you want to teach the horse before you begin training it, and know exactly how to teach that task. It’s not fair to the horse if you are not clear and consistent.
Remember that a horse is a horse, not a person. You need to work to understand its point of view and cannot expect it to react with human logic.
Horses have pride and dignity, too. Don’t humiliate your horse, and remember to praise your horse often when it is behaving well.
Horses understand sounds, but not English. When you give your horse a command, remember to use the same tone of voice and the same way of speaking. Your horse does not understand the meaning of the words you use, but associates those sounds with tasks and skills you’ve trained it to have.
Bond with your horse. It not only makes the experience better for both of you but will help you understand your horse and work with it better, and vice versa.
Try to know what the horse will do before the horse does it. This goes alongside having a bond with your horse. This will allow you to anticipate and encourage good behaviors and prevent bad behaviors. This is often referred to as “reading” the horse.
Be patient.
Be patient. It’s not an accident that we included this twice on this list—it’s important enough that we want to mention it again.
Be kind. Know that when they make mistakes it’s more likely to be because of misunderstanding rather than malice or meanness or stupidity.
Your horse can’t ask questions. It can do the right thing or the wrong thing. If it doesn’t understand, it is likely to do the wrong thing. Errors of this nature should be responded to with kind guidance, not punishment.
Be consistent. For example, if you don’t want your horse to rush through a gate you should never let it rush through a gate. It’s not fair to the horse to allow a behavior sometimes and then correct or punish for that behavior at other times.
If you want respect from your horse, you must give respect to your horse. Do not act in anger.
Don’t nag your horse. If your horse doesn’t respond to a command after one or two tries then you need to adjust what you are doing, whether it’s to better explain to the horse what you want, encourage the horse with a reward, or find a way to discourage it.
End every training session on a positive note, even if it’s something very simple and basic and “old hat.” You want your horse’s last memory of a training session to be a happy one.
Know exactly what you want to teach the horse before you begin training it, and know exactly how to teach that task. It’s not fair to the horse if you are not clear and consistent.
Remember that a horse is a horse, not a person. You need to work to understand its point of view and cannot expect it to react with human logic.
Horses have pride and dignity, too. Don’t humiliate your horse, and remember to praise your horse often when it is behaving well.
Horses understand sounds, but not English. When you give your horse a command, remember to use the same tone of voice and the same way of speaking. Your horse does not understand the meaning of the words you use, but associates those sounds with tasks and skills you’ve trained it to have.
Bond with your horse. It not only makes the experience better for both of you but will help you understand your horse and work with it better, and vice versa.
Try to know what the horse will do before the horse does it. This goes alongside having a bond with your horse. This will allow you to anticipate and encourage good behaviors and prevent bad behaviors. This is often referred to as “reading” the horse.
Be patient.
Be patient. It’s not an accident that we included this twice on this list—it’s important enough that we want to mention it again.
Be kind. Know that when they make mistakes it’s more likely to be because of misunderstanding rather than malice or meanness or stupidity.
Your horse can’t ask questions. It can do the right thing or the wrong thing. If it doesn’t understand, it is likely to do the wrong thing. Errors of this nature should be responded to with kind guidance, not punishment.
Be consistent. For example, if you don’t want your horse to rush through a gate you should never let it rush through a gate. It’s not fair to the horse to allow a behavior sometimes and then correct or punish for that behavior at other times.
If you want respect from your horse, you must give respect to your horse. Do not act in anger.
Don’t nag your horse. If your horse doesn’t respond to a command after one or two tries then you need to adjust what you are doing, whether it’s to better explain to the horse what you want, encourage the horse with a reward, or find a way to discourage it.
End every training session on a positive note, even if it’s something very simple and basic and “old hat.” You want your horse’s last memory of a training session to be a happy one.