10 Training Tips
January 12, 2010
Make the start of working with your young horses a successful one with these valuable tips from an experienced trainer.
Are you in search of some pointers to help you start working with your young horses?
Several short learning sessions each day with your horse are better than one long session, and patience is key. Photo from AQHA's "Fundamentals of Horsemanship."
Below are some horse training tips from AQHA Educational Marketing Alliance Partner Country Living Association.
- Wear a helmet; your safety is most important!
- Teach your young horse to go, whoa, back and plow rein before mounting.
- You can’t begin working with a horse too early in life, but be sensitive.
- Several short learning sessions each day are better than one long session.
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- Lavish praise speeds up the learning process by 60 percent.
- Always end each session on a good note, even if it means doing something very simple. It’s a win-win situation for you and the horse.
- Leaning over a horse from a fence or hay bale will prepare that horse for seeing you overhead, and then in the saddle, which can be a shock.
- Pay close attention to your horse’s diet.
- Teach your horses to lead properly.
- Learn the proper way to reprimand your horse, if necessary. Beginning with a “shhhhh” noise lets the horse know he is getting out of bounds.
Working with young horses requires its own set of rules. Their youth and inexperience needs attention and special instruction.
Contributed to CLA by Frank Bell
Most importantly, seek the advice of a qualified horse trainer through AQHA’s Professional Horsemen program or the Certified Horsemanship Association.
QuarterFest
The popular American Quarter Horse party known as QuarterFest is returning to Murfreesboro, Tennessee, in 2010, and tickets are now on sale. The Tennessee Miller Coliseum at Middle Tennessee State University will host QuarterFest April 30-May 2.
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3 Comments on “10 Training Tips”
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January 15th, 2010 at 9:53 am
I have a 3 yr. old Arabian, gelding. He is my first Arabian, and my first horse to train. He was a gift from my parents. For the past year (age 2) the vet told me not to work with him so he won’t get stressed and freaked out. So, now that he is 3 the vet said he is good to be worked with, but just recently I have taken him out of the pasture away from the other horses, he acted up (rearing, kicking, pawing, biting, etc.) so I corrected him and now he fears me. I guess I’m asking what do I need to do to be able to work with him and train him, but also let him know that the “big world” isn’t going to hurt him, and that he can trust me.
January 17th, 2010 at 1:31 pm
Griffin-I honestly cannot imagine what your vet meant by his statement,unless he meant in regards to putting too much stress on his growing body by trying to ride him too soon? The younger a horse is taught the fundamentals,the better. Naturally,you wouldn’t want to do anything that,since he is a growing and developing youngster,would physically or mentally overface him,but you can certainly do groundwork and teach him to lead,load in a trailer,be mannerly when clipped,etc. Most people “imprint” a baby as soon as he is born. I’m not certain how you “corrected” your horse and the sort of behavior you described is dangerous and certainly cannot be tolerated,but if you were a relative or friend of mine,I would suggest enlisting the help of a professional,the sooner,the better. For a first foray into “training”,a young horse can be overwhelming. The most important thing is that you stay safe and not get hurt and the second is that your horse not get hurt and get the best start in his career as a riding or driving horse as possible.
January 19th, 2010 at 6:08 am
Griffin maybe u should start working with him in the pasture and build a relationship with him (u can brush him, lead him and even teach him to lounge in the pasture)….then put all the horses is stalls if u have them and teach him in small sessions to go away from the other horses….eventually it will be no big deal to leave the other horses.Wear a helmet and if u have no experience in training horses…ask for help from someone who has.