General Training Tips

We use a combination of techniques to train our horses. We feel that being familiar with different methods allows us to be more flexible and enables us to adjust our approach to each individual horse. However, we have compiled a list of general tips that we hope you will find useful.

  1. Safety - both yours and the horse’s - must always come first.
  2. Know your horse - spend time simply observing how s/he behaves, communicates, and moves.
  3. Understand that every horse has a unique personality; keep this in mind when training and when evaluating your horse’s suitability for a particular discipline.
  4. Consider your horse’s conformation and athletic abilities when training for a specific discipline or teaching advanced maneuvers – not all horses are capable of intense, physically demanding performances.
  5. Familiarize yourself with as many different training methods as you can so you can remain flexible.
  6. Not all training techniques will work for all horses - find those best suited to you and your horse.
  7. Maintain reasonable expectations - your horse will make mistakes and so will you. Learn from them and move on.
  8. If you take time to establish a strong foundation, the rest falls into place more smoothly.
  9. Be patient - take as much time as it takes to teach each lesson.
  10. Realize that taking your time often takes less time than rushing.
  11. Allow your horse time to think things through. Forcing your horse to obey a command is not the same as teaching your horse to respond to a cue.
  12. Several short lessons often accomplish more than one long lesson of equal time.
  13. Use pressure to ask, release to reward.
  14. Be as gentle as you can and as firm as you must.
  15. Be sensitive to your horse’s feelings - anticipate when a blow-up may occur so you can prevent it or handle it appropriately.
  16. Recognize that struggle precedes learning.
  17. Never act out of anger, but be prepared to use appropriate discipline if necessary.
  18. An effective leader does not have to be aggressive, just dominant. Your horse must respect you - but this respect cannot be forced, it must be earned.
  19. Fear is not the same as respect - a horse that fears you will always be resistant on some level and is more likely to rebel. Before learning can occur, the horse must know that you can be trusted.
  20. Loving your horse will not spoil him, but inconsistency will.
  21. It is a privilege to climb on a horse’s back - never take it for granted or take unfair advantage.