Young horse training – am I nuts?
As I’ve matured (and this can be very good thing), I’ve started to question the wisdom of risking my neck (and other body parts) starting young horses under saddle. It was a lot easier when a spill had me bouncing off the ground in a nanosecond through a practically seamless move that had me back […]
Spooky Horse? Desensitization isn’t the lasting cure.
While instinct, bloodlines and breed will cause some horses to be naturally spookier than others, most of the horses that come into Halcyon Acres are jumpy and jittery due to angst. They’ve been asked for too much too soon, handled with impatience and intolerance, not encouraged to develop self-confidence or handled by a frightened person.
Fifteen tips for starting young horses
Whether you are a novice or professional, there’s a lot the horse you are working with can teach you about communications. Keep it safe, fun, engaging and interesting for both of you and you’ll be amazed at how much more effective short and collaborative lessons can be than long sessions you dictate alone.
Horse Sense for encouraging a timid equine
Sneak Peak excerpt from Turning Challenging Horses into Willing Partners, due for official publication in spring, 2010 • The round pen provides the close quarters to begin to develop a rapport and trust with a timid horse. Here, you can establish some basic body language cues supported with voice commands to present yourself as a […]