| Is your horse comfortable with you on his right side? | | | | he remains calm then proceed to rub him along his |
| Can you mount from either side with your horse | | | | back, up his neck, and on the side and top of his |
| standing quietly? Can you lead him from either side? Is | | | | haunches *use caution anytime you are close to the |
| he comfortable with new things approaching him from | | | | hind end, remember any horse has to potential to kick*. |
| his right side? Even if he is comfortable with almost | | | | If he remains calm with you touching him with the item |
| everything on his right side, you still need to practice all | | | | on his left side, then proceed to his right side. Again let |
| of your training exercises both sides. This way he | | | | him see the item and smell it. Then you can proceed to |
| maintains his confidence level and his trust in your | | | | touch his shoulder area with the item. If he remains |
| relationship. | | | | calm you can proceed to rub him along his back, up his |
| If your horse is not comfortable with one or more of | | | | neck, on the side and top of his haunches *use caution |
| the above mentioned exercises, then you need to | | | | anytime you are close to the hind end, remember any |
| raise both his level of confidence and trust in you. I will | | | | horse has to potential to kick*. Add plenty of praise for |
| give you some exercises that you can use to raise | | | | any positive behavior. |
| your horse's confidence level, starting with ground | | | | Lets increase the level of difficulty and add another |
| work. Since groundwork is the foundation for all training | | | | item, one that is "scarier" that the last object. For |
| that is where we will start. By building his confidence | | | | example lets add the Pringles can that contains rocks. |
| on the ground you carry that same level of confidence | | | | This is not a common object that we encounter in |
| into the saddle. | | | | riding, so it may cause your horse to be anxious |
| First off, start your work session like any other session. | | | | especially because it makes strange sounds. |
| I recommend lunging or free lunging your horse for | | | | Start again by allowing your horse to see the object |
| about 10-15 minutes prior to starting a work session. | | | | and smell it. After he has done this and is relaxed, |
| This will allow you to read your horse and assess his | | | | shake it lightly and add some noise. If your horse |
| mental attitude. | | | | backs up or tries to leave, stop the noise, and calmly |
| Now that you have lunged your horse it is time for the | | | | let him to see the can again. Allow him to see that the |
| work session. | | | | can will NOT eat him. Once his excitement level has |
| Suggested list of items you can use for the work | | | | come back down, let him sniff the can again. Then |
| session: | | | | proceed to make the light shaking noise again. If he is |
| cotton balls | | | | calm with the noise you can try touching it to his left |
| Pringles can (or other container to add rocks or | | | | shoulder. Start by touching him on his shoulder area. If |
| other noisy items to) | | | | he remains calm you can proceed to rub him along his |
| western saddle blanket/ large bath towel | | | | back, up his neck, on the side and top of his haunches |
| "carrot" stick or short lunge whip | | | | *use caution anytime you are close to the hind end, |
| plastic grocery bag (to tie to "carrot stick"/ short | | | | remember any horse has to potential to kick*. If he |
| whip) | | | | remains calm with you touching him with the item on |
| tarp | | | | his left side, then proceed to his right side. Again let him |
| umbrella | | | | see the item and smell it. Then you can proceed to |
| hula hoops | | | | touch his shoulder area with the item. If he remains |
| paper cups | | | | calm you can rub him along his back, up his neck, on |
| large ball (like an exercise ball) | | | | the side and top of his haunches *use caution anytime |
| party streamers | | | | you are close to the hind end, remember any horse |
| any other item that may raise your horses level of | | | | has to potential to kick*. Add plenty of praise for any |
| excitement | | | | positive behavior. |
| The above list is just to get you started. Be creative | | | | It could take over 500 repetitions of the same boring |
| and incorporate other items that could cause your | | | | exercise with the same object. You could stand in the |
| horse to become nervous or anxious. Please keep | | | | arena for 45 minutes every day for the next 3 weeks |
| SAFETY in mind when introducing new items, if you | | | | until your horse has enough confidence and trust in you |
| do NOT think that it will be safe then do NOT use it. | | | | to allow you to touch him with a "scary" object/ item. |
| The purpose of this exercise is to raise your horse's | | | | Do NOT LET THIS DISCOURAGE you. |
| level of confidence as well as build a stronger | | | | The best training is BORING to watch. Horses learn |
| relationship. You need to introduce items that you | | | | through consistency and boring repetition. Training |
| know can make your horse nervous. However, as the | | | | should not have your horse bouncing off the walls and |
| exercise becomes a routine he will gradually lose his | | | | hanging from the rafters. These are signs that your |
| nervousness with an item and his confidence will | | | | horse does not understand what is being asked of him |
| improve. Pretty soon you will have a very confident | | | | and that it is causing him to be fearful. You cannot build |
| horse that is not bothered by "scary" things. | | | | a relationship on trust if there is fear present. |
| To start this you will need your horse to have a halter | | | | Every horse will set his own pace with training. Some |
| and a lead, with the lead attached. Now you want to | | | | will progress faster while others take soooo long that |
| introduce an item off the list (or one that you came up | | | | you want to quit. The end result will be a horse that is |
| with). The first item that I would introduce would be a | | | | completely confident in his relationship with you as well |
| smaller item, or one that would cause the LEAST | | | | as having complete trust in you. The bond you will |
| amount of excitement. This is meant to build trust not | | | | solidify will be unbreakable. |
| force trust. | | | | Have a wonderful holiday season, and always send |
| To introduce a new item, go ahead and pick it up (I like | | | | me any questions that you may have. |
| to have all of the items ready to grab in the arena with | | | | Editor's Note: Based in Sugar Grove IL, Sara McKiness |
| me, usually laying on the ground in the middle). Show it | | | | is a Certified Horse Trainer who helps riders improve |
| to your horse and let him look at it and sniff if for a | | | | their communication with horses without punishment. |
| minute or so. When he is relaxed and not excited you | | | | She graduated valedictorian from Meredith Manor |
| can take the item and touch it to your horse. I like to | | | | International Equestrian Center (MMIEC) where she |
| start on the left side, since this is usually the side that | | | | majored in teaching and training, and minored in Farrier |
| most riders and horses are at their highest level of | | | | Science. |
| comfort. Start by touching him on his shoulder area. If | | | | |