Horse Training Fundamentals
August 12, 2011
AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb teaches the basics in groundwork, collection, shoulder control, sidepass and many other training techniques for horses of all ages and disciplines.
Whether you want to ride off into the sunset along a dusty trail or down the rail, there are some essential handles that you first need to have on your horse.
In this FREE report, Horse Training Fundamentals, AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb walks you through his process of how to train a horse.
Ken, a clinician and RFD-TV series host, was the featured colt-starter at AQHA’s 2010 QuarterFest. For Ken, building a strong relationship is crucial when training a horse.
“When I start working with any horse on the ground, I want to make sure that the horse develops a respect for who I am and sees me as qualified and trustworthy to lead in the relationship,” Ken says.
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In this six-part FREE report, you’ll learn:
- From the Ground Up: When Ken starts working with a horse, he first wants to make sure that the horse develops a respect for who he is and sees him as a qualified leader. For that to happen, the horse needs to know that Ken can cause the horse’s feet to move, and the simplest way to approach that is through groundwork.
- The First 30 Days: Whether it’s a colt that he has just started or an older horse in for a tune-up, there are a number of things that Ken reinforces during the first 30 days that he puts on a horse who is new to him. Among these homework items are softening to the bit, disengaging the hindquarters and stopping straight on two reins. Ken shows you how to properly accomplish each of these while training your horse.
- Obstacle or Opportunity: If you’re going out on trails – or even out on ranch work – it’s important to be able to cross obstacles, whether it’s a creek, a bridge or anything else that is scary from the horse’s point of view. Ken looks at things from his horse’s perspective and recognizes that the horse’s fears are real. His goal is to remove as much stress as possible and encourage the horse to try for him. Learn how Ken encourages his horse along every step down the trail.
- Calling for Collection: Ken stresses that being able to collect your horse is an important handle that every rider should have. If riders can collect their horse instantly, that means that they can stop their horses on a dime – and that might be what riders needs in the show pen or what keeps them safe out on the trails.
- Shoulder Control: Ken says that lateral control gives him the ability to put his horse’s body where he wants it when he needs it to be there. Shoulder control is useful in developing lead departures, creating rollbacks or spins and even simple things like opening and closing gates from horseback. Find out the different steps that Ken uses to achieve this control.
- The Sidepass: When Ken rides a horse, he wants to know that the horse is completely under control. One way he can test this is with a sidepass. If Ken can ask his horse to move right or left off his leg and keep the horse’s body straight, then he knows that he has developed control over all four corners of the horse’s body. But how do you perfect the sidepass? Ken says that teaching to sidepass is a gradual process and is a reiteration of the previous exercises.
In Horse Training Fundamentals, you’ll see that a strong foundation is key when training your horse, and you’ll learn exactly how to build this foundation with the help of AQHA Professional Horseman Ken McNabb.
“Once I have the sidepass working nicely, I know I have developed control over all four corners of my horse,” Ken says. “With that control, I’m ready to go tackle all kinds of other maneuvers. I’m ready to start developing a good spin. I’m ready to start working on haunches in, which will eventually lead to lead changes. All of a sudden, there’s a huge door that has been opened.”
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