Equestrian Clinics

Once you understand how a horse thinks, you can start to influence its actions. At this point, they will do what you want out of trust and respect, and the knowledge you are acting in their best interest, and not acting out of fear or intimidation. Establishing respect first starts on the ground. There are two type of exercises you need to do with your horse:

Sensitizing and Desensitizing:

Sensitizing involves getting a horse to yield and move off of pressure. Desensitizing involves keeping them from spooking, bolting, etc.

When it comes to earning respect with a horse and with humans, we have to find a balance. My rule of thumb in developing respect with horses is you have to be as easy as possible and as firm as necessary. You have to do just enough to get the desired result.

Why is it so important to gain the horses respect? If you don't have respect, everything you say or teach goes in one ear and out the other. Respect is what keeps their attention on you and the information in their minds.

When it comes to horses, you either have their respect or you don't... period.

So, how do we go about earning respect of a horse? It starts with understanding their language and the rules that govern their world in the herd. In the herd, it all starts with movement. Get your horse to move forwards, backwards, left or right and always reward at the slightest attempt to do what you have asked.

Anytime you get a horse to move out of your personal space, you have established respect. You have to envision a 4 ft. circle around you that the horse is not allowed to come into unless asked. The most common injuries are caused from a horse being in your personal space. Kicked Bitten Ran over Struck All of this could be avoided if the horse respected your space. When an alpha horse is eating and a submissive horse approaches, he learns very quickly to stay away,out of the personal space of the alpha. These are the rules that govern the horse. It is not mean or intimidating behavior, it is how they communicate.

Horse Lunge Training For Respect Exercise #1:

We have to continually reinforce to our horse that we are in charge. In the beginning, many horses feel they are the boss, they are in charge. In reality, horses are the worst negotiators in the world, they always tell what's going on in their mind. How do we know when they are communicating? They lick their lips. This tells us they are willing to listen and are digesting what you have communicated to them.

When most people attempt horse lunge training... they chase the horse around, moving the hindquarters in a circle, and the horse ends up lunging you! If you are breathing harder than your horse, you may need to reevaluate your method of lunging.

Here is what you will need for your horse lunge training exercises:

- A 15 ft. rope and halter (preferably a rope halter) 
- A 3-5 ft lunge whip(used exclusively as an extension of your hand for safety and driving purposes) 
- A pair of gloves to protect your hands.

Our goal is simple: First= Direction Second= Action.

1. Point with your arm holding the lead rope in the direction your want the horse to go and look where you want the horse to go. 2. Apply a clucking sound as your verbal cue. 3. With your opposite hand, use your lunge whip to gently apply pressure by using a circular motion, pointing towards the hindquarters of the horse. Increase the pressure of the whip until the horse moves away from the pressure. 4. Immediately RELEASE the pressure as soon as the horse moves.

Horse Lunge Training For Respect Exercise #2:

Same as the example #1, however this time, we want a stop, and a change of direction.

We will point, look, ask, then apply pressure to the horse to get movement in a circle. Next, when ready for a change of direction, while the horse is moving, switch the rope in your hand with the lunge whip. Step in front of the horse's drive line. To do this, step in front of the horse's nose to interrupt forward motion. Move your "steering hand" in the new direction you want him to go by pointing, clucking and applying pressure with the lunge whip. Release pressure when he moves, as soon as he moves. We have a change of direction.

Horse lunge training is a terrific to establish respect and ground control with your horse as well as increase your confidence in your ability to move and control your horse.

For more information, visit http://www.horse-training-basics.com