Horse training can be a relatively mysterious subject to people who have not studied it. Even more mysterious is a behavioral problem a horse has that causes his owner stress and frustration.
What many horse owners don't understand is often the handler, not the horse, is causing the problem.
That being said, that is the first consideration in unscrambling the horse's ill behavior.
For instance, a common problem riders have is a horse being spooky. In layman's terms, that means a horse is nervous and afraid something is going to "get him". Thus, whenever the horse and owner go for a ride it's not usually a relaxing moment.
As a matter of fact, both horse and rider are on edge.
So if we take the premise that the rider is causing the horse to spook, then we must ask, "How is the rider causing this."
An uninformed rider may not be aware that perhaps he is sitting tensely in the saddle. Also, maybe he's stiff as a board and has a white-knuckle hold on the reins.
Believe it or not, the horse can sense and feel this tense. When the horse is in the habit of feeling it then the horse's spookiness is also the rider's.
Picture it like this. Two deathly scared kids are walking home at night. They both hear sounds and see things. One kid thinks he saw something and nervously asks, "D-d-d-did you see that?" Seconds later the other kid hears something and cries, "D-d-did you h-h-hear that?" Together they intensify each other's fears and their anxiety grows leaps and bounds.
So it is with the rider and horse. Maybe not to that extent, but still it happens.
And since the rider is human and capable of reasoning, then he or she must be the one to interrupt the pattern of behavior. The rider must loosen up while in the saddle. Relax. Have fun. Learn to watch the horse's signals that he has spotted something - and then talk to the horse and start giving him confidence.
Soon, the horse's demeanor will change and the result will be a more relaxed, fun to ride horse.
Whether the rider realizes it or not, he or she is training the horse by just riding. The horse simply reacts to the stimuli he gets. If the stimuli is consistent, the horse's reaction will become a habit until changed. If the stimuli is tense, causes fear reactions, and so on, the result is a spooky horse.
This is but one example of how us humans can actually be the reason the horse does or does not do something we ask of him. Although it's true that the rider is not the cause 100% of the time, it's a good place to start untangling the problem because it's often where it begins.
About The Author
Andy Curry is a nationally known horse trainer and author of several best selling horse training and horse care books. For information visit his website at www.horsetrainingandtips.com. He is also the leading expert on Jesse Beery's horse training methods which can be seen at www.horsetrainingandtips.com/Jesse_Beerya.htm.
PARLOT::Ebooks, Scripts,
Websites, and more... What happens when we die? In our society, death is... Read More You love your dog. You would do anything for your... Read More I was talking to a friend of mine today and... Read More There is nothing more adorable than a new puppy. Large... Read More Almost all communities in the U.S. require at least one... Read More Dogs and children are a perfect fit. They are what... Read More Even if you have the perfect first aid kit for... Read More I'm sure you're aware of the bad reputation Pitbulls have.... Read More Everybody loves a baby animal and Westie puppies are adorable,... Read More Mistake #1:"Here, Kitty Kitty..."Unless they have been educated, new horse... Read More Lovebirds are so named from the way they sit close... Read More If you take a quick look at this species they... Read More Playing reinforces the bond between you and your cat.Playing with... Read More Puppy crate training is one of the most effective ways... Read More In horse training or natural horsemanship, Approach is nothing more... Read More Dog Training CollarsHaving a pet means having to provide for... Read More Pets provide an unconditional love that requires very little on... Read More Fleas have plagued dogs, cats, and their owners since time... Read More Incredible advances in veterinary medicine are making it possible for... Read More If you are thinking of adding a dog to your... Read More Shy dogs are more common than most people think, but... Read More Are there so many great dog breeds out there that... Read More Dog training can provide a tremendous amount of satisfaction. Every... Read More Preparing yourself and your household before, during, and after your... Read More Author of Keep Fleas OffStill using all the chemicals you... Read More
Adsense
websites
Animal Deathing
Is Your House Killing Your Dog?
Putting A Dog To Sleep
Clicker Training For Dogs: Positive Reinforcement Training
Dog Vaccinations - What You Need to Know to Protect Your Dog
Dogs and Children ? What Parents Need to Know to Prevent Dog Bites
The Need for Pet First Aid Kits
You Dont Get a Second Chance!
Westies Dogs ? Please Consider Adopting an Older Westie Dog
Do You Make These Mistakes Loading Your Horse Into A Trailer?
A Beginners Guide to Lovebirds
Keeping Gars - A Short Review
7 Good Reasons for Playing With Your Cat
Puppy Crate Training -- Fast Track to a Contented Dog
Approach: The Third of 6 Keys To Building A Life Long Partnership With Your Horse
Dog Training Collars: Teaching Your Dog Basic Obedience and Breaking Bad Habits
My Dog Died !
Old Fashioned Flea Control
How to Ensure that Your Cat is Healthy and Lives a Long and Happy Life
Practical Advice for Adopting a Dog
Dog Behavior Training: Methods of Working with a Shy Dog
Seeing Past Cuteness When Selecting the Best Dog Breed For You: Part 2 of 3
Positive Dog Training Methods
Preparing For Your New Dog - What You Need to Know Before He Comes Home
Got Fleas?
As I listen on my long drive to my grandpa's... Read More
Before you decide to give your dog canine arthritis medicine... Read More
If you love dogs and you enjoy making money then... Read More
Your mind-set, approach and way of thinking (beliefs) are critical... Read More
IntroductionA long time ago, before evolution turned the primate into... Read More
Puppies have a natural instinct inside that causes them to... Read More
Pug puppies make wonderful pets. Pugs are very affectionate and... Read More
MuttShack Foundation for Animal Foster and Rescue, claim that dogs... Read More
If you are considering opening a dog day care, then... Read More
Anyone wanting a new kitten should be a cat lover.... Read More
A pet can be as important a member of the... Read More
Vitamins for Pets - How Essential Are They?A vitamin supplement... Read More
Can Your Dog Stomach This?There's an old adage that says... Read More
Training your dog to obey commands is an important part... Read More
The most common dog problems:Dog Owner's commonly ask me the... Read More
Dog grooming is relatively simple for most dogs. I have... Read More
Stingrays will eat a wide variety of foods. Maintaining a... Read More
Buying a purebred dog is not something that should be... Read More
Some Dogs like Boxers unfortunately, are prone to several potential... Read More
"Dogs are our link to paradise. They don't know evil... Read More
How many times have I hear fellow dog owners say,... Read More
So, you've got yourself a pregnant cat.Was it a stray... Read More
A major part of a horse's diet is hay or... Read More
Flea control can be a very hard thing to do... Read More
The wearing of charms dates back to 400 or 500... Read More
Pet |