Zen Horse

Training Tip of the Week: By Clinton Anderson

Don’t Let the Little Things Slip


A mistake a lot of horse owners make is letting the little things slip. Though these things may not seem like a big deal at the time, little ounces of disrespect soon become pounds of trouble! To avoid this problem, make sure that you correct the little things before they become a big issue. Let me give you a couple examples of what I’m talking about:

When you’re leading your horse he should mimic your steps. If you stop, so should he. If you walk, he should walk. If you run, he should run along beside you. A common problem is for a horse to get ahead of you when you’re leading him. Lots of horse owners don’t correct their horse when this happens, and before they know it, he’s leading them and not the other way around! Instead, if your horse gets ahead of you when you’re leading him, immediately back him up and avoid developing a pushy, disrespectful horse.

If you’re horse is pushy or pins his ears at you when feeding, take a handy stick and back him up. Make him give you two eyes until you’re done. Little corrections like these make a big difference in helping prevent your horse from becoming aggressive or dominant when you’re feeding him.

Don’t let your horse walk off when you’re getting on. Not only is this not safe, it indicates a lack of respect on your horse’s part as he is not tuned in to you. One thing I do to prevent this problem from developing is to make sure I always flex my horse when I first get on for 3-5 minutes. This helps me gauge his responsiveness and make sure he is soft and supple. In addition, it teaches him patience and to not be in a big hurry when I get on. Another thing you can do if your horse walks off is to back the horse up or get on and off him multiple times using the “approach and retreat” method until he stands still.
If you pay attention to the little things involved in your horsemanship, it will pay big dividends in the end. Horses don’t develop into pushy, disrespectful animals overnight but do it a little bit at a time. On the other hand, if you keep up with the little things, you can help insure that your horse will be a respectful and willing partner that is a joy to be around.

Happy Trails,

Danna