Cause and Effect in Horse Training

We all know that if you cause a horse to doproblem.
something then you will get a certain effect. What a lotThe horse learned he can pull his foot away and he
of people don't understand is how much effect theydoesn't have to hold it up for anyone. So, instead as
actually have on a horse. The reality is that everyyou hold the foot, don't let him have it back until he has
second that you are with your horse you are trainingsoftened and settled down. When he quits pulling it
him even if you're unaware of it. It is not uncommonaway and is calm with it, then carefully set his foot
for people to try to do something with their horse anddown. This teaches the horse that you are not out to
actually teach it something completely different, orhurt him and so develops trust and confidence.
something they do not want him to do.In reality it is the little things that tend to escalate and
A common example s trying to teach a horse to pickget you into trouble. The littlest thing can cause big
up its feet. All to often as you get a foot up he willtroubles for you if you don't know the cause that
fight you with it. Now lets say as he fights you bycreated the effect. Another example is a horse that
attempting to pull it away, you unintentionally let go.moves forward towards you after you have put him in
What happens is that at that moment you have taughta spot to stand. Initially most people would bump the
the horse something. That is that he can pull his foothorse backwards in an attempt to rectify this issue,
away from you if you try to hold it. And so if thisand this is correct. However, most forget to place the
continues to happen too many times then you have ahorse back in the original position.