| WHERE you practice your horse trick training can | | | | paddock; but only if they are free to come and go (no |
| have a big impact on how quickly your horse learns | | | | halter or lead rope etc). This allows them to get away |
| new tricks. If you train your horse in an area where | | | | from the new object (their natural reaction) and then |
| they are relaxed and comfortable they will learn much | | | | come back to it on their own terms. I will stand near |
| quicker and retain more of what you teach them. | | | | the object and quietly tell them it is all right and |
| Focus is very important when trick training your horse | | | | encourage them to come over and check it out. If you |
| To really get the most out of your trick training | | | | introduce something new in this way you will find your |
| sessions your horse needs to be focused on you and | | | | horse will accept it much quicker and as long as they |
| what you are trying to teach them. The worst place to | | | | are never hurt by the object, they will become braver |
| teach your horse tricks is in an area where they are | | | | when you introduce other objects. |
| unsure and constantly looking around. A horse that is | | | | For example I bought a large exercise ball that I |
| nervous and worried has very little ability to learn new | | | | eventually wanted to teach my horses to retrieve and |
| things. All their attention is focused on what is going on | | | | push around, so I took it out into their paddock. I started |
| around them and not on you. | | | | to roll it around and very quickly the horses were over |
| Trick training areas - make them familiar | | | | to check it out. They would get close to it then snort |
| Try and practice your trick training in an area familiar to | | | | and run away, but they would soon return, each time |
| your horse. I use a small yard that serves as my | | | | getting more and more confident and closer to the ball. |
| training area and is also the area I feed my horse. He | | | | Eventually they were pushing it around and having |
| is very comfortable and relaxed in this area. He is in | | | | great fun with it. It wasn't so frightening because they |
| the right frame of mind and he is focused on what I | | | | could get away from it and then check it out on their |
| am teaching him - he isn't worried about his | | | | own terms. Now when I come to incorporating the ball |
| surroundings. Once my horse is completely | | | | into my trick training they will be happy to get close to |
| accomplished at doing a particular trick I will then | | | | it and push it around. |
| practice in other areas. | | | | The best place to teach your horse new tricks is an |
| Introducing new horse trick training equipment | | | | area that you use already, where your horse feels |
| I find my horses are also happier to accept new | | | | relaxed and comfortable. Because they will be in the |
| objects, such as trick training equipment, if they are in | | | | right state of mind you will find that your horse will |
| an area that they know and are relaxed in. Sometimes | | | | retain a lot more of what you teach them and it will be |
| I will introduce new things into my horses larger | | | | a lot easier to teach them each new trick. |