Scared horses understood
Chapter Three Working with scared horses Horses who have learned to view human contact with terror are relatively easy to reach with a patient, consistent, and confident approach. It takes time, but teaching these over-reactive mounts to calm down and gain courage is certainly doable if the handler offers assurance through kind, safe, and steady […]
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses Into Willing Partners
Most of the prior book excerpts featured on this blog were culled from Section Three, Tips from the Trenches. These snipets spotlighted perspectives, tips and stories from a variety of trainers from a diverse array of disciplines. In the coming weeks, we’ll feature the stories of real horses and how challenges were met and resolved […]
What you’ll find in Turning Challenging Horses Into Willing Partners
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Table of Contents Glossary Section I: Starting from a position of knowledge Chapter 1: The Challenge Chapter 2: Identifying the root of the challenge Section II: Developing a work plan Chapter 3: Working with scared horses Chapter 4: Turning mean to green […]
Preface to first Horse Sense and Cents book title
This is a sneak peak excerpt from the first title of the Horse Sense and Cents series title, Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners, due for public release in February, 2010. PREFACE There’s something to be said for learning from the wisdom — and mistakes — forged by others before you. The Horse Sense and […]
Fleur Bryan offers colorful Irish perspective
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Handling the crazies “I spend a lot of time bonding with any horse, but especially one that has been started badly. I’ve had some that are so messed up you can’t even catch them in the stall. I’ll stand in the corner […]
Finding and making Grand Prix jumpers
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Hunter Challenge “Some show hunters are better if they never see the ring. Others won’t jump the third fence if they don’t get in and hack around. Both can be winners. The one that’s the innate jumper, the one that likes to […]
Claire Hunter’s Quick Tools and Tips
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Long lining: “Long lining is an amazing tool that I use with every horse that comes through my program.” Round pen: “I use a round pen occasionally when I have a horse come in that has respect issues and needs to learn […]
Horse Training tips from Kathy O’Neal’s down home perspective
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Defusing fear: Kathy notes she’s been trying to “engage horses’ brains more lately” by doing something as simple as walking over poles, or by rubbing them with a sack full of noisy items. “This makes horses think twice about running when they […]
Robert Fera on stallion training and management
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release winter, 2010 Editor’s note: Robert is currently working on the upcoming Horse Sense and Cents™ title, Bringing Up Baby. Look for future blog posts that invite you to view this work in progress and provide input on content direction. Dominance to the Extreme “I […]
Horse training seen through the mature eyes of young Kels Bonham
Excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners due for release February, 2010 What Problem? “I haven’t really considered any of the horses we’ve gotten to be a problem,” Kels explains. “I’ve never had one that’s been vicious, a terrible stopper, or hard to control. I might have had minor issues to address like sourness, […]